How fast is FedEx SmartPost? (all you must know)
With the e-commerce industry bigger than ever and fuel costs rising, finding affordable shipping options is becoming increasingly difficult. Fortunately, FedEx offers a very affordable option called Ground Economy (formerly SmartPost).
You’ve probably heard of SmartPost before, but maybe you shunned it because it seemed complicated or too good to be true. In this article, we’ll break down what SmartPost is, how fast it is, and how it compares to the competition!
How fast will FedEx SmartPost be in 2022?
By 2022, deliveries through FedEx Ground Economy (formerly SmartPost) typically take 2 to 7 business days in the continental US. Shipping to Alaska and Hawaii may take up to 10 to 14 days. These delivery times are an average of 1.5 days slower than standard FedEx ground shipping, but can be up to 5 days slower.
We’ve got a lot more to share with you about FedEx SmartPost, so keep reading for more helpful facts and tips!
What is FedEx SmartPost?
We’re eager to share everything we know about SmartPost shipping times, but before we do so, it’s important to understand exactly what SmartPost is.
First, it’s worth mentioning that FedEx is changing its name from SmartPost to Ground Economy in 2021.
Nonetheless, to avoid confusion, we will refer to this service as SmartPost from now on.
SmartPost is a hybrid shipping service offered through a partnership between FedEx and USPS.
FedEx picks up the packages from the shipping location and hands them over to the postal service for “last mile” delivery to the end customer.
Because USPS is handling the most expensive part of the delivery (up to 28% of the total shipping cost), FedEx is able to reduce costs and provide customers with cheaper shipping options.
SmartPost packages can weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 130 inches long.
They can be delivered to all USPS addresses (including PO Boxes). Packages sent through this service are not eligible for FedEx’s money-back guarantee.
How long does FedEx SmartPost take?
On average, packages sent via FedEx SmartPost take 2 to 7 business days to arrive (4 days on average).
Keep in mind that this is an estimate for deliveries within the 48 contiguous US territories. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii may take 10 to 14 days to arrive.
Is FedEx SmartPost slow?
Answering this question is very subjective. Ultimately, it will depend on how fast you need the item to arrive and your expectations for shipping.
If you’re not in a hurry and want to prioritize cost over speed, you might be okay with SmartPost’s 2 to 7 day delivery.
On the other hand, if you are in a hurry, you may find this delivery time to be long. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of opinion.
That being said, SmartPost delivery times are an average of 1.5 days slower than standard FedEx ground shipping. This may be longer when shipping to Alaska or Hawaii.
Is FedEx SmartPost faster than FedEx Ground?
FedEx SmartPost is no faster than FedEx Ground. In fact, ground shipments take an average of 1.5 days to arrive, while SmartPost deliveries take an average of 4 days.
In some extreme cases, SmartPost packages may take a full 5 days longer to arrive than packages sent via FedEx Ground.
These longer delivery times are the result of package handovers between FedEx and USPS. This part of the delivery process adds at least a day to the shipping of the package.
It’s also possible that FedEx may delay delivering packages at the post office until it has enough quantities to make the delivery worthwhile.
In other words, a SmartPost package could end up sitting on hold for a few days until enough other SmartPost packages have accumulated before FedEx goes to the post office.
Is FedEx SmartPost faster than USPS Priority Mail?
USPS Priority Mail promises to deliver packages within 1 to 3 business days.
Compared to the 2 to 7 day delivery times that SmartPost advertises, it is clear that SmartPost is no faster than Priority Mail.
Is FedEx SmartPost faster than UPS SurePost?
Like SmartPost, UPS’s SurePost is a budget shipping option that uses USPS for last-mile delivery.
These services are similar in many ways, most notably their delivery times.
Both offer delivery within 2 to 7 business days. We recommend that you check with both companies for their delivery estimates and pricing to help you make your final decision.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on FedEx International Priority speeds, FedEx Home Delivery speeds, and FedEx shipping restrictions.
in conclusion
FedEx’s SmartPost service certainly won’t win any awards for speed, but what it lacks in speed it more than makes up for in price and reliability. In fact, SmartPost is an excellent budget option for customers who can wait patiently for a package to arrive.
