Maximum Shipping Weight for USPS, UPS, and FedEx
The maximum weight allowed per package depends on the primary carrier you choose to ship with…and sometimes different services within each carrier network have maximum weights as well. Here’s everything you need to know about the weight of your package on the three major carriers!
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USPS maximum shipping weight
The USPS has the most complex weight restrictions of any major carrier, and different USPS shipping services each have different weight restrictions. We list these below:
- first class service: 15.99 oz, commercial pricing
- The weight limit for first class packages purchased at the post office or online through USPS Click N’ Ship is 13 oz
- Weight-based priority mail: 70 lbs
- The weight limit for all Priority Mail sub-services (such as Priority Mail Flat Rate and Regional Rates) is also 70 lbs
- Dimension-Based Priority Mail Cubic*: 20 lbs
- Priority Mail Express: 70 lbs
- Lot selection ground: 70 lbs
- media mail: 70 lbs
*USPS Priority Mail Cubic (or simply “Cubic”) is a special discounted sub-service of Priority Mail.With this service, the cost of shipping a package depends on the package’s Dimensions, not its weight. This makes Cubic one of the most popular services for sending smaller, heavier packages up to 20 pounds, as the total package weight doesn’t affect the price at all!
Note: You can only access Priority Mail Cubic rates through some online shipping software solutions.
UPS Maximum Shipping Weight
No matter which UPS service you use, you can send up to 150 lbs per packKeep in mind that for heavier shipments, additional processing surcharges may apply, as well as surcharges based on the destination you’re shipping to.
FedEx Maximum Shipping Weight
Similar to UPS, FedEx allows up to 150 lbs per individual package. As with UPS, your heavier shipments may be subject to certain additional charges, such as additional handling fees.
Which carrier is best for sending heavier packages?
In far-flung places, one carrier outperforms others at sending heavier, oversized packages…that’s ups. While both UPS and FedEx allow you to send individual packages weighing up to 150 pounds, UPS will always offer the cheaper of the two. However, watch out for the extra processing surcharge we speak of!UPS is known to address these issues on top of postage in many cases back You buy postage online, which ends up making shipping much more expensive than they originally advertised. That said, FedEx does the same thing.
