As part of the United States Postal Service's strategy to enhance its shipping offerings, the product USPS Ground Advantage® provides a simple, reliable and more affordable way to ship packages from 1oz up to 70lbs in two-to five business days.
This streamlined product offering for consumers and businesses of all sizes is available now.
How it works
USPS Ground Advantage, available to retail and commercial customers, is a better fit by combining three existing USPS® services into one comprehensive product. It is a perfect option for shippers of all sizes who want affordable domestic ground shipping to all 50 states, U.S. military bases, territories, possessions, and Freely Associated States.
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USPS Parcel Select Ground® service
discontinued
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USPS First-Class Package Service®
renamed to USPS Ground Advantage
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USPS Retail Ground® service
discontinued
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In addition, business customers can use USPS Ground Advantage return service as a convenient option for their customers who need to send items back. It combines returns options such as First-Class Package Return® service and Ground Returns.
Benefits
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For All Customers
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- $100 insurance is included (for both outbound and return shipments), and you can purchase up to $5,000 in additional coverage against loss or damage for merchandise.
- Tracking is included.
- Pay for postage using stamps, a self-service kiosk, Click-N-Ship® service, or at a Post Office™ location.
- Includes forwarding, undeliverable as addressed (UAA), and return to sender (RTS) at no additional cost.
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For Businesses
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- Business customers can use USPS Ground Advantage Return service as a convenient option for customers who need to send items back.
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For businesses interested in getting commercial pricing for USPS Ground Advantage, using USPS Ground Advantage Return Service to manage customer returns, or learning other ways USPS can power up your shipping and logistics, go to the USPS Ground Advantage product page and click "Contact a USPS Specialist".
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Pricing and product details
USPS Ground Advantage prices are based on weight and zone (distance between ZIP Codes™). See the Price List for retail prices and commercial prices. Weight ranges are:
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- Each 1 pound increment up to 70lbs
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Product details
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USPS Ground Advantage
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Delivery Service Standard
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2-5 business days¹,²,³
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Attributes
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Tracking is included
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Free Package Pickup service at your home or office
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$100 of included insurance to cover shipments, including USPS Ground Advantage service shipments
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Up to $5,000 in additional insurance can be purchased
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Includes package forwarding and return to sender endorsements
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For Retail, sealed against inspection; USPS Ground Advantage Commercial is not sealed against inspection.
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Requirements
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Special Pricing Considerations
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Oversized fee assessed (between 108" and 130” length + girth)
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Non-Standard Length fees apply (both Retail and Commercial)
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Dimensional weight eligible
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Primary option for sending hazardous materials (HAZMAT) that are only mailable using Ground Transportation1
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¹Expected delivery in 2-5 business days. Packages going to certain places (including Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations), or containing hazardous materials or live animals may receive slower service.
²Actual delivery time depends on origin, destination, and drop-off time. For additional information, visit the Price Calculator.
³Items weighing 15.99 oz or less travel by air to Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations. Items weighing over 15.99 oz travel by ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations.
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Background information
USPS filing notices with the Postal Regulatory Commission for USPS Ground Advantage include the May 10, 2023 notice when USPS established proposed published pricing for the product and the February 10, 2023 notification to rename First-Class Package Service® with USPS Ground Advantage.
Why did the Postal Service launch Ground Advantage?
USPS is focused on strengthening its shipping solutions as part of the Postal Service’s 10-year strategic plan for service excellence, on-time delivery, and revenue generation from enhanced package delivery services. The plan seeks to balance the Postal Services’ shipping products portfolio by streamlining its product suite to meet the demands of the modern consumers and businesses it serves. This will be achieved by the Postal Service modernizing its network, improving mailing and shipping options for customers, and expanding reach to offer cost-efficient and reliable products and services.
What approach did the Postal Service take to launch USPS Ground Advantage?
Over the past year, the Postal Service focused on enhancing its ground product offerings by upgrading service standard to 2-5 days, improving service reliability, simplifying shipping product offerings, and providing affordable pricing.
- Lower Prices for Shipping Services. The Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on May 10, of price adjustments for some Shipping Services to take effect July 9, 2023. Published prices for USPS Ground Advantage will decrease 1.4 percent relative to current Parcel Select Ground and First-Class Package Service pricing. USPS Ground Advantage Retail prices will decrease 3.2 percent and USPS Ground Advantage Commercial published prices will decrease 0.7 percent.
- Improved Reliability Through Upgraded Service Standards. In August 2022, the Postal Service implemented upgraded service standards for its USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Select Ground products, aligning service standards with the current First-Class Package Service product within the contiguous United States. Service standards for these products were accelerated from two-to-eight-days to two-to-five-days for the same affordable price.
- Simplifying Shipping Product Offerings. On February 10, the Postal Service filed a procedural filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) notifying the commission of the Postal Service’s intention to rename its existing First-Class Package Service category with USPS Ground Advantage. USPS Ground Advantage will feature two-to-five day service standards for packages up to 70 pounds.
