FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground: What to Know

FedEx is one of the most extensive courier services and has about $2 billion in net income. FedEx Express Saver and FedEx Ground are two courier services that provide a mix of affordability and convenience for customers. However, if you’re looking for faster delivery, you may want to opt for faster FedEx services.

FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground may share similar characteristics like weight restrictions, free packaging, and insurance but differ significantly in price and lead time. First, we’ll highlight the differences between FedEx Express Saver and FedEx Ground to get an idea of the complete overview of both services.

What is FedEx Express Saver?

FedEx Express Saver is a cost-effective 3-day shipping service for those who want faster shipping at an affordable price. Some of the most prominent features of Express Saver include the following:

• Ship up to 150 pounds
• Real-time tracking
• Available throughout the United States except for Alaska and Hawaii
• Package pickup is available

Shipments will arrive at businesses by 4:30 p.m. and residences by 8 p.m., so make sure you create a shipping label and include all shipping information to ensure your shipment arrives on time.

Overall, FedEx Express Saver is best for eCommerce merchants who want faster shipping options than standard delivery services but don’t want to pay steep costs or want to ship time-sensitive items.

What is FedEx Ground?

FedEx Ground is an economical sipping service that delivers to businesses in 1-5 business days. All ground delivery services will arrive by the end of the day and operate only Monday through Friday. Some other features of FedEx Ground include the following:

• Ship up to 150 pounds
• Real-time tracking
• Available for all 50 US states & Canada
• Package pickup is available

Delivery to Alaska or Hawaii takes 3-7 business days compared to the contiguous US states. You’ll want to opt for FedEx Home Delivery if you're going to use ground service to residential areas.

FedEx Ground is best for eCommerce merchants looking for basic, economical shipping services.

What’s the Difference Between FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground?

FedEx Express Saver and Ground are two popular courier services for FedEx customers. FedEx Express Saver is an excellent option for customers who want an affordable option for faster delivery.

On the other hand, FedEx Ground is an excellent option for those who want an economical or standard delivery service. First, we’ll highlight the similarities between FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground to understand the common traits of these two services.

• Weight limit: Both FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground impose a 150-pound weight limit for shipping items
• Tracking: You can easily track your FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground shipment with real-time updates
• Included insurance: FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground both offer $100 of included insurance at no extra cost
• Package pickup: Schedule package pickup for FedEx Ground or Express Saver if needed
• Free packaging: FedEx offers free packaging for all packages so you can cut costs on shipping

Now, let’s break down the difference between FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground.

• Pricing: FedEx Express Saver costs more than FedEx Ground since FedEx Express Saver offers a faster delivery lead time. For instance, it costs $87.47 for a 5-pound package from NY to LA with Express Saver, while it costs $21.21 for the same package using ground services
• Delivery availability: FedEx Express Saver ships within the United States except for Alaska and Hawaii. On the other hand, FedEx Ground ships to all 50 states, plus Canada
• Lead time: When it comes to FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground, Express Saver takes 1-3 business days while Ground takes 1-5 business days (or 3-7 business days for Alaska and Hawaii)
• Designated delivery time: FedEx Express Saver guarantees delivery time by 8 p.m. for residences and 4:30 p.m. for businesses by the third business day. FedEx Ground doesn’t offer a designated delivery time besides delivery by 1-5 business days

Overall, the most significant difference between FedEx Express Saver and Ground is the price and the delivery lead time. If you’re willing to spend more on fast delivery, FedEx Express Saver is better. However, if you’re willing to wait for long delivery times, choose FedEx Ground.

Related post: Express vs. Postal Shipping - What You Need to Know for Customers

How Much Do FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground Cost?

Delivery speed, package weight, package dimensions, and shipping distance all come into play when calculating the cost between FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground.

We’ll calculate the cost of shipping FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground to several locations across the United States so you can get an idea of the exact costs.

Shipping from New York to Los Angeles

Say you’re shipping a 5-pound package (4 x 4 x 1) from New York to Los Angeles. We’ll calculate the rates for shipping with FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground so you can understand the price difference between the two services.

Shipping from New York to Chicago

Now, say you’re shipping a 5-pound package (4 x 4 x 1) from New York to Chicago. We’ll calculate the rates for shipping with FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground so you can understand the price difference between the two services.

Shipping from New York to Miami

Finally, let’s say you’re shipping a 5-pound package (4 x 4 x 1) from New York to Miami. We’ll calculate the rates for shipping with FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground so you can understand the price difference between the two services.

Ship FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground with Easyship

FedEx Express Saver and FedEx Ground are two affordable and convenient services offered by FedEx. Though they differ significantly in price and lead time, either option will deliver your items from point A to B with reliable real-time tracking.

Your choice of courier service will ultimately be determined by how much you’re willing to pay and how fast you need your package to deliver to its destination.

Alternatively, a shipping platform can help eCommerce businesses scale their business with high-value shipping insurance, faster lead times, etc. For example, with Easyship, you’ll save up to 91% off discounted shipping rates and receive features and benefits such as the following:

• Shipping Policy Generator: Our shipping policy generator helps merchants and crowdfunding campaigns generate their shipping policy by providing tracking and insurance options
• Easyship Shipping Rates Calculator: Access high-volume discounts from major couriers. Plus, get instant access to delivery lead times from premium shipping couriers for faster shipping
• High-Value Shipping Insurance: Easyship offers up to $10,000 shipping insurance for all shipments. This way, customers can have peace of mind when it comes to electronics

Ready to ship with USPS? Sign up for a FREE Easyship account and get instant access to high-volume discounts for FedEx Express Saver vs. Ground

If you found this article informative, you may enjoy the following:

• USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx: Which Has Better Rates?
• The Cheapest Way to Ship with FedEx
• How to Choose a Shipping Carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx)