FedEx Overnight Shipping: Standard or Priority?

Every eCommerce business has those rush orders that need to be delivered to an important customer the next day. For those situations, FedEx is one of the most popular and reliable courier services in the world for overnight shipping.

FedEx offers two popular services for overnight shipping: FedEx Standard Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight, both of which offer their own unique specifics to consider.

So, which one is better for your online business? This guide helps to answer that question, taking a close look at factors like FedEx overnight shipping rates for both services, their delivery time and area, service days, parcel restrictions and more.

What is FedEx Standard Overnight?

FedEx Standard Overnight is a delivery service which guarantees your package or shipment will arrive by 4:30 p.m. to most United States addresses, or 8:00pm local time for residences.

The service offers Monday through Friday delivery, with only pickup services available on Saturdays for an additional charge in most areas of the United States. The service is available throughout all 50 states but only to addresses where the FedEx Priority Overnight delivery commitment is by 10:30 a.m. or noon, Hawaii service outbound only.

The cost of FedEx Standard Overnight is dependent on location and weight, but you can expect rates to start at $29.82 for a 2-pound package.

What is FedEx Priority Overnight?

FedEx Priority Overnight is a delivery service available in all 50 U.S. states which guarantees your package or shipment will arrive next-business-day by 10:30am local time for most parts of the United States.

For some rural and remote areas of the country, delivery is done by 12:00pm, 4:30 pm, or 5:00 pm local time. On Saturdays, delivery is completed by 12:00pm, 1:30 pm, or 4:30 pm local time.

FedEx Priority Overnight delivers Monday through Friday, with Saturday pickup and delivery also available for an additional charge in most parts of the United States.

FedEx Priority Overnight prices are dependent on weight and location, with costs starting at $30.71 for a two-pound package.

What about FedEx First Overnight?

For business owners looking for the fastest overnight shipping, they can turn to FedEx First Overnight. This service offers guaranteed delivery on the next business day by as early as 8am or alternatively 8:30 am, 9 am or 9:30 am. Extended delivery locations are guaranteed up until 2 pm.

However, merchants will need to be prepared to pay extra for the convenience. FedEx First Overnight prices are dependent on weight and location, with costs starting at $60.71 for a two pound package.

What is the Cutoff Time for FedEx Overnight Services?

The cutoff time for both FedEx Standard Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight will vary depending on the proximity of the drop-off point to the shipping airport. You will need to check with the local FedEx stations or stores in your area to determine the exact time.

But a general rule is that you probably want to have your package dropped off by 5 pm in most cases. Again, there are many variables and there are certainly instances where you can drop off packages for overnight delivery much later, but you will definitely want to check before making any promises to your customers.

What is the difference between FedEx Standard Overnight vs. FedEx Priority Overnight?

Both FedEx overnight shipping options offer fast, reliable courier options for online merchants seeking to move parcels out quickly and efficiently. While both are comparable in terms of pricing, they differ in a number of subtle but important ways that should be taken into account.

Notably, whether you opt for FedEx Standard Overnight or FedEx Priority Overnight service, be sure to understand that packages shipped on a Friday will only be scheduled for delivery to the recipient on the next business day on Monday. If that Monday is a public holiday, the delivery will be extended to Tuesday.

The most notable difference between both FedEx overnight shipping solutions lies in their delivery times. FedEx Priority Overnight will be delivered by 10:30am whereas FedEx Standard Overnight will be delivered by 3pm.

Think of the difference as morning vs. afternoon.

You should also take note that delivery times to and from certain ZIP codes in Alaska and Hawaii may slightly differ from the above-stated time in the contiguous U.S. It’s also important to understand that FedEx overnight shipping costs vary based on location and parcel weight and dimensions.

Both FedEx overnight shipping services have the following parcel size and weight restrictions:

• Weight limit of up to 150 lbs
• Length of up to 119 inches
• Length plus girth of 165 inches

3 Benefits of Using FedEx Overnight Shipping Services

FedEx Overnight Shipping services can be a great tool for eCommerce merchants to use to better serve their customers. Here are three benefits to consider:

1. Convenience: FedEx Overnight Shipping services offer the fastest way to get important packages delivered to customers and vendors. As a business owner, you know that you can turn to these services in a pinch to satisfy your customers.
2. Customer Loyalty: You might have some customers that come to rely on the convenience of receiving your products the next day. This is particularly true for luxury consumers who have come to expect the best possible delivery service from the stores and brands they purchase from.
3. Marketing: Providing overnight shipping services of your goods and products is a good way to market to your customers that you will provide them with the most convenient, fastest shipping possible. This will keep you competitive in a marketer where fast, cheap shipping has come to be expected. While overnight shipping will never be the cheapest option, it’s good to market it as an option for those customers that expect the highest quality service from your brand.

Choose the Best FedEx Overnight Shipping Option for Your Online Business

FedEx Standard Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight are both great overnight shipping options that work better in slightly different situations, which one you choose depends on the needs of your eCommerce business, and the expectations of your customers. Because these services tend to be more expensive, you’ll need to take into consideration the most appropriate times to use.

For especially urgent deliveries, FedEx Priority Overnight is the better choice given its 10:30am delivery commitment time frame for most of the United States.

FedEx Priority Overnight also works better if your business is in need of both pickup and delivery on a Saturday and are shipping to Hawaii from the mainland United States.

FedEx Standard Overnight is still an excellent choice for overnight deliveries that aren’t quite as urgent.

So, which shipping solution is best for your online business? This will depend on your customers' specific situation and needs, but knowing that you can quickly and conveniently deliver your products using FedEx Overnight Services should give you peace of mind. These are great options, especially for those customers that come to expect the highest quality service.

How Easyship Can Help

Through our partnership with FedEx, Easyship makes easy to get a quote for both FedEx Standard Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight, assuring you can always take them into consideration when you need the speed and convenience of overnight delivery.

By connecting you to more than 250 cost-effective courier services, Easyship helps you find the most affordable shipping solutions for any scenario. This includes FedEx overnight shipping services.

Sign up for a free account to see how we can help you boost customer satisfaction with fast deliveries!