The Guide to UPS Overnight Shipping

Looking for next-day delivery in the US? UPS Overnight may be your best choice.

Just one thing: there is no UPS Overnight. Next-day delivery is available from UPS, but it goes by one of three service names:

• UPS Next Day Air®
• UPS Next Day Air® Early
• UPS Next Day Air Saver®

Each UPS “overnight” delivery service is priced differently, depending on how early you need your package to arrive the next day. And since UPS is a reliable express courier service, you can expect all the usual bells and whistles for your packages, including tracking, guaranteed delivery, and on-location pickup for free.

With Easyship, you get an automatic discount off UPS Overnight shipping rates. You’ll get direct access to our partnership pre-negotiated rates from UPS and other couriers like USPS and FedEx when you sign up.

Here’s everything you need to know about UPS Overnight shipping.

What Is UPS Overnight Shipping?

UPS Overnight is an express delivery service that guarantees next-day delivery.

UPS Overnight is actually made up of three separate express delivery services from UPS, including:

• UPS Next Day Air®
• UPS Next Day Air® Early
• UPS Next Day Air Saver®

These services all offer next-day delivery within the US. Shipping to Hawaii and Alaska may incur higher prices, and shipping to remote locations may lengthen delivery times.

UPS Overnight also offers guaranteed delivery and additional services like package tracking, and on-call pickup.

These three services only differ in how early packages are delivered the next day and the price. Let’s get into the details on pricing and delivery speeds.

UPS Next Day Air®

UPS Next Day Air® packages are delivered by 10:30 AM of the next business day.

Delivery is guaranteed anywhere within the US and Puerto Rico. If your package is delivered late, you can request a refund for your postage because UPS Next Day Air® includes a delivery guarantee.

The following features are included in UPS Next Day Air®:

• Package tracking
• Free UPS packaging
• Guaranteed delivery
• On-call pickup (arrange online)

This UPS Overnight is neither the cheapest nor the fastest UPS Overnight option. It’s best suited for packages that must arrive anytime within the next business day.

UPS Next Day Air® Early

UPS Next Day Air® Early is the fastest UPS Overnight shipping option.

Need your package there by the start of the next business day? This service offers guaranteed delivery to most major cities in the lower 48 states by no later than 8 AM of the following day.

The following features are included in UPS Next Day Air® Early:

• Package tracking
• UPS packaging
• Guaranteed delivery
• On-call pickup (arrange online)

UPS Next Day Air Saver®

The cheapest UPS Overnight option is UPS Next Day Air Saver®. This service guarantees delivery by 3 PM or 4:30 PM to most commercial destinations, or by end of the day for residential locations.

UPS Next Day Saver® is an ideal option for daytime deliveries to a business, or to residences where afternoon delivery is acceptable.

The following features are included in UPS Next Day Air Saver®:

• Package tracking
• Free UPS packaging
• Guaranteed delivery
• On-call pickup (arrange online)

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The Costs of UPS Overnight Shipping

UPS Overnight – aka UPS Next Day Air® – options all vary in their pricing and delivery speeds. Basically, you pay more for faster delivery. Let’s look at some price examples for UPS Next Day Air®, UPS Next Day Saver®, and UPS Next Day® Early.

The Cost of UPS Next Day from Denver to New York

Let’s say we’re shipping a 2-pound package (5 x 5 x 5) from Denver, CO to New York, NY. Here are the UPS website's prices for all UPS Next Day Air® services.

*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.

As expected, UPS Next Day Air® Early is the most expensive at more than $140. For about $40 less, we can use UPS Next Day Air® to have our packages delivered by 10:30 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. with UPS Next Day Air® Early. For my money, I’d use UPS Next Day Air Saver® at $100 and change.

What happens if we increase the package weight to 10 pounds?

*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.

When we raise the weight, the prices increase by about $50 for each service. Expect, however, that at this weight there’s very little difference between the price of UPS Next Day Air® and UPS Next Day Air Saver®. That said, it looks like we’re going to pay a pretty penny for sending our 10-lb. package to NY post-haste.

Looking for more affordable ways to ship parcels quickly? You can always use the Free Shipping Rate Calculator from Easyship and gain access to high-volume discounts from UPS.

This free tool gives you instant rate quotes from the cheapest, fastest, and most valuable couriers available for your unique shipment. Just enter your shipment details and – poof! – you’ll get the fastest and cheapest rates in just seconds.

What is the Cutoff Time for UPS Overnight?

How late can you drop off your UPS package (or have it picked up) and still have it arrive the next day? This depends on your local UPS Store®.

Every UPS Store® sets its own cutoff time for Overnight based on when the driver arrives to pick up the packages. To confirm this time, call your local UPS Store®.

For example, my local Denver store on S. Broadway has a 6 PM cutoff time. Their driver arrives at 6:30 to grab the packages. So if I get there before 6 PM, I’m golden. However, the UPS Store® in the Cherry Creek neighborhood has a slightly earlier pickup time of 5:30 PM.

In general, UPS Overnight shipments are picked up by the driver between 5-7 PM.

Are you having your package picked up from your location? Make sure to arrange a pickup time that’s earlier than the cut-off time for your nearest UPS Store.

Related post: UPS Drop Off Locations & Services

UPS Overnight: Costs Are High, Speeds are Fast

UPS Overnight is the everyday name for three UPS next-day delivery services: UPS Next Day Air Saver®, UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Next Day Air® Early.

As we saw, UPS overnight costs can be quite high. If price is top of mind, you might be better off with USPS Overnight instead. However, USPS isn’t known for being as reliable as UPS. You could also look into FedEx Overnight if reliability is more of a concern than price.

Ready to save money on every shipment with Easyship? Create a free account. Easyship users get up to 91% off shipping rates from UPS, FedEx, USPS, and all global couriers.

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UPS Overnight FAQ

Does UPS deliver overnight packages on Saturday or Sunday?

Yes, for an additional fee. All UPS Overnight packages intended for Saturday delivery require a Saturday shipping label, which costs extra – only via UPS.

Is UPS Next Day Air® the same as overnight?

Yes, all UPS Next Day Air® services are the same as UPS Overnight.

How reliable is UPS Overnight?

UPS is a reliable express courier that offers guaranteed delivery for all its overnight services. If your package isn’t delivered on time, you can request a full refund.