When shipping a package, one of the first questions your recipient might ask is, "When will it get here?"
How long a package will take to arrive depends on the carrier you use and the type of service you pay for. This article covers everything you need to know about delivery timeframes for every USPS and UPS service offered on Pirate Ship.
Timeframes are estimates and not guarantees
USPS and UPS offer a variety of service commitments for their shipping services, but it's important to note that many of these timeframes are estimates and not guarantees 😉
USPS services aren't guaranteed: For most services, USPS doesn't guarantee a delivery date, nor offer a refund for late arrival.
The only exception is USPS Priority Mail Express® (though refunds for late delivery don't apply to shipments going to/from Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and other territories).
Use UPS for time-definite delivery: If you want expedited delivery that is an alternative to Priority Mail Express, UPS offers time-definite services that feature delivery during certain times of the day.
Note that these time-definite services from UPS don't come with money-back guarantees for late delivery.
USPS estimated delivery timeframes
Ground Advantage
Estimated delivery within 2-5 business days to the contiguous 48 states
Non-continental Ground Advantage deliveries may take up to 26 days, for destinations such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. Territories
Priority Mail (weight-based, Cubic, Flat Rate, Regional Rate)
Estimated delivery within 1-3 business days
Priority Mail Express
Guaranteed overnight delivery in urban areas
Guaranteed 2-day delivery in rural areas
Money-back guarantee from USPS for late delivery*
*Excluding shipments going to or from: Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, The Republic of Palau, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia
Media Mail
Estimated delivery within 2-8 business days
Simple Export Rate
Estimated delivery within 1-4 weeks, depending on the country
Estimated delivery time does not include customs processing
First Class Package International
Estimated delivery within 1-4 weeks, depending on the country
Estimated delivery time does not include customs processing
Priority Mail International
Estimated delivery within 6-10 business days, depending on the country
Estimated delivery time does not include customs processing
Priority Mail Express International
Estimated delivery within 3-5 business days, depending on the country
Estimated delivery time does not include customs processing
UPS estimated delivery timeframes
UPS® Ground
Delivery timeframe of 1-5 business days
UPS® Ground Saver
Delivery timeframe of 2-7 business days
UPS 3 Day Select®
Delivery timeframe of within 3 business days
UPS 2nd Day Air®
Delivery timeframe of 2 business days
UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.®
Two time-definite delivery options with 2nd Day Air AM based on where you’re shipping from and to: 10:30 A.M. or 12:00 P.M. of the second business day to most destinations in the United States
UPS Next Day Air Saver®
UPS Next Day Air Saver® offers delivery by end-of-day on the next business day. This is UPS’ most affordable next-day delivery service
UPS Next Day Air®
Delivery timeframe of the next business day
UPS Next Day Air® Early
UPS Next Day Air Early offers overnight delivery as early as 8:00 A.M. to most major cities in the United States, or by 9:30 A.M. to most other domestic destinations
UPS® Standard
Delivery timeframe of 2-7 business days for packages going to Mexico and Canada
UPS Worldwide Expedited®
Delivery timeframe of 2-5 business days
UPS Worldwide Saver®
Delivery in 1-3 business days. Typically delivered by end of day
Next business day delivery by the end of day to Canada
Second business day delivery by end of day to Mexico and major metropolitan areas worldwide
UPS Worldwide Express®
Delivery in 1-3 business days. Typically delivered by 10:30 a.m. or noon.
UPS Worldwide Express Plus®
Delivery in 1-3 business days. Typically delivered by 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.
We can only see the tracking information you can see
Us pirates only have access to the same USPS and UPS tracking information as you, so we may not be able to provide the expected delivery date for your shipment 😅
For more information: To find out more information on when your package will be delivered, you can:
Check USPS Service Commitments: To get the most accurate estimates from USPS, you can check out the USPS Service Commitments tool.
Check the UPS tracking portal: For UPS shipments, you can get the most accurate real-time estimates by entering your tracking number into the UPS tracking portal.