Skip to main content
All CollectionsUPS® Shipping Services
UPS® Ground Saver: Everything You Need to Know
UPS® Ground Saver: Everything You Need to Know

UPS Ground Saver is an economy ground service designed for low-value, non-urgent shipments being sent within the lower 48 U.S. states

Updated over a week ago

UPS Ground Saver is specially designed for low-value shipments that need reliable delivery to or from anywhere in the continental U.S. 🎉

UPS Ground Saver puts loot back in y'er pocket!

  • Save Money with UPS Ground Saver: As the most affordable UPS service, UPS Ground Saver is the perfect option to save even more money on domestic shipments that aren't time-sensitive. This way, you keep more loot in your pocket while offering delivery your customers can count on!

What are the basics of UPS Ground Saver?

Here are the main points you need to know about UPS Ground Saver:

  • Most affordable UPS service: UPS Ground Saver is the most affordable UPS service on Pirate Ship

  • Delivery 7 days a week: UPS Ground Saver packages can be delivered 7 days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays

  • Designed for lightweight & non-urgent shipments: UPS designed UPS Ground Saver specifically for small & lightweight packages that don't require time-sensitive delivery

    • Delivery for UPS Ground Saver packages can take between 2-7 business days compared to 1-5 business days offered by UPS Ground

  • Not Available for Alaska & Hawaii: UPS Ground Saver is only available for shipments traveling within the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and is not accessible for packages going to/from Alaska and Hawaii

  • No PO Boxes, Military Addresses, or U.S. Territories: You can't UPS Ground Saver to ship to PO Boxes, Military Addresses, or U.S. Territories

  • $100 of UPS carrier liability: Like all UPS services on Pirate Ship, UPS Ground Saver labels come with $100 of carrier liability that you can claim for lost or damaged shipments

Protect your UPS Ground Saver shipment by purchasing insurance

As with all packages, we recommend purchasing extra insurance for UPS Ground Saver shipments! There are three main benefits to purchasing insurance through Pirate Ship:

  • Higher Declared Value: With third-party insurance, you can declare a value of up to $10,000 per UPS Ground Saver shipment instead of being limited to $100 of UPS carrier liability.

  • Broader Coverage: Third-party insurance offers broader coverage than standard UPS carrier liability, including missing shipments marked as "Delivered" and packages stolen by porch pirates—not our kind of matey!

  • Easy Claim Filing: When you buy insurance through Pirate Ship, filing a claim through the InsureShield Claims Portal is quick and easy!

How to get UPS Ground Saver packages to UPS

Here are some options for getting your UPS Ground Saver package to UPS:

  • Schedule a pickup for your package with UPS On-Call Pickup®

  • Drop off your package at any of The UPS Store® locations

  • Drop off your package at a UPS® Drop Box location or at a UPS Access Point® location, which you can find at Michaels, CVS, Advance Auto Parts, and other local retailers

How can I track UPS Ground Saver packages?

There are several options for tracking your UPS Ground Saver packages:

  • Follow along in Pirate Ship: Like all other UPS shipments, you'll see all tracking updates on your shipment page in Pirate Ship, from the time of purchasing your label to your package's delivery. Here's an example of how that looks:

  • Follow along on the UPS website: You can also keep an eyepatch on tracking updates on the UPS website for more detailed information 😉 To visit the UPS tracking page, click the blue tracking number on your shipment page in Pirate Ship like we've highlighted in the above image.

Requesting a Return to Sender for Ground Saver shipments

  • Return to Sender Ground Saver Shipments: When you request a Return to Sender for a UPS Ground Saver package, the package will be sent to your Default Ship From Address you designated in your Settings > Ship From Addresses.

Limitations & things to keep in mind

Here are some guidelines and limitations for UPS Ground Saver packages:

You cannot ship to/from Alaska, Hawaii, PO Boxes, Military Addresses, or U.S. Territories

  • Continental U.S. Addresses Only: You can only ship with UPS Ground Saver when using origin addresses located in the continental United States (or contiguous 48 states). In addition, you can't use it to ship to PO Boxes, Military Addresses, and U.S. Territories 🙈

Maximum size & weight limits

UPS Ground Saver shipments come with all the same size and weight limitations as UPS Ground. They are as follows:

  • Minimum & Maximum Dimensions: Packages can be up to 165" in length and girth combined

  • Single Dimension Length: No one dimension can exceed 108” in length

  • Maximum Weight: Maximum allowable weight is 150 lbs per package

  • Minimum Billable Weight: UPS Ground Saver shipments that weigh less than 8 oz will be subject to a minimum billable weight of 8 oz

Note: If you ship a package with UPS Ground Saver that exceeds any of the above weight and size restrictions, UPS will hit you with an "Over Maximum Limits" surcharge, which is $1,250 😱

Surcharges may still apply

  • Possible UPS Surcharges: Like all UPS shipments, surcharges may apply to UPS Ground Saver packages. Learn more about the UPS surcharges you may incur on Pirate Ship.

Why is there a USPS tracking barcode on my UPS Ground Saver label?

  • Ignore Any USPS Info on UPS Ground Saver Labels: If you see anything related to USPS on your UPS Ground Saver label, such as a secondary tracking barcode or a USPS tracking number, simply ignore it 😉

    • This is part of an old partnership between USPS and UPS for UPS Ground Saver shipments and has no bearing on labels purchased after January 1, 2025.

Related Resources:

Did this answer your question?