The major delivery companies in the United States are USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon Logistics and DHL, with regional parcel carriers and LTL freight carriers covering what they don’t. For most people and small businesses, the practical choice is between USPS (best reach, including PO Boxes and every residential address) and UPS (heavier packages, guaranteed air services and a large drop-off network).
Each delivery company is built for different shipments. This guide explains what each one does best, where it delivers and how to pick the right one for a given package.
Who Are the Major Delivery Companies in the U.S.?
Five networks handle most U.S. parcel deliveries. Here’s how they differ at a glance.
| Delivery company | Type of network | Delivers to PO Boxes? | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Federal postal service; delivers to every U.S. address | Yes | Light packages, residential and rural delivery, mail |
| UPS | Private parcel carrier with ground and air networks | No | Ground packages up to 150 lb, guaranteed air services |
| FedEx | Private carrier (FedEx Ground, Home Delivery, Express) | No for standard services | Overnight express and ground parcels |
| Amazon Logistics | Amazon’s own delivery network using Delivery Service Partners | No | Delivering Amazon orders |
| DHL Express | International express carrier | No | Shipments to and from other countries |
Beyond these five, regional carriers such as OnTrac serve parts of the country, and LTL freight carriers move palletized shipments too heavy for parcel networks.
What Does USPS Do Best?
USPS has the widest reach of any delivery company. In fiscal year 2025, it delivered to 170.4 million delivery points nationwide, and it ran 30,972 retail Post Office locations. It’s also the only carrier that delivers to PO Boxes and to every residential address as part of its normal route.
Its main package services are USPS Ground Advantage (2–5 days, up to 70 lb and 130 inches in combined length and girth), Priority Mail (2–3 days) and Priority Mail Express (1–3 days with a money-back guarantee). Ground Advantage and Priority Mail include tracking and up to $100 of insurance.
USPS is usually the best fit for packages under a few pounds, residential and rural addresses, and anything going to a PO Box. Package Pickup is free, and when you need proof of delivery, USPS offers signature and return-receipt services, explained in our guide to USPS return receipts and proof of delivery.
What Does UPS Do Best?
UPS is built for heavier and higher-value packages and for time-definite delivery. Its domestic services include UPS Ground and air services such as UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS 3 Day Select.
The UPS Tariff sets its package limits: up to 150 pounds, up to 108 inches long, and up to 165 inches in length plus girth. Its guaranteed air services come with a money-back Service Guarantee. UPS also offers declared-value coverage and a wide network of drop-off points at The UPS Store and UPS Access Point locations.
The trade-off: UPS doesn’t deliver to P.O. Boxes, so PO Box addresses need USPS. For heavier boxes, business addresses and anything that must arrive on a set day, UPS is usually the stronger choice.
What About FedEx, DHL and Amazon?
FedEx runs two main networks: FedEx Express for overnight and two-day air, and FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery for ground parcels to businesses and homes. It competes with UPS on most of the same shipments. Our FedEx shipping guide to services and tracking covers its options in detail.
DHL Express focuses on international express shipping into and out of the U.S. rather than domestic deliveries; see the DHL Express shipping guide for what it handles.
Amazon Logistics mainly delivers Amazon’s own orders through independent Delivery Service Partner companies, so it isn’t a carrier you can book for a box you’re shipping yourself. Our guide to how many packages Amazon delivers a day shows how big that network has become.
ParcelPath ships with USPS and UPS only.
When Should You Use a Freight Carrier Instead?
Once a shipment is palletized, very large or heavier than a parcel network accepts (UPS’s limit is 150 pounds per package), it belongs with a less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier. LTL carriers combine pallets from several shippers in one trailer and offer services such as liftgate and inside delivery.
Our guide to LTL freight and logistics explains how freight classes, pallets and accessorials work. ParcelPath’s PalletPath offers discounted LTL quotes, and you can price a pallet in the PalletPath freight quote tool.
How Do You Choose the Right Delivery Company?
Match the carrier to the package, the address and the deadline. This table is a starting point; the cheapest option for your exact box depends on weight, size and distance.
| Your shipment | Usually the best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Light package (a few pounds or less) to a home | USPS Ground Advantage | Reaches every address, tracking and $100 insurance included |
| Anything to a PO Box | USPS | UPS doesn’t deliver to P.O. Boxes |
| Heavier box (roughly 10–70 lb) | Compare UPS Ground and USPS | UPS handles weight well; USPS stays strong to rural homes |
| 70–150 lb package | UPS | USPS’s limit is 70 lb; UPS accepts up to 150 lb |
| Must arrive tomorrow | UPS Next Day Air or Priority Mail Express | Time-definite delivery with a guarantee |
| Pallet or freight | LTL freight carrier | Built for palletized and very heavy shipments |
Size matters as much as weight. Both USPS and UPS charge large, light boxes by dimensional weight, so a snug box can change which carrier is cheaper.
How Can You Pay Less With Any Delivery Company?
The biggest savings come from not paying retail counter prices. Commercial-style label pricing is cheaper than walking in, and you can get it without a contract or minimum volume.
ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription, per-label fee, minimums or contracts. It gives you up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS, and is used by more than 44,000 customers. You can drop off at the Post Office with USPS Label Broker or at The UPS Store with UPS Mobile Barcode, with no printer needed, or schedule a free USPS pickup.
To see which delivery company is cheapest for your box, enter its weight and size in the ParcelPath rate calculator and compare live UPS and USPS prices. If you’re new to shipping, our step-by-step guide on how to ship a package covers packing, labeling and drop-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest delivery companies in the U.S.?
The biggest U.S. delivery companies are USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon Logistics, with DHL Express focused on international shipments. USPS has the widest reach: it delivered to 170.4 million delivery points in fiscal year 2025, including every residential address and PO Box. UPS and FedEx are the largest private parcel carriers, and Amazon mainly delivers its own orders.
Which delivery company is best for small packages?
For light packages going to homes, USPS Ground Advantage is usually the best fit. It delivers in 2–5 days to every U.S. address, including PO Boxes, and includes tracking and up to $100 of insurance. For heavier boxes, or when a business address needs a guaranteed delivery day, compare UPS Ground and UPS air services for the same package.
Which delivery companies deliver to PO Boxes?
USPS is the delivery company that delivers to PO Boxes. UPS states in its Tariff that it does not deliver to P.O. Boxes, and FedEx’s standard services don’t either. At some Post Offices, USPS Street Addressing lets private carriers deliver to a box using the Post Office’s street address plus your box number, but availability varies by location.
What is the heaviest package a delivery company will take?
USPS accepts packages up to 70 pounds, and UPS accepts packages up to 150 pounds and 165 inches in combined length and girth. Anything heavier, or shipped on a pallet, moves as LTL freight. Freight carriers handle shipments from a few hundred pounds up to several thousand, and services like liftgate delivery are available.
Sources
- USPS Postal Facts: Size and Scope (FY2025 delivery points and retail offices)
- USPS: Ground Advantage
- USPS: Priority Mail
- USPS: Priority Mail Express
- USPS: PO Boxes and Street Addressing
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States (weight and size limits, P.O. Boxes)
Part of our How to Guides guide. Related: How to Ship Multiple Packages, Shipping Process, Shipping with Ease.
