To ship a package, pack the item in a sturdy box, weigh and measure it, choose a carrier and service, buy and attach a shipping label, then drop the package off or schedule a pickup. Most domestic packages go by USPS or UPS, and the right choice depends on the package’s weight, size, destination and how fast it needs to arrive.
This guide walks through each step in order, with the carrier limits and delivery commitments you need to make each decision. If you want a price at any point, you can compare live USPS and UPS rates for your exact package in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
What Are the Steps to Ship a Package?
- Pack the item in a new or like-new corrugated box with cushioning on every side.
- Weigh and measure the sealed box, since carriers price on weight, size and distance.
- Write or confirm the address, including any apartment or suite number and the ZIP Code.
- Pick a carrier and service based on speed, size and weight.
- Buy and print the label, or use a printer-free barcode on your phone.
- Drop it off or schedule a pickup at the Post Office, a UPS location or your door.
- Track the package and keep your receipt until it’s delivered.
The sections below explain each step. If you want a shorter list of ways to cut the bill, our guide to the best way to ship a package focuses on money-saving tips.
How Do You Pack a Package for Shipping?
Use a box that is new or in near-new condition. UPS’s Terms and Conditions of Service require packaging to be new or near new and the contents to be securely packed, wrapped and cushioned, and USPS expects the same level of protection. A reused box that is soft, torn or covered in old labels is the most common cause of damage and misrouting.
Choose a box only slightly larger than the item, so there is room for cushioning but little empty space. Wrap the item in bubble wrap or foam, fill gaps with packing paper or air pillows, and shake the closed box: nothing should move. Seal every seam with pressure-sensitive packing tape in an H pattern across the top and bottom. Do not use string, masking tape or paper wrapping on the outside.
Some items need more than this. Laptops and other electronics need the screen protected and the device kept from shifting, as covered in our guide on how to ship a laptop. Breakables need two layers of protection, which our guide to shipping fragile items explains step by step.
Why Do You Need to Weigh and Measure the Box?
Carriers price a package on its billable weight. That is the greater of its actual weight and its dimensional weight, which is calculated from the box’s length, width and height. A large, light box can be billed as if it were much heavier, so the box size often matters as much as what’s inside.
Weigh the sealed package on a postal or kitchen scale and round up to the next pound. Measure the longest side as the length, then the width and height, and round each to the next whole inch. Enter those exact figures when you buy the label. If they’re wrong, the carrier can adjust the charge after the package is scanned.
How Should You Address a Package?
Put the recipient’s name on the first line, then the street address with any apartment, suite or unit number, then the city, state and ZIP Code on the last line. Add your own return address in the top-left corner or in the label’s sender field. If a package can’t be delivered, the return address is the only way it can come back to you.
PO boxes need extra care. UPS’s Terms state that UPS does not deliver to a P.O. Box, and it does not accept APO or FPO military addresses, so those packages have to go by USPS. Our guide on how to ship to a PO box covers the address format and the USPS Street Addressing option.
Which Carrier and Service Should You Choose?
For most domestic packages the choice is between USPS and UPS. USPS often suits small and lightweight packages, PO boxes and military addresses. UPS handles heavier and larger boxes, up to 150 pounds, and offers guaranteed air services. The table compares the main options by delivery commitment and weight limit.
| Service | Delivery commitment | Maximum weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | 2–5 days (longer to Alaska, Hawaii and offshore) | 70 lb | Everyday packages that aren’t urgent |
| USPS Priority Mail | Expected in 2–3 days (not guaranteed) | 70 lb | Faster delivery, Flat Rate boxes |
| USPS Priority Mail Express | 1–3 days, with a money-back guarantee (some exceptions) | 70 lb | Urgent shipments to any U.S. address, including PO boxes |
| UPS Ground | Typically 1–5 business days, depending on distance | 150 lb | Heavier or larger boxes, business addresses |
| UPS 2nd Day Air / Next Day Air | Guaranteed second or next business day | 150 lb | Time-critical shipments |
Size limits matter too. UPS won’t accept packages longer than 108 inches or larger than 165 inches in length plus girth, and USPS Ground Advantage tops out at 130 inches combined length and girth. Anything heavier than 150 pounds, or several large boxes going together, is usually cheaper as palletized freight. Our guide to LTL freight shipping explains how that works.
Retail counter prices are the highest prices carriers charge. ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum volume, and gives up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS. More than 44,000 customers use it. Our breakdown of how to ship for less covers other savings, and the comparison of ParcelPath with another free label platform shows what to look for when choosing a shipping tool.
How Do You Buy and Print a Shipping Label?
Enter the sender and recipient addresses, the package weight and dimensions, and pick a service. You can then pay for and print the label at home, or buy postage at a Post Office or UPS counter. Attach the label flat on the largest side of the box, away from seams, and cover it with clear tape without taping over the barcode. Remove or black out any old labels and barcodes.
You don’t need a printer. With ParcelPath you can use a UPS Mobile Barcode at a UPS Store location, or USPS Label Broker at the Post Office. In both cases you show a code on your phone and the counter staff print the label for you.
Where Do You Drop Off a Package?
USPS packages can go to any Post Office counter, and smaller prepaid parcels can go in a blue collection box if they fit. USPS also offers free package pickup from your home or office when you schedule it in advance. UPS packages go to The UPS Store, a UPS Access Point location or a UPS Customer Center, or you can arrange a pickup. Our guide to where to drop off packages lists the options for each carrier.
Gifts and boxes of mixed items have a few extra rules on food, liquids and packing, which our guide on how to send a care package explains before you drop one off.
How Do You Track and Protect a Package?
Every USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express label includes USPS Tracking. These services also include up to $100 of insurance, and you can buy more, up to $5,000. UPS includes tracking on every package. UPS’s liability is limited to $100 unless you declare a higher value when you create the label.
Keep the receipt, the tracking number and photos of the packed box until the package arrives. If a UPS package is lost or damaged, UPS must receive notice of the claim within 60 days of delivery, or of the scheduled delivery date if it never arrived. For valuable items, add coverage when you buy the label. ParcelPath offers Shipsurance coverage at checkout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to ship a package?
The easiest way to ship a package is to buy the label online, then drop the box at a counter or schedule a pickup. With ParcelPath you can skip the printer: a UPS Mobile Barcode works at UPS Store locations and USPS Label Broker works at the Post Office, so the clerk prints the label from the code on your phone.
Can I ship a package without going to the Post Office?
Yes. USPS offers free package pickup from your home or office when the package has prepaid postage and you schedule the pickup in advance. Small prepaid packages that fit can also go in a blue collection box. UPS packages can be picked up or dropped at a UPS Access Point location, such as a participating store.
How heavy can a package be to ship?
USPS accepts packages up to 70 pounds for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. UPS accepts packages up to 150 pounds, no longer than 108 inches, and no more than 165 inches in combined length plus girth. Heavier or larger shipments usually go as palletized LTL freight instead of as parcels.
Does shipping insurance come with a package label?
Often, but only up to a limit. USPS Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Ground Advantage include up to $100 of insurance, and you can buy more, up to $5,000. UPS limits its liability to $100 unless you declare a higher value when you create the label. For a valuable item, add coverage before you ship.
Sources
- USPS: Mail and Shipping Services (delivery times, weight limits, included insurance)
- USPS: Insurance and Extra Services
- USPS Ground Advantage (130-inch size limit)
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service – United States (packaging, P.O. Boxes, size and weight limits, liability, claims, Service Guarantee)
Part of our Shipping How-To Guides guide. Related: How to Ship Multiple Packages, Shipping Process, Shipping with Ease.
