To send a FedEx package, pack the item in a sturdy box, choose a FedEx service, create a shipping label online, in the FedEx app or at a FedEx counter, and then drop the package off at a FedEx location or schedule a pickup. You don’t need a FedEx account: FedEx lets you make a one-time credit card shipment with FedEx Ship Manager Lite.
The seven steps below follow FedEx’s own shipping checklist, with the details that trip up first-time shippers: packaging rules, picking between Express and Ground, and what to do if you don’t own a printer.
What are the steps to send a FedEx package?
- Check the destination. Domestic and international shipments have different requirements; international parcels also need customs paperwork.
- Check what you’re sending. The FedEx Service Guide lists restricted, prohibited and dangerous goods. Batteries, alcohol, perishables and hazardous materials have special rules.
- Pack the item in a sturdy box with cushioning, and cover any old labels or barcodes if you reuse a box.
- Weigh and measure the packed box, since price depends on size, weight, destination and speed.
- Choose a service based on how fast it must arrive.
- Create the label online, in the app or at a FedEx counter, and attach it to the box.
- Get it to FedEx by dropping it off or scheduling a pickup, then track it with the tracking number.
Each step is explained below. If you’re new to shipping in general, our guide on how to ship a package covers packing and carrier choice across every major carrier.
How should you pack a box for FedEx?
Use a rigid, undamaged box with enough cushioning that the item can’t shift or touch the walls, and seal every seam with pressure-sensitive packing tape. FedEx’s packing guidance stresses sturdy packaging, and it notes that you need FedEx-branded packaging only if you choose FedEx One Rate.
FedEx gives away branded envelopes, Paks, boxes and tubes, but only for certain services: its expedited (Express) services, FedEx Express Saver and International Economy. You can’t put a Ground label on a free FedEx Express box. Our guide to FedEx envelope sizes lists the free document options, and FedEx Office locations will pack an item for you if you’d rather not do it yourself.
Which FedEx service should you choose?
FedEx splits domestic parcels into Express services, which are flown and carry a set delivery time, and FedEx Ground, which moves by truck within a range of business days. FedEx Home Delivery is the Ground service for residences. These are the commitments FedEx publishes for 2026:
| Service | Delivery commitment (to most businesses) | Max weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx First Overnight | Next business day by 8 or 8:30 a.m. | 150 lb | Documents or parts needed first thing |
| FedEx Priority Overnight | Next business day by 10:30 or 11 a.m. | 150 lb | Urgent packages needed by midday |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Next business day by 5 p.m. | 150 lb | Next-day arrival without a morning deadline |
| FedEx 2Day A.M. | Second business day by 10:30 or 11 a.m. | 150 lb | Two-day shipments needed in the morning |
| FedEx 2Day | Second business day by 5 p.m. (8 p.m. to residences) | 150 lb | Faster than Ground at a lower tier than overnight |
| FedEx Express Saver | Third business day by 5 p.m. | 150 lb | Time-definite delivery on a budget |
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery | 1 to 5 business days in the contiguous U.S. | 150 lb | Everyday packages that aren’t urgent |
Every FedEx package is limited to 150 lbs and 165 inches in length plus girth; Express packages can be up to 119 inches long and Ground packages up to 108 inches. Our overview of FedEx services and transit times compares each tier in more depth, and the FedEx rate finder quotes a price for your box and ZIP codes.
How do you create a FedEx shipping label?
You have three ways to make a label, and none of them requires an account:
- Online: FedEx Ship Manager at fedex.com for account holders, or FedEx Ship Manager Lite for a one-time credit card shipment without an account.
- In the FedEx app: create the label on your phone and get a QR code that a team member scans and prints at participating FedEx Office or FedEx Ship Center locations, so you don’t need a printer.
- At a FedEx counter: staff can create the label for you when you drop off.
Enter the full recipient address with any suite or apartment number and a phone number, then the weight and dimensions of the packed box. Attach the label flat on the largest side and don’t tape over the barcode; if it won’t fit on one side, FedEx says to put the barcode on one side of the seam and the address on the other. Our FedEx create label guide goes screen by screen, and FedEx lets you print labels for expedited shipments up to 10 days ahead. Unused labels eventually lapse, as our guide on whether FedEx labels expire explains.
Where do you drop off a FedEx package, or can FedEx pick it up?
Drop the labeled package at a staffed FedEx location, such as a FedEx Office or FedEx Ship Center, or in a FedEx Drop Box if it fits and you have a printed label. FedEx’s location finder shows each site’s hours and last pickup time, which matters for Express shipments that must go out the same day.
For a pickup, schedule it online with a FedEx account or call 1.800.GoFedEx (1.800.463.3339). FedEx charges an extra fee for a one-time pickup on its expedited and standard services, so dropping off is usually the cheaper route for occasional shippers.
How do you track the package after you send it?
Enter the tracking number from your label or receipt on the FedEx tracking page or in the app, and share it with the recipient. The recipient can sign up for delivery alerts, and if FedEx can’t complete a delivery, it leaves a door tag with instructions; our explainer on the FedEx door tag covers what each option means.
How can you pay less to send a package?
Compare more than one carrier before you buy a label. If you’re open to UPS or USPS instead, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS shipping, with no subscription, no per-label fee and no minimums, plus printer-free labels through UPS Mobile Barcode at The UPS Store and USPS Label Broker at the Post Office. You can compare live UPS and USPS rates for your box in the ParcelPath rate calculator, and our roundup of the best shipping services and solutions compares other options. For more on FedEx itself, see the FedEx shipping hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a FedEx account to send a FedEx package?
No. FedEx lets you make a one-time credit card shipment with FedEx Ship Manager Lite, or you can have staff create the label at a FedEx counter. A free FedEx account adds saved addresses, shipment history and the ability to schedule pickups online, and it gives access to account discounts, but it isn’t required to send a package.
Can I send a FedEx package without a printer?
Yes. Create the label in the FedEx mobile app and you’ll get a QR code; a team member at a participating FedEx Office or FedEx Ship Center location scans it and prints the label for you. You can also email a label to a FedEx Office location, or have counter staff create the label when you drop off the package.
Does FedEx give free boxes for sending a package?
FedEx provides free branded envelopes, Paks, boxes and tubes only for its expedited (Express) services, FedEx Express Saver and International Economy. They can’t be used for FedEx Ground or Home Delivery. For a Ground shipment, use your own sturdy box and cover any old labels or barcodes on it before attaching the new label.
What is the largest package FedEx will accept?
FedEx accepts parcels up to 150 lbs and up to 165 inches in combined length and girth. Express packages can be up to 119 inches long, while FedEx Ground packages are limited to 108 inches in length. Anything heavier or larger has to move as freight, which FedEx and other carriers price and handle separately.
Sources
- FedEx: How to ship a package
- FedEx: Create a shipping label
- FedEx: FedEx Ground
- FedEx Service Guide, effective January 5, 2026 (delivery commitments and package size limits)
Part of our FedEx Create Label guide. Related: FedEx Locations, Do FedEx Labels Expire.
