SmartPost returns are now called FedEx Ground Economy Returns: a low-cost, non-urgent return service for packages of 70 pounds or less that typically reach the merchant in 2 to 7 business days from the first scan. The customer gets a prepaid return label from the merchant and can drop the package at any of 56,000+ FedEx locations or hand it to the U.S. Postal Service.
FedEx retired the SmartPost name, but the service works the same way, and older preprinted labels may still say SmartPost. This guide covers how the returns service works for customers sending a package back and for businesses deciding whether to offer it.
Are SmartPost Returns the Same as FedEx Ground Economy Returns?
Yes. FedEx Ground Economy was formerly FedEx SmartPost, and FedEx Ground Economy Returns was formerly SmartPost Returns. FedEx says the service itself is unchanged, so a label printed with the SmartPost name is still valid and is handled through the Ground Economy network.
The returns service is built for returns that are low in weight and value and aren’t time-sensitive, such as apparel and small household goods. It isn’t sold as a standalone retail service: Ground Economy is contractual, so a business sets it up through a FedEx account representative, and customers use the prepaid label that business provides.
How Do SmartPost Returns Work for Customers?
Sending a SmartPost or Ground Economy return takes a few minutes once you have the label:
- Get the label: use the prepaid return label that came with your order, or the one the merchant emails or posts in your account.
- Pack the item: reuse the original box if it’s sturdy, cover or remove old shipping labels, and seal it well.
- Attach the label: place the new return label flat on the largest side of the package.
- Drop it off: take it to a FedEx location or use one of the USPS options below.
- Keep the tracking number: it’s on the label and receipt, and you can follow the return on the FedEx tracking page.
If you need to make your own label instead of using the merchant’s, our walkthrough on how to create a FedEx label covers the steps, and a FedEx Large Box is one option when the original carton is too damaged to reuse for the trip back.
Where Can You Drop Off a SmartPost Return?
FedEx lists two sets of drop-off options for Ground Economy Returns. You can use any of its 56,000+ FedEx locations, or you can give the package to the Postal Service in one of three ways:
| Drop-off option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx location | Hand the labeled package to staff at a FedEx Office or other FedEx drop-off point | Getting a drop-off receipt on the spot |
| Post Office | Bring the labeled package to the counter at a USPS Post Office | Customers who pass a Post Office more often than a FedEx store |
| USPS collection box | Drop a small labeled package in a blue collection box it fits in | Small, light returns |
| Your mailbox or porch | Leave the package for your mail carrier to pick up on the route | Returning without leaving home |
FedEx lists the USPS options for Ground Economy Returns labels specifically, so don’t assume another kind of FedEx return label can go in a mailbox. If the label doesn’t say Ground Economy or SmartPost, take it to a FedEx location.
How Long Do SmartPost Returns Take?
FedEx says Ground Economy Returns typically deliver to the merchant in 2 to 7 business days from scan, Monday through Saturday. The clock starts at the first scan, not when you drop the package in a box, so a mailbox or porch pickup adds the time until the carrier collects it.
Arrival at the merchant’s warehouse isn’t the same as a refund. Most retailers inspect the item before crediting you, so add their processing time to the transit time. If tracking shows the return stalled or heading back to you, our guide to FedEx return to sender explains what each status means. Outbound Ground Economy shipments follow a different schedule, which our guide on whether FedEx SmartPost delivers on Sundays covers.
What Are the Limits on SmartPost Returns?
Returns must weigh 70 pounds or less, and Ground Economy packages are limited to 130 inches in combined length and girth. FedEx describes 1 to 10 pounds as the ideal weight range for the service, which is why it’s common for clothing, shoes and other light e-commerce returns.
FedEx also lists options that Ground Economy doesn’t support, which matter when deciding what to send this way:
- No money-back guarantee and no declared value coverage
- No address correction and no signature proof of delivery
- No evening, appointment or date-certain delivery
- No hazardous materials
- No redirect to a FedEx hold location and no shipper-requested redirects
Because there’s no declared value option, high-value or fragile returns are better sent with a service that supports declared value, such as FedEx Ground, or a time-definite service like FedEx Express Saver when the merchant needs the item back by a set day.
Should a Business Offer SmartPost Returns?
Ground Economy Returns suit merchants whose returns are light, low-value and not urgent, and who want customers to have the most drop-off choices. The USPS mailbox and porch options are a real convenience for shoppers who don’t live near a FedEx store.
| Return profile | Good fit for Ground Economy Returns? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel and accessories, under 10 lb | Yes | Inside FedEx’s ideal weight range and rarely urgent |
| Electronics or jewelry | Usually no | No declared value or signature proof of delivery |
| Items you must restock fast | Usually no | 2 to 7 business days with no delivery guarantee |
| Heavy returns over 70 lb | No | Over the returns weight limit |
Businesses comparing return costs across carriers can find practical ideas in our guide on how to ship for less. If you’re open to UPS or USPS for your shipments instead, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS with no subscription or minimums, and you can compare both on the same package in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a SmartPost return label still valid?
Yes. FedEx renamed SmartPost Returns to FedEx Ground Economy Returns but says the service is the same, and preprinted labels may still carry the SmartPost name. Use the label as provided and drop the package at a FedEx location or through the Postal Service. If the merchant set an expiration date for its return window, that date still applies.
Can I put a SmartPost return in my mailbox?
Yes, for Ground Economy Returns. FedEx lists leaving the package in your mailbox or on your porch for USPS pickup as a drop-off option, along with a Post Office counter or a USPS collection box. The package must fit safely, and the 2-to-7-business-day transit time starts at the first scan, so allow for the time until your carrier collects it.
How long do SmartPost returns take to reach the seller?
FedEx says Ground Economy Returns typically deliver in 2 to 7 business days from scan, Monday through Saturday, depending on distance. That’s transit to the merchant only. Most sellers then inspect the item before issuing a refund, so allow extra days for their processing after tracking shows the return delivered.
What’s the weight limit for SmartPost returns?
Ground Economy Returns cover packages of 70 pounds or less, and Ground Economy packages can measure up to 130 inches in combined length and girth. FedEx calls 1 to 10 pounds the ideal weight for the service. Heavier or high-value returns are better sent with a service that offers declared value coverage.
Sources
- FedEx: FedEx Ground Economy and FedEx Ground Economy Returns service page (fedex.com/en-us/shipping/ground/economy.html): former SmartPost names, 2 to 7 business days, 70 lb and 130 in limits, 56,000+ locations, USPS drop-off options, unavailable options, contractual access
- FedEx: Tracking (fedex.com/en-us/tracking.html)
Part of our FedEx Services guide. Related: FedEx Express Saver, FedEx SmartPost Time in Transit Map, FedEx 2Day vs Express Saver.
