It depends on how you ship. Dropping off a package that already has a prepaid UPS label at Staples costs nothing extra, because you paid for the label when you bought it. Buying UPS shipping at the Staples counter is different. You pay the counter’s retail-level price, which is typically higher than a discounted label bought online, and it may not exactly match The UPS Store or ups.com, since Staples is an independently operated UPS retailer.
Staples stores are UPS Alliance locations, and many are also listed as UPS Access Points. Knowing which service you’re using at the counter tells you what you’ll pay and who handles problems if the package goes missing.
Is Staples a UPS Access Point?
Yes, many Staples stores are. UPS’s location finder lists Staples stores as UPS Access Point locations that accept pre-packaged, pre-labeled drop-offs and hold packages for pickup with an ID that matches the delivery information. Some have a UPS Access Point locker outside, where you scan a UPS label at the kiosk to drop off a package.
Staples is also more than an Access Point. The UPS Tariff names “UPS Alliance Locations (located within Staples retail locations)” as one type of UPS Third-Party Retailer, alongside The UPS Store and UPS Authorized Shipping Outlets. That’s why a Staples associate can create a UPS shipment for you, not just accept one. Staples says UPS shipping and package drop-off are available in all its stores. Individual locations can still change or close temporarily, so check UPS’s locator before you go. Our guide to UPS locations and Access Points explains how each type of location works.
Does It Cost More to Ship UPS From Staples?
Compared with a discounted online label, usually yes. Compared with other UPS counters, not necessarily. Here’s how the three ways of shipping at Staples compare:
| How you ship at Staples | What sets the price | How it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Drop off a prepaid UPS label | Whatever you paid when you bought the label | No extra charge to drop it off |
| Buy UPS shipping at the counter | The store’s retail-level counter price | Typically higher than discounted online labels; may differ from The UPS Store |
| Buy packing, boxes or supplies | Staples’ retail price for each item | An added cost on top of postage |
The UPS Tariff says UPS’s Retail Rates apply to shipments processed and paid for at The UPS Store and UPS Customer Centers. Even there, charges for value-added services can vary. It describes Third-Party Retailers, including the Alliance locations inside Staples, as independently owned and operated businesses, not UPS agents. For a package you drop off already processed, UPS says you receive the rates that applied to that transaction, so where you drop it off doesn’t change the price.
In short, the UPS service, weight, size and distance drive most of the cost at any counter. The bigger saving comes from where you buy the label. Our comparison of whether The UPS Store charges more than UPS explains the same counter-versus-online gap.
What UPS Services Can You Ship From Staples?
Staples’ UPS shipping page lists the main UPS domestic services and international express:
| UPS service at Staples | Delivery commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| UPS Next Day Air Early | Next business day, early morning to major cities | Time-critical documents and parts |
| UPS Next Day Air | Next business day by 10:30 a.m., noon or end of day, depending on destination | Urgent overnight shipments |
| UPS Next Day Air Saver | Next business day, afternoon to major cities | Overnight when afternoon arrival is fine |
| UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. / 2nd Day Air | Second business day (morning for A.M.) | Fast but less urgent shipments |
| UPS 3 Day Select | Third business day, 48 contiguous states | A guaranteed day at a lower tier than air |
| UPS Ground | Typically 1 to 5 business days, all 50 states and Puerto Rico | Most everyday packages |
| UPS Worldwide Express | Guaranteed international express | Urgent international shipments |
UPS lists the same weight and size limits for these domestic services: packages up to 150 lbs. and 108 inches long. For timing by service and distance, see our guide to how long UPS takes to deliver. Shipping to Puerto Rico is covered by UPS Ground and the air services, and our guide on UPS shipping to Puerto Rico has the details. Holiday cutoffs change every year, and our UPS holiday schedule lists the dates when UPS is closed.
Staples’ shipping page lists UPS services plus UPS and USPS package drop-off. It doesn’t list FedEx. If you’re deciding between carriers, our comparison of the key differences between UPS and USPS helps you choose.
Who Handles Claims for a UPS Package Shipped at Staples?
This is the biggest practical difference, and it isn’t about price. When you buy shipping at a Staples counter, the UPS Tariff treats the retailer as the shipper of record. UPS says it deals solely with the Third-Party Retailer on tracing requests, claims and guarantees, returns of undeliverable packages and billing. Its liability is to the retailer, not to you. If a package you shipped at the counter is lost or damaged, start the claim with the Staples store that shipped it and keep your receipt.
If you drop off a label you bought yourself, you’re the shipper and you deal with UPS (or your label provider) directly. Our UPS claims and support guide walks through that process.
Coverage works the same either way. UPS includes a default liability limit per package and charges extra to declare a higher value. Our guide to UPS shipping, coverage and services explains declared value and when to add it.
How Can You Pay Less to Ship UPS From Staples?
The simplest way is to buy the label before you walk in, then use Staples only as the drop-off point:
- Buy a discounted label online. Compare UPS and USPS prices for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator. ParcelPath is free, with no subscription or per-label fees, and offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS.
- Skip the printer. ParcelPath supports UPS Mobile Barcode, so you can show a barcode on your phone at a UPS Store and have the label printed there. That only works at UPS Store locations, so for a Staples drop-off, bring a printed label.
- Pack it yourself. Use a sturdy box sized close to the item. Oversized boxes can push the billed weight up through dimensional weight.
- Drop it off at a participating Staples, or any UPS Access Point. The associate scans the prepaid label, and you can track the package right away.
For lighter, non-urgent parcels, UPS Ground Saver through ParcelPath is another lower-priced option. Our UPS shipping cost breakdown explains which factors drive the price.
Other places to drop off a prepaid UPS label
If there’s no Staples nearby, UPS drop off at CVS works the same way at locations UPS lists as Access Points. Don’t count on Walgreens, though: our check of whether Walgreens takes UPS packages found that Walgreens isn’t part of the UPS Access Point network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is shipping UPS at Staples more expensive than The UPS Store?
Not necessarily. Both are counters that charge retail-level prices, and the UPS service, weight, size and distance drive most of the cost. Both are independently operated UPS retailers, so prices and fees for extras such as packing can differ between stores. A discounted label bought online is usually the cheaper route at either one.
Does Staples charge to drop off a prepaid UPS package?
No extra shipping charge applies to a package that already has a prepaid UPS label. The postage was paid when you bought the label, and UPS says pre-processed packages dropped off at an Access Point keep the rates of that transaction. A Staples associate scans the label to accept the package in the store’s Shipping Services area.
Is Staples a UPS Access Point?
Many Staples stores are listed as UPS Access Point locations, and the UPS Tariff names Staples as the home of UPS Alliance Locations. That means Staples can accept prepaid drop-offs, hold packages for pickup with a matching ID, and create new UPS shipments at the counter. Check UPS’s locator, because individual stores can close temporarily.
Can I ship FedEx from Staples?
Staples’ shipping services page lists UPS shipping, UPS package drop-off and USPS package drop-off. It doesn’t list FedEx, so plan on another location for FedEx packages. For UPS, Staples offers services from Next Day Air Early through UPS Ground, plus UPS Worldwide Express for international shipments.
Sources
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States (Third-Party Retailers, Sec. 16, Sec. 40.1 Retail Rates)
- UPS Locations: UPS Access Point location at Staples (example listing)
- UPS: Domestic Shipping Services (service limits)
- Staples: UPS Shipping Services (staples.com/stores/services/shipping/UPS)
- Staples: Shipping Services (staples.com/lp/shipping-center)
Explore more in our Shipping Services and Solutions hub.
Part of our UPS Shipping Cost Breakdown guide. Related: UPS Discounts, UPS Shipping Rates on Parcelpath, UPS Shipping Rates by Weight.
