UPS 2nd Day Air is UPS’s two-business-day domestic air service: a package shipped on Monday is scheduled for delivery by the end of the day on Wednesday. It reaches all 50 states and Puerto Rico (with some ZIP-level limits in Alaska and Hawaii), delivers to homes and businesses, and accepts packages up to 150 pounds.
It sits between the overnight Next Day Air tiers and the slower UPS 3 Day Select and UPS Ground. This guide covers how the delivery commitment works, how it differs from 2nd Day Air A.M., the size and weight limits, Saturday delivery, the guarantee, and when the service is worth choosing.
What Is UPS 2nd Day Air and How Does It Work?
UPS 2nd Day Air moves packages through the UPS air network so they arrive on the second business day after pickup. UPS describes the commitment as delivery by the end of the business day, and business days run Monday through Friday, so weekends and UPS holidays don’t count toward the two days.
Coverage is broad. UPS says 2nd Day Air delivers to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with some limitations in Alaska and Hawaii, and its zone charts show certain Hawaii ZIP codes with no 2nd Day Air zone at all. If you ship to a remote ZIP, check the UPS time-in-transit tool before promising a date.
The service is available for residential and commercial addresses, and every shipment has a tracking number from the moment the label is created. You can follow each scan in UPS tracking, from origin scan through out-for-delivery and the final delivery record.
How the two business days are counted
| Picked up on | Scheduled delivery (standard 2nd Day Air) |
|---|---|
| Monday | Wednesday, end of day |
| Tuesday | Thursday, end of day |
| Wednesday | Friday, end of day |
| Thursday | Monday, end of day (or Saturday with the Saturday Delivery option) |
| Friday | Tuesday, end of day |
A UPS holiday that falls inside the window pushes delivery back one business day. Pickup timing matters too: a package dropped off after the location’s last air pickup is treated as shipped the next business day.
How Is 2nd Day Air Different From 2nd Day Air A.M.?
UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. is the morning version of the same two-day service. It targets delivery by late morning on the second business day to commercial addresses in areas where UPS offers a morning commitment, while standard 2nd Day Air is an end-of-day commitment.
The A.M. service has a narrower footprint. UPS says it delivers to the 48 contiguous states and limited addresses in Alaska and Hawaii, and morning delivery is aimed at businesses rather than homes. If the recipient is a residence, standard 2nd Day Air is usually the better fit because the morning commitment typically doesn’t apply there.
| Feature | UPS 2nd Day Air | UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery commitment | End of day, second business day | Morning, second business day (commercial) |
| Coverage | All 50 states and Puerto Rico, some AK/HI limits | 48 contiguous states, limited AK/HI addresses |
| Residential delivery | Yes | Morning commitment is for business addresses |
| Saturday delivery option | Yes, for Thursday pickups in eligible areas | Not typically offered |
| Best for | Most two-day shipments to homes and offices | Business documents and parts needed by midday |
How Does 2nd Day Air Compare With Other UPS Services?
UPS sells several domestic speed tiers, and 2nd Day Air is the middle step. UPS Next Day Air shipping delivers on the next business day, while UPS 3 Day Select and UPS Ground trade speed for a lower price. The full lineup, with each tier’s transit commitment, is in our guide to UPS services.
| Service | Delivery commitment | Guarantee status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Next Day Air | Next business day, typically by morning to most commercial areas | Covered | Urgent shipments |
| UPS Next Day Air Saver | Next business day, end of day | Covered | Overnight without a morning deadline |
| UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. | Second business day, morning (commercial) | Covered | Business deliveries needed early |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | Second business day, end of day | Suspended (see below) | Fast delivery without overnight cost |
| UPS 3 Day Select | Third business day, end of day | Suspended | Economy expedited shipping |
| UPS Ground | 1–5 business days by distance | Suspended | Standard shipping |
The gap between 2nd Day Air and Ground shrinks for short distances. A nearby destination may be only one or two days away by Ground, so check the Ground transit map before paying for air. For longer, cross-country lanes, 2nd Day Air can save two or three days over Ground, and our comparison of UPS 3 Day Select vs Ground shows where the next tier down makes sense.
What Are the Size and Weight Limits for UPS 2nd Day Air?
UPS 2nd Day Air uses the standard UPS package limits: up to 150 pounds, up to 108 inches in length, and up to 165 inches in combined length and girth (length plus twice the width plus twice the height). Anything larger has to move as freight.
Packages near those limits pick up extra handling charges, and UPS bills air packages on the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight. Our page on UPS size and weight limits explains the Additional Handling and Large Package thresholds in detail.
- Maximum weight: 150 lbs per package
- Maximum length: 108 inches
- Maximum length plus girth: 165 inches
- Packaging: your own box or UPS-branded Express packaging, which is meant for air services; see our guide to UPS box sizes
Does UPS 2nd Day Air Deliver on Saturday?
Yes, as an add-on. With the Saturday Delivery option, UPS says a 2nd Day Air package picked up on Thursday can be delivered by end of day on Saturday, depending on the destination. Without the option, a Thursday shipment lands the following Monday.
For air packages, the shipper selects Saturday Delivery when creating the label and attaches a Saturday Delivery sticker to each package. Saturday service is limited to certain areas, and an extra charge applies. Our guide to UPS Saturday delivery covers which services deliver on weekends.
Is UPS 2nd Day Air Guaranteed?
Not at the moment. UPS suspended its money-back Service Guarantee for all shipments in March 2020 and has since reinstated it only for specific services. Its current guarantee notice lists Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver and 2nd Day Air A.M. as covered, and standard 2nd Day Air isn’t on that list.
In practice, 2nd Day Air still carries a scheduled delivery date and most packages arrive on time. But if a refund for a late package matters, ship 2nd Day Air A.M. or a Next Day Air service instead, and check the UPS Service Guarantee page before peak season, since UPS can change the list at any time.
How Do You Ship UPS 2nd Day Air for Less?
The fastest way to lower the cost is to avoid retail counter pricing. UPS retail rates are the highest UPS rates, and they rise every year with the General Rate Increase. Discounted rates through a shipping platform start well below that.
ParcelPath is a free shipping platform with no subscription, no per-label fee, no minimums and no contracts, and it offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS. You can compare live UPS 2nd Day Air rates against Ground and USPS in the ParcelPath rate calculator before you decide.
- No printer needed: create the label and show a UPS Mobile Barcode at a UPS Store location.
- Insurance: UPS includes limited declared value coverage, and ParcelPath offers Shipsurance coverage for higher-value items.
- Right-size the box: because air packages are billed on dimensional weight, a smaller box can cost less than a lighter package in a large one.
- Check Ground first: on short lanes, Ground often arrives just as fast for less.
More general cost-cutting ideas, from packaging to timing, are in our guide on how to ship for less.
When Should You Choose UPS 2nd Day Air?
2nd Day Air is the right pick when a package needs to arrive faster than Ground can manage, but not overnight. Common uses include:
- Premium e-commerce shipping: a two-day option at checkout while Ground stays the default.
- Cross-country gifts and replacements: coast-to-coast Ground can take five business days, while 2nd Day Air takes two.
- Documents and parts: contracts, samples or spare parts with a firm but not urgent deadline. If they must arrive by morning, use 2nd Day Air A.M.
- Moderately perishable items: goods that can handle two days in transit with proper insulated packaging.
Choose something else when the recipient needs it tomorrow (Next Day Air), when a third day is acceptable (3 Day Select), or when the destination is already within one or two Ground days. Our roundup of shipping services and solutions compares other carriers’ options, and UPS 2nd Day Air is domestic only, so international shipments need a UPS Worldwide service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does UPS 2nd Day Air take?
UPS 2nd Day Air delivers by the end of the day on the second business day after pickup. Business days are Monday through Friday, so a package shipped on Thursday arrives the following Monday unless you add Saturday Delivery. A UPS holiday inside the window adds a business day, and late drop-offs count from the next business day.
Does UPS 2nd Day Air deliver to residential addresses?
Yes. Standard UPS 2nd Day Air delivers to residential and commercial addresses across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with some ZIP-level limits in Alaska and Hawaii. The morning 2nd Day Air A.M. service is different: its morning commitment is aimed at business addresses, so for a home recipient the standard end-of-day service is usually the right choice.
What is the weight limit for UPS 2nd Day Air?
UPS 2nd Day Air accepts packages up to 150 pounds, up to 108 inches long and up to 165 inches in combined length and girth. Packages near those limits may be charged Additional Handling or Large Package fees, and heavier or larger shipments must move as freight instead of as a small parcel.
Is UPS 2nd Day Air money-back guaranteed?
Not currently. UPS suspended its Service Guarantee in March 2020 and has reinstated it only for listed services, including Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver and 2nd Day Air A.M. Standard 2nd Day Air is not on that list, so a late package isn’t eligible for a refund under the guarantee.
Does UPS 2nd Day Air deliver on Saturday?
Only with the Saturday Delivery option. UPS says 2nd Day Air packages picked up on Thursday can be delivered on Saturday by end of day in eligible areas when the shipper selects Saturday Delivery and applies the Saturday sticker. An extra charge applies, and without the option a Thursday shipment arrives on Monday.
Disclaimer: Discounts are off UPS daily rates and apply to shipments from the U.S. only. Rates and discounts can change at any time without notice.
Sources
- UPS Domestic Shipping: Ground and Air Services
- UPS Saturday Delivery
- UPS Service Guarantee
- UPS Service Codes (service descriptions)
Part of our UPS Services guide. Related: UPS Size and Weight Limits, UPS Next Day Air Shipping, UPS Worldwide Saver.
