Table of Contents
- What UPS pickup options are available?
- How do you schedule a UPS pickup online?
- Can you schedule a UPS pickup by phone?
- How does UPS On-Call Pickup work?
- Which recurring UPS pickup fits a business?
- Do UPS pickups cost extra?
- When is drop-off better than scheduling a pickup?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
UPS pickup scheduling means booking a UPS driver to collect labeled packages at your home or business, either once through UPS On-Call Pickup or on a recurring plan such as Daily, Day-Specific or Smart Pickup. You can schedule a one-time pickup for the same day or a future day at ups.com, in the UPS app, or by calling 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877).
The right choice depends on how often you ship. Occasional shippers usually book On-Call Pickup as needed, businesses with steady volume set up a recurring pickup, and anyone who passes a UPS location regularly can skip scheduling entirely and drop packages off.
What UPS pickup options are available?
UPS groups its pickup services into one-time and recurring options. Every option requires packages that are already labeled; the driver collects them but does not create labels on the spot.
| Pickup option | How it is scheduled | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| On-Call Pickup (one-time) | Request a same-day or future-day pickup online, in the app or by phone | Occasional shippers and one-off large shipments |
| Daily Pickup | A driver stops at a set time every business day | Businesses shipping every weekday |
| Day-Specific Pickup | You choose which weekdays (Monday to Friday) the driver comes | Businesses that ship on a predictable few days each week |
| Smart Pickup (shown on ups.com as Automatic Pickup) | A pickup is requested automatically when you process shipments in your UPS account | Account holders with irregular daily volume |
| Drop-off (no pickup) | Take labeled packages to a UPS Store, UPS Access Point or drop box | Anyone near a UPS location |
How do you schedule a UPS pickup online?
Online scheduling through ups.com or the UPS app is the quickest route. The exact screens change from time to time, but the steps are consistent:
- Sign in at ups.com (or the UPS app) and open the Schedule a Pickup page.
- Enter the pickup address and say whether it is a residence or a business.
- Choose a same-day or future-day pickup date and the earliest time packages will be ready.
- Enter the number of packages, the total weight and any heavy or oversized pieces.
- Add driver instructions, such as “packages on the side porch,” and select how the pickup is paid.
- Submit the request and save the confirmation number, which you need to change or cancel it.
One request covers every package at the address. UPS states that it picks up all of your packages with a single pickup request and does not add pickup fees per package.
Can you schedule a UPS pickup by phone?
Yes. Call 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) and an agent books the On-Call Pickup for you. Have the pickup address, package count, total weight and your payment details ready, plus your UPS account number if you have one.
The phone route is helpful for heavy or multi-piece shipments, where an agent can confirm the driver will have room, and for residential pickups where online options look limited. It books the same On-Call Pickup service as the website.
How does UPS On-Call Pickup work?
On-Call Pickup is UPS’s one-time pickup. You request a driver for today (same-day pickup) or a later date (future-day pickup), and the driver collects your labeled packages during that day’s route. It works with any UPS service, from Ground to Next Day Air and international shipments.
Same-day requests have to reach UPS early enough for a driver to be routed to you, and the latest request time depends on your area. The pickup screen shows the available windows for your address, so book in the morning when a package must leave that day. UPS also lists Saturday pickups as something you can request through ups.com or 1-800-PICK-UPS in areas where they are offered.
Leave packages where the driver can see them, or hand them over at the door. If plans change, use the confirmation number to modify or cancel the request on ups.com before the driver is dispatched.
Which recurring UPS pickup fits a business?
Recurring pickups remove the need to book a driver every time you ship. They are set up through a UPS account and suit businesses more than households.
- Daily Pickup: A driver stops at a scheduled time every business day, whether or not you have packages. It suits warehouses and online stores that ship every weekday.
- Day-Specific Pickup: You pre-select the weekdays the driver comes, so a shop that ships Monday, Wednesday and Friday is not paying for visits on the other days.
- Smart Pickup (Automatic Pickup): When you process a shipment in your UPS account, a pickup is requested for you automatically. UPS says the deadline for a Smart Pickup is generally one hour before your scheduled pickup time.
Recurring pickup charges are set by UPS and your account terms, and UPS publishes them in its rate guides. If a business is weighing UPS against FedEx for a regular pickup, our comparison of whether FedEx or UPS is cheaper looks at the overall cost picture.
Do UPS pickups cost extra?
Yes, UPS charges for driver pickups, while dropping a labeled package at a UPS location costs nothing extra. On-Call Pickup has separate charges for same-day and future-day requests, and UPS adds a residential surcharge when the pickup is at a home. An area surcharge can also apply to residential pickups in rural, extended or remote ZIP codes.
UPS posts the current pickup charges on its On-Call Pickup page and in its rate guide; our overview of UPS shipping rates explains how these accessorials sit on top of the package price. Booking a future-day pickup instead of same-day is the simplest way to keep the pickup charge down.
When is drop-off better than scheduling a pickup?
Drop-off usually wins when you ship a few packages a week and pass a UPS location anyway. The UPS Store, UPS Access Point counters in partner retailers, and UPS drop boxes all accept prepaid labeled packages, and our guide to UPS locations and Access Points explains which sites take which package sizes.
Labels bought through ParcelPath fit this route well. ParcelPath is free to use and offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, and a UPS Mobile Barcode lets the UPS Store print the label for you, so you do not need a printer. If USPS is an option, ParcelPath also supports free USPS pickups. Compare live UPS and USPS rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UPS pickup scheduling free?
Scheduling a UPS pickup is not free. UPS charges for On-Call Pickup, with separate same-day and future-day charges, and adds a residential surcharge when the driver collects from a home. Recurring pickups carry charges set by your account terms. Dropping a prepaid, labeled package at The UPS Store, a UPS Access Point or a drop box has no pickup charge.
How do I schedule a UPS pickup for the same day?
Request an On-Call Pickup at ups.com, in the UPS app or by calling 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) and choose same-day pickup. Same-day requests must reach UPS before the local cutoff, which varies by address, so book in the morning. The pickup screen shows which windows remain available for your ZIP code that day.
Can I schedule a UPS pickup for multiple packages?
Yes. One UPS pickup request covers every labeled package at the address, and UPS says it does not add pickup fees per package. Enter the total package count and weight when you book so the driver arrives with enough room, and flag heavy or oversized pieces so UPS can plan for them.
What is UPS Smart Pickup?
UPS Smart Pickup, now labeled Automatic Pickup on ups.com, requests a pickup for you whenever you process a shipment in your UPS account, so you never book a driver manually. UPS says the deadline for a Smart Pickup is generally one hour before your scheduled pickup time. It suits businesses whose shipping volume varies from day to day.
Sources
- UPS: On-Call (One-Time) Pickup
- UPS: Daily Pickup
- UPS: Day-Specific Pickup
- UPS: Smart Pickup (Automatic Pickup)
Part of our UPS Locations and Access Points guide. Related: UPS Access Points, UPS Drop Off Locations, UPS shipping guide.
