UPS Tracking and Delivery: Statuses, Times and Fixes

UPS tracking and delivery work through scans: each UPS package gets a tracking number (for most U.S. shipments, 18 characters starting with “1Z”), and every scan from pickup to the doorstep updates its status at UPS.com or in the UPS app. Delivery speed depends on the service, from next-business-day air to 1–5 business days for UPS Ground.

This guide explains how UPS tracking works, what the main statuses mean, how long each service takes, and what to do when a delivery doesn’t go as planned.

How Does UPS Tracking Work?

UPS tracking starts when a label is created and becomes useful once UPS scans the package. The first physical scan happens at pickup or drop-off, and later scans are recorded as the package leaves and arrives at UPS facilities, goes out on a delivery vehicle and is delivered.

The UPS tracking number is printed under the barcode on the label and appears in the shipper’s confirmation email. You can enter it at UPS.com, in the UPS app or in a text message to UPS, and UPS.com accepts several tracking numbers at once.

Scans don’t happen at a fixed interval. A Ground package may show no new event while it rides a truck between hubs for a day or more, then post several scans in a row. Our explainer on when UPS scans packages walks through the scan points in detail.

What Do UPS Tracking Statuses Mean?

Most UPS tracking pages move through the same handful of statuses:

A package stuck on “Label Created” usually hasn’t been tendered to UPS yet; our guide to UPS Label Created status explains when to worry. If the status says the shipment was voided or cancelled, the shipper likely cancelled the label before pickup, which our guide on how to cancel a UPS shipment covers from the sender’s side.

How Long Does UPS Delivery Take by Service?

UPS delivery time is counted in business days, Monday through Friday, excluding UPS holidays. The service on the label sets the commitment:

The estimated delivery date on the tracking page updates as the package moves. Our guide on how to know when UPS will arrive explains how to narrow that estimate to a delivery window.

What Time of Day Does UPS Deliver?

UPS Ground has no time-of-day commitment. Business addresses usually receive deliveries during business hours, while residential stops can run into the evening, especially during the holiday peak.

Air services are different: the commitment time (for example, 10:30 a.m. for many Next Day Air destinations) is part of what the shipper paid for. If an air package misses its commitment, the shipper may be able to request a service refund under the UPS service guarantee, which UPS has suspended for some services in past peak seasons.

What Happens When a UPS Delivery Fails?

If the driver can’t complete a delivery, UPS usually leaves an InfoNotice and tries again on the next business day. UPS generally makes up to three delivery attempts before holding the package or returning it to the sender.

• Delivery attempted: follow the UPS InfoNotice instructions to reschedule, sign online where allowed, or pick the package up.
• Signature required: if nobody is home, see the options for a UPS signature-required delivery when you’re not home.
• Address problem: UPS may hold the package until the shipper or recipient provides a corrected address.
• Weather or operational delay: these usually clear without action; watch the updated delivery date.

Our step-by-step guide to how many times UPS will attempt delivery covers what happens after the final attempt. Rather than wait for a redelivery, you can often redirect the package to one of the nearby UPS locations and Access Points and pick it up there.

How Can You Control a UPS Delivery?

UPS My Choice gives recipients more control than the public tracking page. A free membership sends alerts for incoming packages and lets you set delivery instructions, and you can request changes such as rescheduling a delivery or redirecting it to a UPS Access Point. Some change requests carry a fee, and shippers can block changes on certain shipments.

After delivery, UPS records the time and often a location note or photo. If you need documentation, the UPS proof of delivery shows the details UPS captured, and our guide to UPS delivery photos explains when a photo is taken.

How Do Shippers Avoid Tracking and Delivery Problems?

Most tracking gaps and failed deliveries trace back to the label or the address. Print sharp barcodes on proper stock, place the label flat on top of the box, and validate the address before printing. Our guide to UPS labels and supplies covers label stock and free UPS packaging.

Choose the slowest service that still meets the deadline. Ground is reliable for most packages, and comparing services in the ParcelPath rate calculator shows how much faster delivery costs for your specific box. ParcelPath is free and offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS rates, with the same UPS tracking as a label bought from UPS directly.

When something does go wrong, UPS claims and support is the route for lost or damaged packages, and the UPS FAQ guide answers common policy questions. For a wider view of services and rates, start at our UPS shipping hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I track a UPS package without a tracking number?

If you’re the recipient, sign up for UPS My Choice: once your address is verified, packages addressed to you appear in your account even without a tracking number. If you’re the shipper, your UPS.com shipping history or your shipping platform lists every label you created, along with its tracking number and current status.

Why hasn’t my UPS tracking updated in a day or two?

UPS tracking updates only when a package is scanned. A Ground package can travel between hubs for a day or more without a new scan, especially on long cross-country legs, so a pause isn’t unusual. If there’s no update after the estimated delivery date, contact the shipper, who can open an investigation with UPS.

How many times will UPS try to deliver a package?

UPS generally makes up to three delivery attempts, usually on consecutive business days, and leaves an InfoNotice after a missed attempt. After the final attempt, the package may be held for pickup at a UPS facility or Access Point for a limited time before it’s returned to the sender.

Can I change where my UPS package is delivered?

Often, yes. Through UPS My Choice or the tracking page, recipients can request to reschedule a delivery, redirect it to another address, or send it to a UPS Access Point for pickup. Some changes carry a fee, and the shipper can restrict changes, so the option isn’t available on every package.

Sources

• UPS: Tracking
• UPS: Shipping Guides and Resources
• UPS: Holiday Schedule