How Long Does USPS Retail Ground Take? Now 2–5 Days

USPS Retail Ground no longer exists. USPS retired it in July 2023 and replaced it with USPS Ground Advantage, which delivers in 2–5 days within the contiguous U.S. When you ask for ground shipping at a Post Office today, that’s the service you get. Packages to Alaska, Hawaii and other offshore destinations, and packages with hazardous materials, can take longer.

Retail Ground was the slower, lower-cost option sold at the Post Office counter, and its delivery window was historically quoted at 2–8 days. Ground Advantage replaced it with a shorter window, tracking and insurance included. This guide explains what changed, how long Ground Advantage takes, and what can slow a package down.

What Happened to USPS Retail Ground?

USPS launched USPS Ground Advantage in July 2023 and retired three ground services at the same time. In its launch announcement, USPS said it was retiring:

• USPS Retail Ground
• USPS Parcel Select Ground
• First-Class Package Service

Ground Returns and First-Class Package Return Service were retired too. Retail Ground labels can’t be bought anymore, so any “Retail Ground” delivery time you find online describes a service that has ended. If you’re shipping with USPS ground today, the time that matters is Ground Advantage’s.

How Long Does USPS Ground Advantage Take?

USPS lists Ground Advantage delivery as 2–5 days. Distance drives where a package lands in that range: a package going to a nearby city usually arrives toward the shorter end, and a coast-to-coast package toward the longer end.

USPS counts the days from the day it accepts the package, and its launch announcement described the window as 2 to 5 business days within the continental U.S. A package dropped off after the last collection, or on a weekend, starts its clock on the next business day. Check the USPS holiday schedule before you ship close to a holiday.

For a specific estimate, enter the origin and destination ZIP Codes in USPS’s online price calculator or Click-N-Ship, which show an expected delivery date for each service. Our USPS zone map explains how distance zones work, and the USPS shipping hub links to more USPS delivery guides.

What Can Slow Down Ground Advantage Delivery?

A few things push a package to the long end of the window or past it:

1. Distance. Longer trips need more days on the road between processing plants.
2. Offshore destinations. Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories are outside the 2–5 day contiguous standard.
3. Hazardous materials. Items that can only travel by ground, such as some batteries and flammable products, can take longer.
4. Peak season and weather. Volume in November and December and severe storms slow processing and transport.
5. Late drop-off. A package left after the last pickup at a Post Office or collection box isn’t accepted until the next business day.

If tracking stops moving inside the window, give it a day or two before you worry. Our USPS tracking ID guide explains how to look up a package and read its scans, and the USPS delivery policy guide covers service standards and delivery rules.

What Are the Ground Advantage Size, Weight and Insurance Limits?

USPS Ground Advantage has the same size limits Retail Ground had, and it adds tracking and insurance at no extra charge. Here are the specifications from usps.com:

• Maximum weight: 70 lbs.
• Maximum size: 130 inches in combined length and girth.
• Lightweight packages: priced in ounce tiers up to 15.999 oz., then by the pound.
• Dimensional weight: applies to packages larger than 1 cubic foot.
• Tracking: USPS Tracking is included.
• Insurance: up to $100 is included, and you can buy more coverage, up to $5,000, for merchandise.
• Hazardous materials: Ground Advantage is the main USPS option for hazmat items that may only travel by ground.

To see what a package will cost, compare live Ground Advantage rates for your package in the ParcelPath calculator.

Retail Ground vs. Ground Advantage vs. Priority Mail: How Do They Compare?

Ground Advantage is the usual choice when the package isn’t urgent. Priority Mail is worth the step up when speed matters across long distances, and our guide to how long Priority Mail takes covers its delivery times. For a side-by-side look, see USPS Priority Mail vs. Ground Advantage.

If you’re comparing carriers too, UPS Ground runs on its own network with a 1–5 business day window in the contiguous U.S. Our guide to how long UPS Ground takes breaks that down.

How Do You Ship With Ground Advantage?

You can buy a Ground Advantage label at a Post Office, on USPS.com or through a shipping platform. Here’s the process:

1. Weigh and measure the package and confirm it’s within 70 lbs. and 130 inches in length plus girth.
2. Buy the label at the counter, on USPS.com Click-N-Ship, or through a platform with commercial pricing.
3. Enter both ZIP Codes so the price and expected delivery date reflect the distance.
4. Attach the label. Every Ground Advantage label includes a tracking number.
5. Hand it over at a Post Office or collection box, or schedule a free USPS pickup.

ParcelPath gives you commercial Ground Advantage discounts of up to 89% off USPS retail, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum. You can schedule free USPS pickups, or use a USPS Label Broker QR code to print the label at the Post Office if you don’t have a printer. For more ways to cut costs, see our guide on how to ship for less and our roundup of shipping services and solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is USPS Retail Ground still available?

No. USPS retired Retail Ground in July 2023 when it launched USPS Ground Advantage. The same change retired Parcel Select Ground and First-Class Package Service. If you ask for the cheapest ground option at a Post Office counter today, the clerk will sell you Ground Advantage, which delivers in 2–5 days in the contiguous U.S.

Is Ground Advantage faster than Retail Ground was?

Yes. Retail Ground was historically quoted at 2–8 days, while USPS lists Ground Advantage at 2–5 days within the contiguous U.S. Ground Advantage also includes USPS Tracking and up to $100 of insurance, and it keeps the same 70 lb. weight limit and 130-inch combined length and girth limit.

How long does USPS Ground Advantage take to Alaska or Hawaii?

Longer than the 2–5 day contiguous standard. USPS notes that Ground Advantage packages to Alaska, Hawaii and other offshore destinations may take more time, because they travel farther and depend on fewer transportation options. Check the expected delivery date in USPS’s price calculator for your exact ZIP Codes.

Does USPS Ground Advantage deliver on Saturdays?

Yes, in most areas. USPS delivers mail and packages Monday through Saturday, so a Ground Advantage package can arrive on a Saturday if that is when it reaches your local Post Office. USPS also delivers some packages on Sundays in larger markets, but federal holidays are not regular delivery days.

Sources

• USPS: USPS Ground Advantage
• USPS Newsroom: Introducing USPS Ground Advantage (July 10, 2023)

Part of our USPS Delivery Policy guide. Related: USPS Holiday Schedule.