Cross Country Shipping: Coast to Coast Rates

Cross country routes spanning 1,800+ miles fall into Zone 8, the highest domestic zone for the continental US. This includes LA to NYC (2,800 miles), Seattle to Miami (3,300 miles), and San Francisco to Boston (3,100 miles). Zone 8 pricing is the maximum rate tier - about 40-50% higher than local Zone 1-2 shipping.

The key advantage of Zone 8 is that flat rate options become incredibly cost-effective. Since flat rates are the same regardless of distance, they offer maximum savings at maximum distance. A 10 lb shipment that costs $20+ by weight might fit in a Large Flat Rate Box for $21.60.

USPS: Dominates coast-to-coast shipping for packages under 10 lbs. Ground Advantage delivers reliably in 4-6 days. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are the secret weapon - same price from LA to NYC as LA to Phoenix, but massive Zone 8 savings.

UPS: Best for heavier packages (15+ lbs) where their pricing becomes competitive. Ground takes 5 days coast-to-coast. Their network handles oversized items well. UPS SurePost can save money for non-urgent lightweight packages.

FedEx: Similar to UPS for heavy shipments. FedEx Ground is reliable at 5 days transit. Their 2Day and Overnight services are excellent when speed matters and budget permits ($40-100+).

Coast-to-coast ground shipping takes 4-6 days depending on carrier and exact route. For most shipments, this timeframe is acceptable. However, cross-country express shipping costs significantly more than regional express due to the distance.

Ground makes sense when: You have 5-6 days flexibility, shipping non-urgent items, or the shipment value doesn't justify express costs. Ground is 60-80% cheaper than express at Zone 8 distances.

Express makes sense when: Time-sensitive documents, perishables, urgent business needs, or when guaranteed delivery date matters. Priority Mail (2-3 days) offers middle-ground speed. UPS/FedEx overnight runs $60-120+ for cross-country but guarantees morning delivery.