Economy Shipping Options: The Cheapest Ways to Ship
When speed is not a priority, economy shipping offers the lowest rates. Compare budget shipping options and save up to 70% on delivery costs.
What is the cheapest economy shipping option?
USPS Media Mail is the cheapest economy option for books and educational materials, starting at just $3.49. For general packages, USPS Ground Advantage starts around $5.50. For larger packages, FedEx Ground SmartPost and UPS SurePost offer economy rates starting around $6-8 by using USPS for final delivery.
Compare Shipping Rates
Real rates through ShipWave - save up to 54% vs retail
| Carrier | Service | Price | Delivery Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Media Mail | $3.49 | 2-8 Days | Cheapest |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $5.50 | 2-5 Days | |
| UPS | SurePost | $6.85 | 3-7 Days | |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $7.20 | 3-7 Days | |
| USPS | First-Class Package | $4.50 | 2-5 Days | |
| FedEx | SmartPost | $6.95 | 4-8 Days |
Media Mail
Ground Advantage
SurePost
Ground Economy
First-Class Package
SmartPost
* Prices shown are discounted ShipWave rates. Actual rates vary by exact dimensions, weight, and origin/destination.
Get Your Shipping Rate
Compare rates from multiple carriers and save up to 54% on shipping costs
Get Rate
Understanding Economy Shipping Services
Economy shipping prioritizes cost savings over speed. These services use ground transportation, consolidated shipping, and USPS final delivery to minimize costs:
USPS Ground Advantage: The new standard ground service from USPS. Replaces Parcel Select and Retail Ground with improved tracking and 2-5 day delivery. Best for packages up to 70 lbs.
USPS Media Mail: The cheapest option for books, CDs, DVDs, and educational materials. Extremely affordable but limited to qualifying items and can take up to 8 days.
UPS SurePost / FedEx Ground Economy: Hybrid services where UPS/FedEx handles long-distance transport and USPS delivers the final mile. Slightly slower but cheaper than standard ground.
When to Choose Economy Shipping
Economy shipping is ideal when:
- Time is flexible - Recipient can wait 5-7 days for delivery
- Cost is the priority - You want the absolute lowest rate
- Shipping books or media - USPS Media Mail is unbeatable for qualifying items
- Low-value items - Items where expensive shipping does not make sense
- E-commerce free shipping - Offering free shipping with economy delivery
Avoid economy shipping when: The recipient expects fast delivery, it is a gift with a deadline, or the item is time-sensitive (perishables, event supplies).
USPS Media Mail: The Hidden Gem
USPS Media Mail is the most affordable shipping option available, but it has strict content restrictions. Eligible items include:
- Books (at least 8 pages, no advertising)
- CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays
- Sheet music and manuscripts
- Educational materials and printed music
- Sound and video recordings
Not eligible: Magazines, comics with advertising, video games, blank media, and any non-educational materials.
Media Mail packages may be inspected, and using it for ineligible items can result in postage due charges. However, for legitimate media shipments, it is the cheapest option by far - often 50-70% less than standard ground.
Pro Tips to Save More
Use Media Mail for Books
USPS Media Mail is the cheapest option for books and educational materials - often under $4 for several pounds.
Consider Delivery Speed Tradeoffs
Economy services like SurePost can take 7+ days. Make sure your timeline allows for slower delivery.
Package Efficiently
Economy services use dimensional weight pricing. Use the smallest box possible to avoid size-based charges.
Set Customer Expectations
If offering economy shipping, clearly communicate 5-7 day delivery times to avoid customer complaints.
Compare SurePost vs Ground
UPS SurePost is cheaper but slower than UPS Ground. For time-sensitive shipments, ground may be worth the extra cost.
Use for Returns
Economy shipping is perfect for return labels where customers are not paying and speed is not critical.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Economy shipping typically takes 3-8 business days depending on distance and service. USPS Ground Advantage delivers in 2-5 days. UPS SurePost and FedEx Ground Economy take 4-8 days. USPS Media Mail can take up to 8 days.
- Economy shipping is the cheapest, slowest option - often taking 5-8 days. Standard shipping (like UPS Ground or FedEx Ground) is faster (1-5 days) but costs more. Economy services often use USPS for final delivery to save costs.
- Yes, all major economy shipping services include tracking. USPS Ground Advantage, UPS SurePost, and FedEx Ground Economy all provide tracking numbers. However, tracking updates may be less frequent than express services.
- Yes, textbooks qualify for USPS Media Mail as long as they are primarily educational content. Books with incidental advertising (like title pages with publisher info) are acceptable. Catalogs or books that are primarily advertising do not qualify.
- USPS Ground Advantage accepts packages up to 70 lbs. UPS SurePost has a 70 lb limit. Most economy services have the same weight limits as standard ground. For oversized packages, dimensions may affect pricing significantly.
- Economy shipping is cheaper because it uses slower ground transport, consolidates packages, and often uses USPS for final delivery (cheaper than UPS/FedEx trucks). Carriers optimize truck space over speed, reducing costs.
- Generally no - once a package is shipped with economy service, it cannot be upgraded. If you need faster delivery, you would need to ship a new package with expedited service. Plan your shipping speed at time of purchase.
Partnered with Leading Shipping Companies
We work with all major carriers to bring you the best rates and service options.
Fast, reliable overnight and ground shipping
Available Services:
Comprehensive shipping solutions worldwide
Available Services:
Affordable shipping to every address in the US
Available Services:
Leading international shipping and logistics
Available Services:
Real-Time Rates
Live pricing from all carriers updated continuously for accuracy.
Volume Discounts
The more you ship, the more you save with our tiered pricing.
Customer Support
24/7 support to help with all your shipping questions and needs.
Related Shipping Guides
Ground shipping offers the best value for non-urgent packages. Compare UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, and USPS rates to find the cheapest option for your shipment.
Flat Rate Shipping: When It Saves You MoneyFlat rate shipping charges one price regardless of weight - perfect for heavy, dense items. Compare all flat rate options and learn when to use them.
Cheapest Shipping Option: Complete GuideFinding the lowest shipping rate requires comparing all options. We break down the cheapest carrier for every situation.
Cheap 3 Day Shipping: Best Budget Express OptionsGet express delivery without the overnight price tag. Compare 3-day shipping rates from all carriers and find the most affordable option for your timeline.
Priority Mail vs Ground Shipping: Which Should You Choose?Deciding between faster Priority Mail and cheaper ground shipping? Compare delivery times, costs, and features to pick the right service for your needs.
Popular Shipping Calculators
Hear from Our Customers
Join thousands of satisfied customers who are saving money and time with ShipWave.
Sarah Johnson
Saved $2,400Handmade Crafts Co.
"ShipWave has saved us thousands on shipping costs. The interface is so easy to use, and the savings are incredible. Highly recommend!"
Mike Chen
Saved $5,600Tech Gadgets Store
"As an e-commerce business, shipping costs were killing our margins. ShipWave changed everything - we now save 45% on every shipment."
Lisa Rodriguez
Saved $1,800Boutique Fashion
"The rate comparison feature is amazing. I can see all options at once and choose what works best for each customer. Game changer!"
David Thompson
Saved $8,200Home Goods Direct
"Customer service is outstanding and the platform never goes down. We process hundreds of labels weekly without any issues."
Ready to Save on Shipping?
Compare rates from all major carriers and save up to 54% on your next shipment.
Free to use. No account required.