What is UPS 3 Day Select? Should You Use It? (2024)

Key Points:

  • Thirty-nine percent of consumers say that fast delivery is vital to the shipping experience
  • UPS® 3 Day Select delivers in three days within the 48 contiguous US states, not including Alaska or Hawaii
  • Packages cannot be greater than 108 inches in length, and packages cannot be greater than 150 pounds

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Thirty-nine percent of consumers say that fast delivery is vital to the shipping experience. If you’re looking for fast delivery while saving cash, UPS® 3 Day Select is an excellent choice.

As the name suggests, UPS® 3 Day Select delivers in three days within the 48 contiguous US states, not including Alaska or Hawaii. Delivery is guaranteed in three days or less, or your money back. Tracking is free, and optional shipping insurance and signature confirmation are available.

In this blog, we’ll break down the features offered by UPS® 3 Day Select, so you can determine if this shipping option is right for your eCommerce business.

Table of Contents

01 What is UPS® 3 Day Select?

02 How Much Does UPS® 3 Day Cost?

03 UPS® 3 Day Select Limitations

04 How Easyship Can Help

05 UPS® 3 Day Select FAQ

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What is UPS® 3 Day Select?

UPS® 3 Day Select is a day-definite shipping service for all domestic US shipments 一 excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

Here are the key features included with UPS® 3 Day Select:

  • Fast delivery: Delivery is within 1-3 business days
  • Money-back guarantee: You can request a full refund if your package is late
  • Insurance included: $100 of shipping insurance comes with every shipment
  • Tracking included: UPS® 3-Day Select comes with free tracking

How Much Does UPS® 3 Day Cost?

UPS® 3 Day Select is a blend of speed and savings, compared to UPS® 2 Day or other rush services. For example, here are prices to ship a 3-pound package from New York to Los Angeles with other UPS services:

  • 3 Day Select: $42.02 (1 to 3 business days for delivery)
  • Next Day Air Early AM: $142.23 (1 business day for delivery)
  • Ground: $18.59 (1 to 5 business days for delivery)
  • Next Day Air Saver: $99.29 (1 business day for delivery)
  • Next Day Air: $109.45 (1 business day for delivery)
  • 2nd Day Air: $51.18 (1 to 2 business day for delivery)

As we can see, it costs $42.02 to ship a 3-pound package from New York to Los Angeles with 3 Day Select. That’s double the price of UPS® Ground, $10 cheaper than 2-Day Air, and $60 less than Next Day.

Now, let’s compare the cost to ship that same 3-pound package, but from other locations in the US using UPS® 3 Day Select.

  • Chicago to NYC: $28.68
  • Miami to Seattle: $18.59
  • NYC to NYC: $11.15

While retail UPS® 3 Day Select offers affordable rates, you can save even more when connecting with a reliable shipping platform. This way, you can save some extra cash on the side.

Say you want to ship the same 3-pound package from New York to Los Angeles. We’ll use Easyship’s Free Shipping Rates Calculator to calculate the cost of shipping.

As we can see, it costs $16.09 to ship a 3-pound package from NY to LA with UPS® 3 Day Select. That means you’ll save over $25 in comparison to UPS retail shipping rates.

Now, let’s compare UPS® 3 Day Select rates to other US locations.

  • Chicago to NYC: $12.17
  • Miami to Seattle: $16.09
  • NYC to NYC: $9.28

Overall, we can see that Easyship is the clear-cut winner when it comes to affordable UPS rates. Easyship users always get instant access to discounted shipping rates, including UPS.

Related post: UPS SurePost®: What You Need to Know

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UPS® 3 Day Select Limitations

Here are specific shipping restrictions for UPS® 3 Day Select, so there are no hidden surprises:

  • Packages cannot be greater than 108 inches in length, and packages cannot be greater than 150 pounds
  • A scheduled delivery is unavailable. This limitation means you are unable to select a specific date for delivery. Instead, you’ll have to wait patiently for your package to arrive
  • Weekend delivery and pickup services are only available in certain areas depending on your zip code

How Easyship Can Help

UPS® 3 Day Select is an excellent choice for merchants who want faster delivery at a lower price. Enjoy a guaranteed delivery lead time of 1 to 3 business days 一 or your money back. That means you can have some peace of mind when it comes to shipping your parcel with UPS.

Alternatively, connect with a reliable shipping platform to unlock even bigger savings for UPS shipping. For example, Easyship saves users money on every UPS package they send. We also offer up to $5,000 of shipping insurance for any parcel, so you can rest assured your shipment is in good hands.

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Ready to ship with UPS? Access high-volume UPS discounts when you sign up for a free Easyship account today.

UPS® 3 Day Select FAQ

Does UPS still offer 3 Day Select?

Yes, UPS still offers 3 Day Select.

Can UPS® 3 Day Select arrive early?

3 Day Select can arrive early depending on the destination location.

If you found this article informative, you may enjoy the following:

  • USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx: Who Has Better Rates?
  • Does UPS Deliver on Weekends? Everything You Need to Know
What is UPS 3 Day Select? Should You Use It? (2024)

FAQs

What is UPS 3 Day Select? Should You Use It? ›

UPS® 3 Day Select is a day-definite shipping service for all domestic US shipments 一 excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Here are the key features included with UPS® 3 Day Select: Fast delivery: Delivery is within 1-3 business days. Money-back guarantee: You can request a full refund if your package is late.

What does 3 day select mean for UPS? ›

UPS 3 Day Select® offers cost-effective guaranteed service for your less time-sensitive shipments. Guaranteed delivery by the end of the third business day, including Saturday. Available in the 48 contiguous states.

How reliable is UPS 3 day select? ›

UPS 3 Day Select is a reliable shipping option that guarantees delivery within three business days. It is suitable for both domestic and international shipments, offering convenience and peace of mind. On the other hand, Ground Shipping is a cost-effective alternative that uses trucks for delivery.

Does 3 day shipping mean it will arrive in 3 days? ›

Our 3-Day Select service was designed to give your order priority and also makes sure that it ships the same day you ordered and that it arrives on the 3rd business day.

Is UPS 3 day select better than Priority Mail? ›

UPS 3 Day Select provides detailed tracking information and up to $100 in insurance coverage, while USPS Priority Mail offers limited tracking and up to $50 in insurance coverage. If you're shipping valuable or fragile items, it may be worth paying extra for the added protection and peace of mind that UPS provides.

How long does UPS take to deliver once out for delivery? ›

How long does it take after out for delivery? Once marked “Out for Delivery,” the package is usually slated to arrive on the same day, anytime from the early morning at 8 a.m. to the evening till 8 p.m. The exact timing may jive with factors like weather, traffic, and the volume of parcels aboard the delivery truck.

How accurate is UPS's estimated delivery time? ›

Yes, UPS is widely famous for its reasonably accurate delivery times. Its estimated delivery time is spot-on, and sometimes the orders are delivered before the predicted delivery date.

What happens if UPS 3 day select is late? ›

Money-back guarantee: You can request a full refund if your package is late. Insurance included: $100 of shipping insurance comes with every shipment.

What happens when you miss UPS delivery 3 times? ›

UPS may make up to three delivery attempts at its discretion at your address on regular UPS delivery days. After the final attempt, undeliverable packages will be returned to the sender. To prevent your package from being returned or to make alternate delivery arrangements, track your package.

Is UPS ground better than USPS Parcel Select? ›

USPS is often a better option for smaller packages less than 13 pounds. while UPS offers better value for shipping larger, heavier packages. UPS also offers real-time tracking updates, making it a great choice for companies shipping internationally.

Why is my package still in transit after 3 days? ›

Your package could be stuck in transit for many reasons: loss, damage, or even a USPS tracking system failure. More likely, though, the short-staffed US Post Office has misplaced, mislabelled, or simply overlooked your package.

How long does 3rd day shipping take? ›

Delivery time

FedEx 3Day Freight delivers in 3 business days, Monday–Friday, by 3 p.m.** for most shipments. Saturday pickup and delivery are available in many areas for an additional charge.

Is Saturday considered a business day for UPS? ›

FedEx, UPS ground, and express are open Monday to Friday. Saturday is only considered a business day when priority Saturday service is chosen. Otherwise, Saturday is not counted when calculating business days. USPS typically delivers shipments Monday to Saturday, so Saturday can be considered as a business day.

Is UPS 3 Day Select the same as ground? ›

Packages sent through UPS® Ground typically take one to five business days to arrive, depending on the distance between the seller and recipient. UPS Three Day Select® service, on the other hand, offers air transport delivery that takes a maximum of three business days to arrive.

Can UPS 3 day select arrive early? ›

With UPS 3 Day Select, you not only get the benefit of a guaranteed delivery timeframe, but you also enjoy additional perks such as a money-back guarantee, free tracking, and $100 of shipping insurance for every shipment. So, can UPS 3 Day Select arrive early? The answer is yes, it's possible!

What is the fastest UPS delivery option? ›

Sometimes getting your shipment there fast simply isn't fast enough. For those times, there's UPS Express Critical®, our fastest service for urgent, time-sensitive, emergency or high-value goods, when speed, care and security really matter.

How long does parcel select take to deliver USPS? ›

Transit times also vary between the two services. Priority Mail shipments can take 1-3 business days for packages to arrive at their destination. Parcel Select Ground shipments, on the other hand, can take anywhere from 2-5 business days.

Which is faster UPS ground or USPS Parcel Select? ›

Shipping Speed: UPS Ground typically delivers within 1-5 business days, depending on the origin and destination of the package. In contrast, USPS Priority Mail typically delivers packages within 1-3 business days, often making it a faster option for time-sensitive deliveries.

Is Saturday a business day for UPS? ›

Does UPS deliver on weekends, including Saturday and Sunday? Yes, UPS offers Mon-Sat delivery service for residential and commercial packages and offers delivery of residential packages on Sunday. How late does UPS deliver? Most packages are generally delivered by 8 p.m.

What does 3rd party mean in UPS? ›

A third-party shipment, as defined by UPS, is "UPS bills shipping charges to a party other than the shipper or receiver." Let's look at an illustration. A consumer orders a product from a website which offers a variety of products from a myriad of different manufacturers.

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