When it comes to getting packages delivered on the weekend, not all carriers operate the same. And now, FedEx has raised the bar.
FedEx recently expanded its weekend delivery services, giving shippers more flexibility, better speed, and broader weekend coverage. These updates set FedEx apart from UPS—especially when it comes to Sundays.
Here’s what you need to know.
Saturday Delivery: More Overnight Options
Saturday deliveries aren’t new for FedEx. But now, FedEx Standard Overnight includes an optional Saturday delivery service, with packages arriving by 5 p.m.
This enhancement means FedEx now offers Saturday delivery across all its domestic overnight services. That includes:
FedEx Priority Overnight®
FedEx First Overnight®
FedEx Standard Overnight® (with optional Saturday delivery for an added fee)
By contrast, UPS offers Saturday delivery for some services, but not across the board. For shippers with tight delivery timelines—especially heading into a weekend—this expanded FedEx offering could be a difference-maker.
Sunday Delivery: FedEx vs UPS
Here’s where the gap really widens.
FedEx Home Delivery® now covers nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population with Sunday service. UPS Ground? No Sunday deliveries.
That means if you rely on residential deliveries, FedEx can get your packages to doorsteps a full day sooner than UPS over the weekend. For e-commerce sellers, retailers, and any business shipping to residential addresses, this can directly impact customer satisfaction and retention.
FedEx’s Sunday delivery is included as part of its regular Home Delivery service, with no special handling required. It just works.
Why This Matters to Shippers
More weekend delivery coverage translates to:
Faster delivery windows
Later-week ship dates (Friday shipments can arrive over the weekend)
Improved customer experience
Fewer missed delivery expectations
Whether you're looking to reduce cart abandonment with quicker delivery estimates, or you need more flexible fulfillment timelines, the ability to deliver on Saturday and Sunday opens up new possibilities.
And as consumer expectations keep rising, those extra weekend days aren’t just a nice-to-have—they’re increasingly expected.
Making the Right Carrier Choice
While FedEx may now have the upper hand on weekends, every business has unique shipping needs. What works best for one company might not work for another.
That’s why understanding the full picture—cost, delivery speed, service coverage, and carrier performance—is essential.
Platforms like Lojistic help businesses connect all their shipping data in one place, making it easier to compare carriers, monitor service levels, and adapt to changes like these.
So whether you stick with FedEx, UPS, or use both, knowing your numbers will help you deliver better—weekend or not.
Author
Bryan Van Suchtelen
Bryan Van Suchtelen
Corporate Director of Parcel Rate Services
Prior to joining Lojistic in 2015, Bryan enjoyed a 26-year career with UPS where his roles included Pricing, Field Sales and Director-level Sales Management of some of UPS’s largest customers.
At Lojistic, Bryan leverages his wealth of experience/expertise to identify and execute supply chain cost management solutions for parcel shippers of all sizes. Bryan has helped his customers reduce their shipping spend by tens of millions of dollars.