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DHL vs. FedEx vs. UPS vs. USPS vs. EMS: Which is the Fastest for International Shipping?

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DHL vs. FedEx vs. UPS vs. USPS vs. EMS: Which is the Fastest for International Shipping?

DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS, and EMS are the five largest international express mail service companies in the world today. They have formed a relatively complete logistics system around the world, covering almost all key areas of the world. Among them, FedEx and UPS are two monopoly express delivery in the United States. Whether you are sending a package back to your country, buying something abroad, or mailing important documents, you will inevitably choose courier service in your life. What are the differences of them? Which is the fastest for international shipping? Which is better DHL or FedEx for international shipping? Is it cheaper to ship FedEx or UPS? Is UPS the same as USPS? What does EMS mean in USA? In this guide, I will tell you the answers!

Cover Photo:EMS

DHL

1. DHL History

DHL International GmbH is an international courier, package delivery and express mail service, which is a division of the German logistics firm Deutsche Post. The company delivers over 1.5 billion parcels per year.

The company was founded in San Francisco, USA, in 1969 and expanded its service throughout the world by the late 1970s. In 1998, Deutsche Post began to acquire shares in DHL.

Today, DHL is the world's leading logistics company. DHL Express shares its DHL brand with business units such as DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain. Their 400,000 people in over 220 countries and territories work every day to help you cross borders, reach new markets and grow your business.

Source:DHL Ins

2. Services offered by DHL

DHL Domestic Shipping

Type	DHL SmartMail Parcel	DHL SmartMail Parcel Plus	DHL SmartMail Parcel Return	DHL SmartMail Flats	DHL SmartMail Bound Printed Matter
	Cost-effective; for parcels under 1 lb.	Cost-effective; for parcels up to 25 lbs.	Cost-effective returns solution	Cost-effective Flats format mailing solution	Cost-effective shipping solution for Bound Printed Matter parcels
Max. Weight	16 oz.	25 lbs.	16 oz. / 70 lbs.	16 oz.	15 lbs.
Max. Dimension (L/W/H)	27'' / 17'' / 17''	27'' / 17'' / 17''	27'' x 17'' x 17''	15'' / 12'' / 0.75'' ³	27'' / 17'' / 17''
Transit Days: Expedited Max	2/3 days	2/3 days	-	-	-
Transit Days: Expedited	2-5 days	2-5 days	2-4 days / 1-3 days		2-5 days
Transit Days: Ground	3-8 days	3-8 days	3-8 days	3-8 days	3-8 days
End-to-End-Tracking	√	√	√	√	√
Shipment Value Protection	√	√	√	×	×

DHL International Shipping

Type	DHL Packet International	DHL Parcel International Standard	DHL Parcel International Direct
	Cost effective, lightweight shipping to all markets of the world	The ideal balance of affordability and visibility to 220+ countries and territories	Best-in-class shipping to 37 key international markets
Maximum Weight	4.4 lbs.	44 lbs.	44 lbs.
Maximum Dimension	Length+Width+Height=36'' / Each side=24''	Length + Girth ≤ 118''	Length + Girth ≤ 79''
Minimum Dimension	Length = 6”/ Width = 4”	Length = 6”/ Width = 4”	No minimum
End-to-end Tracking	√	√	√
Transit Days	4-8 days	Canada & Europe 4-8 days; Rest of World 8-14 days	3-10 days
Duty and Taxes paid by	Receiver	Receiver	Shipper or Receiver
Shipment Value Protection	×	√	√

3. DHL Features

Pros of DHL

Established global presence in about 220 countries. Normally, it will be delivered to your door in 3 days in Europe and America, and it usually takes 4 working days to go to Europe, except weekends and holidays.

Door-to-door delivery of packages.

Air and sea delivery.

The air freight network is well developed. There are individual bulk prices for more than 21 kilograms, and the prices are very attractive. In some areas, they are lower than EMS.

In remote areas, delivery may not be possible, or additional money may be required.

No pickup fees.

24/7 international support.

Offers refunds for service failures on its part.

Cons of DHL

Less significant presence in the U.S.

Occasional extra charges or surcharges

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FedEx

1. FedEx History

FedEx, previously known as Federal Express, is a major player in the package delivery market and a direct competitor to global leader United Parcel Service (UPS). The company was founded by its current chief executive, Fred Smith, in 1971. It's an American multinational conglomerate holding company which focuses on transportation, e-commerce and business services which is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

However, 50 years later, the company has the world's largest airline in terms of freight tons flown and is the world's fourth-largest in terms of fleet size. The company has almost 300,000 employees and with 60,000 dropoff locations across the country, returns have never been easier. Fedex Express and Fedex Ground are delivered separately. The color of the car will be differentiated -The orange one is Express and the green one is Ground.

Source:fedex.com

2. Services offered by FedEx

FedEx Domestic Shipping

Type	Transit Days	Services
SAME-DAY DELIVERY	Have urgent shipments delivered that very day in select areas.	FedEx SameDay®
OVERNIGHT DELIVERY	Get it there the next business day by morning, noon, or evening.	FedEx First Overnight® FedEx Priority Overnight® FedEx Standard Overnight®
2 DAY DELIVERY	Have it there in 2 business days, as early as 10:30 to businesses or noon to homes.	FedEx 2 Day® A.M. FedEx 2 Day®
3 DAY DELIVERY	Get shipments delivered in 3 business days, by afternoon to businesses or evening to homes.	FedEx Express Saver®
COMMERCIAL GROUND DELIVERY	Ship affordably to businesses in 1 to 5 business days.	FedEx Ground®
RESIDENTIAL GROUND DELIVERY	Send shipments to residential addresses with delivery every day of the week.	FedEx Home Delivery®
SAME-DAY FREIGHT	When it absolutely cannot wait, have your freight delivered in a matter of hours.	FedEx SameDay® Freight
OVERNIGHT FREIGHT	Send a freight shipment today and have it delivered as early as 9 a.m. the next business day.	FedEx First Overnight® Freight
1, 2, OR 3 DAY FREIGHT	Get time-definite delivery of palletized freight in as little as 1 business day to most U.S. locations.	FedEx 1 Day® Freight FedEx 2 Day® Freight FedEx 3 Day® Freigh

FedEx International Shipping

Type	Transit Days	Services
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE	Get your shipment on the next available flight for delivery within 24 hours to most international countries and territories.	FedEx® International Next Flight
1, 2, OR 3 DAY DELIVERY	Get it there within 1 to 3 business days, with delivery in up to 220 countries and territories.	FedEx International First® FedEx International Priority®
COST-EFFECTIVE 2 TO 5 DAY DELIVERY	Choose economical shipping with delivery in 2 to 3 business days to select countries, or in 2 to 5 to 215+ countries and territories.	FedEx International Economy®
GROUND DELIVERY TO CANADA	Have packages delivered to 100% of Canadian businesses and homes in 2 to 7 business days.	FedEx International Ground®
NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT	For critical freight shipments, choose the fastest possible delivery option by putting them on the very next flight.	FedEx® International Next Flight
1 TO 5 DAY FREIGHT	Send international shipments over 150 lbs. quickly, with delivery in as little as 1 business day.	FedEx International Priority® Freight FedEx International Economy® Freight
CONTROLLED ITEMS AND DANGEROUS GOODS	Safely send freight that could pose risks to health, safety, property, or the environment.	FedEx International Premium®

3. FedEx Features

Pros of FedEx

1）Usually delivered within 2-3 working days

2) There are networks in more than 200 countries and regions all over the world, with full coverage. The query website information is updated quickly, and problems can be solved in time.

3) It can be shipped online, and pick-up service is provided in 109 cities across the country.

Highly reliable tracking system.

4）FedEx offers Saturday delivery, too. This makes it a great option for impatient consumers who want to get their items as quickly as possible.

5）When you use FedEx to ship large volumes of packages, you can sometimes negotiate lower shipping rates, too.

Cons of FedEx

1) FedEx typically has higher shipping rates than other shipping options, including UPS.

2) The volume and weight of the product need to be considered.

3) Proactively declare customs.

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UPS

1. UPS History

Founded in 1907, United Parcel Service, Inc. is a package delivery company, which provides global package delivery and supply chain management services. It offers logistics services to the global market, which include transportation, distribution, forwarding, ground, ocean and air freight, brokerage and financing. The company operates its business through three segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package and Supply Chain & Freight. The U.S. Domestic Package segment provides in time-definite, money-back guaranteed, small package delivery services and also offers spectrum of U.S. domestic guaranteed ground and air package transportation services. The International Package segment offers a wide selection of guaranteed, day and time-definite international shipping services.

The Supply Chain & Freight segment consists of its forwarding and logistics services, UPS Freight business, and its financial offerings through UPS Capital. UPS is the largest courier company in the world by revenue, with annual revenues around US$85 billion in 2020, ahead of competitors DHL and FedEx.

Source:Wikipedia Jim.henderson, (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. Services offered by UPS

UPS Domestic Shipping

Services	Transit Days	Features
UPS Express Critical® – Domestic	Same-day delivery	Used for emergency and emergency transportation to all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The best available flights 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A full range of services, including international, ground, portable or charter flights.
UPS Ground Shipping	Within one to five business days	Gives you cost-effective, guaranteed ground delivery. You also get free tracking information for your shipment, 24/7.
UPS Standard Delivery	Day definite, by end of day	Guarantee economic standard ground transportation, very suitable for the transportation of less urgent items to and from the United States (except Alaska and Hawaii); Provide door-to-door service.
UPS Next Day Air Early	Most major cities in the United States will deliver early the next morning.	The overnight delivery of the next working day can start before 8:00 am or arrive before 9:30 am. On-time delivery and money-back guarantee; free UPS packaging included.
UPS Next Day Air Shipping	Guarantee next day delivery	UPS next day air freight 10am-12pm provides more regional shipping and more services than FedEx Priority Overnight; Limited-time service refund guarantee; Free UPS packaging is included.
UPS Next Day Air Saver	The most affordable second day delivery service	Pick up or refund in the afternoon of the next working day; Deliver to most commercial destinations before 3:00 pm or 4:30 pm or arrive at the place of residence before the end of the day; Free UPS packaging is included.
UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.®	Guaranteed to be delivered the next morning or noon	Cost-effective option to meet time-sensitive business needs; Delivery at 10:30 am on the second working day or delivery to most commercial destinations in the United States before 12:00 pm; Free UPS packaging.
UPS 2nd Day Air	For packages that do not need to be delivered overnight, delivery is guaranteed the next day	It's an economical choice for freight that does not require overnight service; It guarantees two-day delivery to every address in the continental United States and Puerto Rico; It comes with free UPS packaging.
UPS 3 Day Select®	Guaranteed delivery within three working days	Can transport items that are not sensitive to timeliness; Applicable to parcels in 48 neighboring areas in the United States; Comes with free UPS packaging.

UPS International Shipping

Services	Transit Days	Features
UPS EXPRESS CRITICAL®	Time provided when order is placed	UPS's fastest international transportation service, 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, the best flight. Provide a specific delivery commitment when placing an order; Ships almost worldwide.
UPS WORLDWIDE EXPRESS PLUS®	1-3 business days, typically by 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.	On-time delivery or money-back guarantee can attract your customers faster; Send packages to more than 55 countries and regions, and receive packages from all valid UPS sources; Rely on door-to-door transportation service for internal customs clearance; Up to 3 delivery attempts.
UPS WORLDWIDE EXPRESS®	1-3 business days, typically by 10:30 a.m. or noon	Deliver international freight to all parts of the world, send packages to 140 countries and regions, and receive packages from all valid UPS sources; On-time delivery and money-back guarantee; Provide internal customs clearance services; Up to 3 delivery attempts.
UPS WORLDWIDE SAVER®	1-3 business days, by end of day	International express delivery, guaranteed delivery at the end of the day; Can be sent to Canada before the end of the next working day; Delivered to Mexico and major cities in the world within two working days; According to the work location, it will be shipped to all parts of the world all day before the end of the working day; provide door-to-door service of internal customs clearance service; Up to 3 delivery attempts.
UPS WORLDWIDE EXPEDITED®	2-5 business days, by end of day	Expedited transportation is for the more urgent international small-packaged goods; to ensure fast delivery or refunds throughout the day; Send parcels to more than 220 countries and regions, and receive parcels from more than 80 countries and regions, and speed up the transportation; Including door-to-door service and internal customs clearance service; At most three deliveries were tried.

3. UPS Features

Pros of UPS

1) Fast, usually 2-3 working days can be delivered, about 48 hours to reach the United States.

2) Many cost-effective shipping options. Also has lots of expedited shipping options, including next-day delivery and same-day delivery in some cases.

3) UPS pricing is much more affordable than FedEx, especially when you’re sending out light shipments. They offer volume discounts, too, and let you negotiate lower rates when you’re shipping large.

4) It can be shipped online, and pick-up service is provided in 109 cities across the country.

5) Negotiable rates.

6) Total control of the entire shipping network.

7)Simple shipping processes.

Cons of UPS

1) While UPS is much more affordable when you’re shipping light packages, heavier shipments can be quite a bit more expensive.

2) Disadvantages of UPS.

3) UPS adds a lot of fees and surcharges onto heavier packages, especially when you're shipping internationally. Before you decide to work with them, be sure to consider the average weight of the packages you ship out.

4) Like FedEx, UPS also does not offer free package pickup. You’ll have to pay a flat rate before you can have items picked up.

5) Perhaps the biggest downside to using UPS is the fact that they do not offer free Saturday delivery.

USPS

1. USPS History

The United States Postal Service (USPS; also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the United States, including its insular areas and associated states.The USPS traces its roots to 1775 during the Second Continental Congress, when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general. It's one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution. The USPS, as of 2020, has 495,941 career employees and 148,092 non-career employees.

The USPS has a monopoly on "letter" delivery within the United States and operates under an universal service obligation (USO), both of which are defined across a broad set of legal mandates, which obligate it to provide uniform price and quality across the entirety of its service area.

Source:usps.com

2. Services offered by USPS

USPS Domestic Shipping

Services	Transit Days	Features
Priority Mail Express®	Next-day to 2-day guarantee by 6 PM	Fastest domestic shipping service. Delivers 7 days a week, 365 days a year (with limited exceptions). Next-day delivery is available to most U.S. addresses and PO Boxes with a money-back guarantee. With free Flat Rate Envelopes, you don’t need to weigh shipments 70 lbs and under. Purchase Priority Mail Express postage and shipping labels at a Post Office™ location or online. Prices start at $26.60.
Priority Mail®	1-3 days	Bestselling mail service. Tracking and insurance are included, shipping boxes and envelopes are free, and with Priority Mail Flat Rate, you don't need to weigh shipments 70 lbs and under. Purchase Priority Mail postage and shipping labels at a Post Office or online. Prices start at $7.95.
First-Class Mail®	1-5 days	Affordable mail service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes weighing up to 3.5 oz (delivered in 5 business days or less) and large envelopes and small packages weighing up to 13 oz (delivered in 3 business days or less). From $0.58 at a Post Office.
First-Class Mail	1-5 days	Mail in 1–5 Business Days; Small Packages in 1–3 Business Day; Affordable and easy way to send envelopes and lightweight packages. First-Class Mail Forever® stamps cost $0.58 (the current 1 oz price) and will never expire, even if the First-Class™ postage rate goes up. For packages (up to 13 oz), prices start at $4.30.
First-Class Package Service®	1-3 days	$4.30 (at Post Office); $3.31 (Commercial). At Post Office (& Online with Click-N-Ship® business account) Included: USPS Tracking. Available: Signature Confirmation, Return Receipt, Collect on Delivery.
USPS Retail Ground	2-8 days	$7.95 (at Post Office). At Post Office. Included: USPS Tracking (packages only). Available: Signature Confirmation (packages only), Return Receipt, Collect on Delivery.

USPS International Shipping

Services	Transit Days	Features
Global Express Guaranteed	1-3 business days (1 business day to many destinations in Canada)	The fastest USPS® international shipping option: Ships up to 70 lbs (some countries have lower weight limits) to about 180 countries (with next-day delivery to many places in Canada). Date-certain delivery with a money-back guarantee. International transportation and delivery is provided by FedEx Express. Prices start at $67.80.
Priority Mail Express International	3-5 business days	Fast, reliable, and affordable. Ship to about 180 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Options: Ship using free Flat Rate Envelopes up to 4 lbs, or ship by weight for packages up to 70 lbs. Prices vary by destination country price group and start at $45.95.
Priority Mail International	6–10 business days	A reliable and economical way to ship to more than 180 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Options: Ship using free Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes (envelopes and small boxes up to 4 lbs, medium and large boxes up to 20 lbs), or ship by weight for packages up to 70 lbs. Prices vary by destination country price group and start at $45.95.
First-Class Mail International	Varies by destination	First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®) is a popular way to more than 180 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Send packages up to 4 lbs (64 oz), valued at up to $400, worldwide. (Destination countries may have other restrictions.) Get delivery confirmation to select countries. Retail prices start at $14.25.
First-Class Package International Service	Varies by destination	The most affordable way to send letters and large envelopes to more than 180 countries, including Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. Send 1 oz letters or postcards around the world with one Global Forever® stamp, which currently costs $1.30 and never expires, even if the postage price goes up. For large envelopes (flats) up to 15.994 oz, postage prices vary based on weight and destination.
First-Class Package International Service	Varies by destination	The most affordable way to send letters and large envelopes to more than 180 countries, including Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. Send 1 oz letters or postcards around the world with one Global Forever® stamp, which currently costs $1.30 and never expires, even if the postage price goes up. For large envelopes (flats) up to 15.994 oz, postage prices vary based on weight and destination.
Airmail M-Bags®	Varies by destination	For an international student in the U.S. and need to send lots of books home. Postage prices start at $51.70 at a Post Office. Weight, Size, & Shape Requirements. No minimum weight, but any M-Bag under 11 lbs will be charged at the 11 lb price. Maximum weight is 66 lbs. Some countries have specific prohibitions and restrictions.

3. USPS Features

Pros of USPS:

1) Compared with UPS, FEDEX, DHL, these commercial express delivery prices are cheaper.

2) Cheapest option for smaller packages. The USPS is very useful when your package weighs less than 13 ounces, and it is cost-effective even if it is mailed via First Class Mail.

3) Many people choose USPS when sending parcels to China, because it doesn't take the initiative to declare customs like UPS or FedEx, so there are fewer cases of paying additional tariffs. However, electronic products are taxable when entering China Customs, and they will also be taxed if they go to the USPS.

4) Free pick-up.

5) Saturday delivery option.

6) Delivers to mailboxes and PO boxes.

Cons of USPS:

1) Limited tracking availability.

2) Poor customer support.

3)The speed of USPS is much slower than other express.

4) When shipping items weighing less than 2 pounds, USPS is cheaper than UPS. If the weight of the item is very close to 2 pounds, USPS will lose its price advantage because it can get a large discount when negotiating with UPS.

EMS

1. EMS History

EMS is an international postal express network that delivers to over 180 countries, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore.

The EMS service in the United States of America is Priority Mail Express International, part of the United States Postal Service which is the United States of America's designated universal postal service provider, supporting customers, businesses and communities worldwide.

The United States Postal Service was founded in 1776 and joined the EMS Cooperative in 1999. Priority Mail Express International delivers EMS seven days of the week reaching 350 million consumers across the United States of America. Customers can easily access EMS at 32,000 retail outlets and post offices across the country.

Source:ems

Services offered by EMS

Services

Transit Days

Features

Priority Mail Express International

3–5 Business Days

Fast, reliable, and affordable. Ship to about 180 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
Options: Ship using free Flat Rate Envelopes up to 4 lbs, or ship by weight for packages up to 70 lbs.
Prices vary by destination country price group and start at $45.95.
Some countries have lower weight restrictions.
Includes up to $100 insurance for non-negotiable document reconstruction and up to $200 insurance for merchandise loss, damage, or missing contents with limited exceptions.
Click and collect & Post office.

2. EMS Features

Pros of EMS:

1) Rates from EMS tend to be slightly cheaper than DHL, FedEx vs. UPS's. This is because EMS operates as a door-to-door delivery service alongside local post offices.

2) EMS delivers 8 million packages every week to over 180 designated countries.

3) EMS is a popular choice, particularly for small packages and low-value items.

4) Insurance for merchandise loss, damage, or missing contents with limited exceptions.

Cons of EMS:

1) Like shipping with USPS, these cheaper rates may result in slightly slower deliveries or less reliable delivery lead times.

2) For International e-EMS, the general time of shipping the parcels to it’s destination country is minimum 3 days to maximum 7 days. While an addition of 2 days takes place when the destination country is a remote area.

3) Unlike DHL, EMS only delivers and operates on business days.

Conclusion

DHL vs. FedEx vs. UPS vs. USPS vs. EMS: which is the fastest for international shipping?

1) USPS is cheaper than DHL, FedEx, and UPS. The disadvantage is that the service is not as good as the latter, which is a compromise solution.

2) DHL, FedEx, UPS are characterized by fast, reliable, and good service; the disadvantage is that they are expensive. According to the commercial parcel declaration, almost 100% is taxed and the tax rate is high. It is more suitable to send important documents.

3) For international parcels, it is recommended not to send USPS First Class. Because there are too many people handling this kind of parcel, there is no place to ask even if this kind of parcel is lost.

USPS Priority Mail International is basically the most cost-effective, 6-10 working days is less than half a month, and the waiting time is not too long.

If you need to be faster and more reliable, you can choose Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail Express International also has a money-back guarantee.

For important documents, choosing UPS or FedEx express delivery service with on-time delivery guarantee will give you more peace of mind.

4) EMS international express can send the most types of things and has strong customs clearance capabilities. Low prices and good service. Most of the goods are calculated by weight, suitable for large and small goods; suitable for people who have low timeliness requirements and need to mail food, cosmetics, medicines and other sensitive goods at low prices.

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