Best Types of Shipping Methods (Plus Overnight Shipping Options)

Shipping methods are the delivery services and pricing options you offer customers at checkout. The 9 main types of shipping are standard, economy, expedited, overnight, same-day, flat-rate, local delivery or pickup, international and freight. Most online stores do best with a mix: one low-cost option, one fast option and a free or pickup option, with the full cost shown up front.

Shipping is one of the biggest reasons shoppers abandon their carts. According to the Baymard Institute, 40% of shoppers who abandon at checkout do so because extra costs like shipping were too high, 20% because delivery was too slow, and 12% because they couldn't see the total order cost up front.

The fix is to offer the right types of shipping, priced clearly. A multi-carrier shipping platform helps, because it compares rates from all your carrier integrations in one place. Below we go through the 9 ecommerce shipping methods one by one: how each works, what it costs you and when to use it, with a closer look at overnight shipping options.

What is a shipping method?

A shipping method is a delivery service or pricing rule customers choose at checkout. It sets how fast the order arrives and what the customer pays. The options you can offer depend on the carriers you work with, and tracking updates keep customers informed whichever method they pick. To check real transit times by region before promising them, ShippyPro Optimizer maps estimated costs and transit times by region and carrier.

1. Standard shipping

Standard shipping is the default ground service every carrier offers. Parcels travel by road through the carrier's network, so delivery usually takes a few business days. UPS Ground, for example, delivers within one to five business days, and USPS Ground Advantage within two to five days.

It's the backbone of most stores because it balances cost and speed. Many shoppers are happy to wait a few days if the price is right, especially when standard shipping is free above a basket value.

Best for: your default checkout option and most everyday orders.

2. Economy shipping

Economy shipping is the cheapest and slowest option. Carriers keep costs down by consolidating parcels and moving them on the lowest-cost routes, so delivery can take a week or more and tracking may be more limited.

It works well for low-value, non-urgent orders, and it's often what sits behind a "free shipping" offer. The risk is that longer waits mean more "where is my order?" questions, so set clear delivery estimates.

Best for: low-value items and free shipping promotions.

3. Expedited shipping

Expedited shipping is any service faster than standard, typically one to three business days. Carriers name it differently: USPS Priority Mail aims for two to three days, UPS sells 2nd Day Air and 3 Day Select, and in the UK Royal Mail Tracked 24 aims for delivery in one to two days. 2-day shipping is the most common version.

It's a good middle ground for shoppers who want their order soon but don't want to pay overnight prices. Most stores charge for it or offer it free above a higher basket value.

Best for: customers who want speed at a fair price.

4. Overnight shipping

Overnight shipping, also called next-day delivery or one-day shipping, means the parcel arrives the next business day after the carrier collects it, as long as it reaches the carrier before the daily cut-off. It's the fastest service most carriers offer over long distances, and the most expensive. Most overnight services run Monday to Friday, so a parcel shipped on Friday usually arrives on Monday unless you pay for Saturday delivery.

Overnight shipping options by carrier

Each carrier sells several overnight services, and earlier delivery windows cost more:

Sources: FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL Express and Royal Mail. Commitments vary by postcode.

How much does overnight shipping cost?

There's no single price. Carriers calculate it from weight and size (including volumetric weight), distance, delivery window, address type, weekend surcharges and fuel fees. Morning delivery costs much more than end-of-day, and residential addresses often carry a surcharge.

Looking for the cheapest overnight shipping? For small, light parcels, postal services like USPS Priority Mail Express or Royal Mail Special Delivery are often lowest. For heavier parcels, end-of-day services like FedEx Standard Overnight or UPS Next Day Air Saver usually beat morning ones. Afterwards, Invoice Analysis compares carrier invoices with expected costs to spot surcharges and discrepancies (currently for DHL Express, UPS, FedEx, BRT and GLS Italy).

Cut-off times and weekend delivery

Carrier cut-offs vary by location and service, so set your own order cut-off well before yours to leave time to pick, pack and label. FedEx offers Saturday delivery in some areas for an extra charge, UPS offers it on Next Day Air and Next Day Air Early, and USPS Priority Mail Express runs every day, with Sunday and holiday delivery in many areas for a fee.

How to offer overnight shipping at checkout

Best for: urgent, high-value or perishable orders, and shoppers willing to pay for speed.

5. Same-day delivery

Same-day delivery gets the order to the customer within hours. It's usually limited to cities and to orders placed before a morning or midday cut-off, and it's handled by local couriers or a carrier's same-day service rather than the standard network.

It's the fastest shipping method, but it only works if your stock is close to the customer, through a local store, warehouse or fulfilment partner. Costs are high, so many stores limit it to certain postcodes or charge a premium.

Best for: local orders, last-minute gifts and urgent items.

Product & Resources

Offer more shipping methods without more manual work

Connect your carriers, compare rates in one place and ship every order with the right service.

6. Flat-rate shipping

With flat-rate shipping, every order costs the same to ship, whatever its size or weight. Some carriers also sell flat-rate packaging, like USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, where anything that fits ships for one price.

Customers find it easy to understand, and it's profitable if you ship heavy or multi-item orders. If most of your parcels are small and light, though, you may overcharge customers or lose money. Two common alternatives:

• Table rate shipping: prices follow rules you set by destination zone, weight, order value or number of items.
• Free shipping: you cover the cost on every order or above a minimum basket value, which protects your margin and raises order value.

Best for: stores with similar-sized products or a simple pricing promise.

7. Local delivery or pickup

Local delivery means you deliver orders yourself within a set radius. With pickup, customers collect from your store or from a carrier's pickup point or locker. Both skip part of the carrier cost, and pickup points suit shoppers who aren't home during the day.

With ShippyPro Checkout, shoppers can choose a nearby collection point while they check out (setup needs a custom module, or the Atlas app on Shopify).

Best for: local customers and shoppers who prefer pickup points.

8. International shipping

International shipping covers any order sent to another country, by air, road or sea. It needs customs declarations, accurate product descriptions and HS codes, and clear information on who pays duties and taxes. Wrong paperwork is a common cause of delays and surprise fees for the customer.

Speeds range from express services like DHL Express Worldwide, which delivers by the end of the next possible business day, to slower postal options. If you sell from the UK, read our guide to shipping from the UK to Europe.

Best for: stores growing into new markets.

9. Freight shipping

Freight shipping is for shipments over 150 lbs (about 68 kg) or larger than 30 x 30 x 30 inches, usually on pallets or in containers. It moves by air, ocean, road or a mix, and road freight can be a full truckload or less than a truckload, shared with other shippers.

Stores rarely use freight for customer orders. Instead, they use it to send bulk stock to a warehouse or fulfilment centre, then ship individual orders from there.

Best for: restocking warehouses and B2B orders.

Which shipping methods should you offer?

Use this comparison to pick your mix:

For most stores, the winning combination is a free or low-cost standard option, a faster paid option and pickup. Add overnight shipping when your products and margins can support it.

Shipping methods FAQ

Related Articles

Give customers the shipping methods they want

Try ShippyPro free for 14 days and compare carrier rates for every order in one place.