Both UPS and USPS are USA’s very popular parcel delivery service companies. But both of them are not part of the US government. United Parcel Service UPS is a publicly-traded company while The United States Postal Service or USPS is a US government agency. USPS is controlled by US Congress for pricing, policy-making, etc. On the other hand, UPS is controlled by the BoD, investors, and shareholders.
Company Overview: UPS
Established on August 28, 1907, by James E. Casey, United Parcel Service is an American multinational package delivery company. Mostly known as UPS, it is a leading provider of global supply chain management solutions. UPS has become a Fortune 500 company and it offers various services including packaging and shipping, mailboxes, and printing/document services. The annual revenue of UPS in 2022 is about $102 billion and it makes UPS the world’s largest courier service provider by revenue.
Company Information
| Company Name | United Parcel Service, Inc. |
| Country | USA |
| Headquarters | Sandy Springs, Georgia, U.S. |
| Industry | Courier |
| Company Type | Public |
| Ticker | UPS |
| Revenues ($B) | US$97.29 billion (2021) |
| Market Value ($B) | $178.31 Billion |
| Employees | 534,000 |
Company Overview: USPS
The United States Postal Service, mostly known as USPS is an independent agency of the United States federal government. USPS is also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service and it was established on July 1, 1971. Since its establishment, this company has been providing postal service in all states in the USA including insular areas and associated states. Currently, USPS has more than 516,636 full-time employees and 136,531 part-time employees.
Company Information
| Company Name | United States Postal Service |
| Country | USA |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Industry | Courier |
| Company Type | Government Agency |
| Ticker | N/A |
| Revenues ($B) | $21.3 billion |
| Market Value ($B) | $60 billion |
| Employees | 516,636 full-time employees and 136,531 part-time employees |
Postage Rates & Prices of UPS
UPS offers various delivery services and their price varies depending on package weight, destination, and time of delivery. Let’s check them out below!
UPS Flat Rate Shipping Price
| Package Type | Cost | Shipping Speed |
| Extra Small | Starting at $9.45 | Starting at $9.45 Starting at $12.40 Starting at $14.95 Starting at $19.60 Starting at $24.30 |
| Small | Starting at $12.40 | |
| Medium | Starting at $14.95 | |
| Large | Starting at $19.60 | |
| Extra Large | Starting at $24.30 |
UPS Next Day Air Saver
| Package Weight | Cost |
| 5 pounds or less | $100 to $110 |
| 10 pounds or less | $140 to $150 |
| Heavier than 10 pounds | $150 |
UPS Next Day Air
| Package Weight | Cost |
| 5 pounds or less | $110 to $120 |
| 10 pounds or less | $145 to $155 |
| Heavier than 10 pounds | $160+ |
UPS Next Day Air Early
| Package Weight | Cost |
| 5 pounds or less | $140 to $150 |
| 10 pounds or less | $175 to $185 |
| Heavier than 10 pounds | $210 to $220 |
Postage Rates & Prices of USPS
First-Class Stamps Cost
| Types of Stamps | Size and Shape | Cost |
| Letter Stamps | Standard-sized, rectangular envelops oversized, or Unusual Envelopes | $0.60$0.99 |
| Postcard Stamps | Standard-sized, rectangular postcards | $0.44 |
| Global Forever® (International) | Standard-sized, rectangular envelopes | $1.40 |
Domestic Parcel Service Price List
| Service Name | Price |
| Priority Mail Express | From $26.95 at the Post office from $23.50 for Commercial BaseFrom $23.50 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope | $26.95 at the Post Office$23.50 for Commercial Base$23.50 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail Express Open & Distribute Service | Contact USPS sales agent for price |
| Priority Mail | From $8.70 at the Post office from $7.37 for Commercial BaseFrom $7.37 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope | $8.95 at the Post Office$7.75 for Commercial Base$7.75 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes | From $8.38 |
| Priority Mail Open & Distribute Service | Contact USPS sales agent for price |
| Priority Mail Return Service | From $7.37 for Commercial BaseFrom $7.37 for Commercial Plus |
| First-Class Mail | From $0.60 at the Post office from $0.455 for Commercial Pricing |
| First-Class Package Service | From $3.37 for Commercial PricingFrom $4.50 for Retail Pricing |
| First-Class Package Return Service | From $3.37 for Commercial Pricing |
| USPS Marketing Mail | From $0.209 for Commercial Pricing |
| Every Door Direct Mail – Retail | $0.187 for Flats up to 3.3 oz |
| Parcel Select | From $3.50 for Commercial Pricing |
| Parcel Select Lightweight | From $2.32 for Commercial Pricing |
| USPS Retail Ground | From $8.50 at the Post Office |
| Parcel Return Service | From $3.37 for Commercial Pricing |
| Ground Return Service | From $7.22 for Commercial Pricing |
| Media Mail | From $3.49 at the Post office from $2.17 for Commercial Pricing |
| Library Mail | From $3.32 at the Post office from $2.06 for Commercial Pricing |
| Periodicals | Price varies |
International Parcel Service Price List
| Service Name | Price |
| Global Express Guaranteed | From $67.80 at the Post office from $64.41 for Commercial BaseFrom $64.41 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail Express International | From $47.95 at the Post office from $44.95 for Commercial BaseFrom $44.95 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate | Envelopes From $47.95 at the Post Office |
| Priority Mail International | From $40.45 at the Post office from $37.47 for Commercial BaseFrom $37.47 for Commercial Plus |
| Priority Mail International Flat Rate | Envelopes From $29.60 at Post OfficeFrom $28.13 for Commercial BaseFrom $28.13 for Commercial Plus Small Flat Rate Boxes From $30.70 at Post OfficeFrom $29.17 for Commercial BaseFrom $29.17 for Commercial Plus Medium Flat Rate Boxes From $56.80 at Post OfficeFrom $53.94 for Commercial BaseFrom $53.94 for Commercial Plus Large Flat Rate Boxes From $73.80 at Post OfficeFrom $70.13 for Commercial BaseFrom $70.13 for Commercial Plus |
| First-Class Mail International | Letters and postcards from $1.40 for all countries large Envelopes (Flats) from $2.75 for all countries |
| First-Class Package International Service | From $14.85 at the Post office from $14.11 for Commercial BaseFrom $14.11 for Commercial Plus |
| Airmail M-Bags | From $52.80 |
| International Priority Airmail | Price Varies |
| International Surface Air Lift | Price Varies |
| International Business Reply Service | From $1.90 per piece |
A Complete Financial Overview of UPS (2017 – 2021)
| Fiscal Year (January-December) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Sales/Revenue Sales Growth Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) incl. D&A COGS excluding D&A Depreciation & Amortization Expenses Depreciation Amortization of Intangibles COGS Growth Gross Income Gross Income Growth Gross Profit Margin SG&A Expense Other SG&A SGA Growth EBIT Unusual Expense Non-Operating Income/Expenses Non-Operating Interest Income Interest Expense Interest Expense Growth Gross Interest Expense Interest Capitalized Pretax Income Pretax Income Growth Pretax Margin Income Tax Income Tax – Current Domestic Income Tax – Current Foreign Income Tax – Deferred Domestic Income Tax – Deferred Foreign Consolidated Net Income Net Income Net Income Growth Net Margin Net Income After Extraordinariness Net Income Available to Common EPS (Basic) EPS (Basic) Growth Basic Shares Outstanding EPS (Diluted) EPS (Diluted) Growth Diluted Shares Outstanding EBITDA EBITDA Growth EBITDA Margin EBIT | 97,204 15.13% 79,772 76,819 2,953 2,478 475 27.33% 17,432 -19.97% 17.93% 4,325 – -68.99% 13,107 419 4,590 – 683 -0.15% 741 58 16,595 799.95% 17.07% 3,705 1,582 478 1,584 61 12,890 12,890 859.79% 13.26% 12,890 12,890 14.68 852.14% 874 – 0.00% 878 16,060 52.46% – 13,107 | 84,432 14.23% 62,649 59,951 2,698 2,282 416 8.34% 21,783 35.36% – 13,947 13,947 69.73% 7,836 330 -4,978 – 684 8.74% 771 87 1,844 -67.37% – 501 939 420 -884 26 1,343 1,343 -69.75% – 1,343 1,343 1.54 -69.83% 867 1.54 -69.82% 871 10,534 2.91% – 7,836 | 73,917 2.79% 57,824 55,464 2,360 1,983 377 0.14% 16,093 13.60% – 8,217 8,217 15.86% 7,876 265 -1,330 – 629 9.97% 720 91 5,652 -6.10% – 1,212 753 359 162 -62 4,440 4,440 -7.33% – 4,440 4,440 5.11 -7.26% 864 5.11 -7.22% 869 10,236 10.29% – 7,876 | 71,911 8.06% 57,745 55,538 2,207 1,868 339 8.54% 14,166 6.12% – 7,092 7,092 21.13% 7,074 95 -388 – 572 37.17% 669 97 6,019 -15.66% – 1,228 96 374 743 15 4,791 4,791 -2.32% – 4,791 4,791 5.51 -1.78% 866 5.51 -1.76% 870 9,281 -5.06% – 7,074 | 66,550 – 53,201 50,919 2,282 1,995 287 – 13,349 – – 5,855 5,855 – – -46 6 8 417 – 466 49 7,137 – – 2,232 720 288 1,233 -9 4,905 4,905 – – 4,905 4,905 5.61 – 871 5.61 – 875 9,776 – – – |
A Complete Financial Overview of USPS (2017 – 2021)
| Fiscal Year (January-December) | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Annual operating revenue Career employees Mail volume First-Class Mail volume First-Class Single Piece Mail volume Shipping/Package volume Marketing mail volume Delivery points Address changes Total retail offices Postal-managed retail offices Retail customer visits Retail revenue Postal Service-managed retail office revenue Alternate access revenue Alternate access revenue percentage Total delivery routes Total vehicles | $77 B 516,636 128.9 B 50.7 B 13.9 B 7.6 B 66.2 B 163.1 M 36 M 34,223 31,247 749.1 M 13 B 10.5 B 2.7 B 20.20% 233,171 232,368 | $73.1 B 495,941 129.2 B 52.6 B 15.2 B 7.3 B 64.1 B 161.4 M 35.9 M 34,451 31,330 768.1 M 12.7 B 10.1 B 2.5 B 19.80% 231,579 231,541 | $71.1 B 496,934 142.6 B 54.9 B 16.5 B 6.2 B 75.7 B 160 M 35.8 M 34,613 31,322 811.8 M 12.7 B 10.1 B 2.5 B 19.80% 231,807 228,940 | $70.6 B 497,157 146.4 B 56.7 B 17.5 B 6.2 B 77.3 B 158.6 M 36.8 M 34,772 31,324 838.7 M 12.7 B 9.8 B 2.9 B 23% 231,843 232,372 | $69.6 B 503,103 149.5 B 58.7 B 18.5 B 5.7 B 78.3 B 157.3 M 36.8 M 35,005 31,337 857.1 M 12.9 B 9.9 B 3.1 B 23.75% 228,483 230,939 |
Difference between UPS and USPS
| UPS | USPS |
| UPS stands for United Parcel Service | USPS stands for United States Postal Service |
| It is a publicly-traded company | It is a government company |
| UPS offers logistics services | USPS doesn’t offer logistics services |
| UPS ships large packages worldwide | USPS ships mail and smaller packages |
| UPS has an excellent tracking method | The tracking feature of USPS is not up to the mark |
| The delivery process of UPS is fast | The USPS delivery process is faster compared to UPS |
| The shipping cost of UPS is moderate | The shipping cost of USPS is affordable compared to UPS |
| UPS Ground service has an average delivery time of 2.75 days | USPS Priority Mail Service has an average delivery time of 1.7 days |
| UPS Services: UPS GroundUPS Next-day AirUPS 2nd-day SelectUPS 3rd-day SelectUPS Express Critical | USPS Services: Media MailFirst Class MailPriority MailRetail GroundPriority Mail Express |
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Parcel_Service
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service
https://www.usps.com/business/prices.htm
https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-costs-rates/flat-rate-shipping.page
https://facts.usps.com/table-facts/
Last Updated on December 25, 2023 by Magalie D.
Magalie D. is a Diploma holder in Public Administration & Management from McGill University of Canada. She shares management tips here in MGTBlog when she has nothing to do and gets some free time after working in a multinational company at Toronto.
