What Is Standard Shipping? Full Guide in 2025

You’ve placed an order or set up shipping for your store... and then comes the uncertainty. What exactly is standard shipping? How long does it take? Is it reliable enough?

These questions come up more often than you'd think—and clear answers are surprisingly hard to find.

This guide breaks it all down so you know exactly what to expect, when to use it, and how to make the most of it—whether you're buying, selling, or managing deliveries.

What is Standard Shipping?

Standard shipping, also known as economy shipping, ground shipping, or regular delivery, is the budget-friendly option you’ll usually see at checkout.

It’s the go-to choice when you don’t need something super fast — just something reliable, affordable, and that gets the job done.

For local deliveries, it usually travels by truck or van. For international orders, it might go by plane or boat, depending on the route.

How It Works

Standard shipping follows a simple, step-by-step process that kicks off right after you place an order.

Once it’s confirmed, the seller prepares your item, packs it safely, and adds a shipping label with your address and tracking number. From there... the package gets picked up by the courier and enters their delivery network — usually by truck or van for local deliveries.

Along the way, it may pass through a few sorting hubs before heading out for final delivery.

The whole process is built to be reliable and cost-effective — even if it takes a few extra days to reach your doorstep.

Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick look at what makes standard shipping a good choice—and where it might fall short.

Pros

• It’s usually the cheapest shipping option.
• Most stores and couriers offer it.
• Works well when speed isn’t a priority.
• You can often use simpler, cheaper packaging.

Cons

• It takes longer than express options.
• It can get delayed during peak seasons.
• Some services offer limited tracking info.
• Longer routes mean more handling.

How Long Does Standard Shipping Take?

It really depends on the courier and where the package is going. In most cases, standard shipping takes around 3 to 7 business days for domestic deliveries.

For example, services like USPS First-Class or FedEx Ground usually fall within this range. If you're ordering from another country, it can take 1 to 3 weeks, depending on customs and distance.

So while it’s not the fastest option... it’s generally predictable and affordable for non-urgent orders.

How Does Standard Shipping Compare Between Shipping Carriers?

While all major shipping companies offer some form of standard shipping, not all services are created equal.

Each carrier has its own delivery speeds, pricing models, and strengths—so if you're trying to choose the right one for your needs, it's worth seeing how they stack up side by side.

UPS

UPS is known for its reliable and consistent delivery services, especially for ground shipping within the U.S.

Their standard option, UPS Ground, is ideal for domestic shipments that don’t need to arrive overnight but still need to get there on time.

It’s commonly used by both small businesses and larger retailers.

Delivery Time

UPS Ground delivers within 1–5 business days across the contiguous U.S., depending on the distance between origin and destination.

Cost

Prices vary by weight, size, and zone. Flat-rate “UPS Simple Rate” starts at $11.50 for extra small packages.

FedEx

FedEx offers one of the most flexible standard shipping services through FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery.

It’s a popular choice for both business and residential deliveries, offering fast and reliable timelines with weekend delivery included for home shipments.

Delivery Time

1–5 business days for most U.S. addresses; includes weekend delivery for residential shipments.

Cost

Costs depend on weight, dimensions, and distance. Use the FedEx rate calculator for exact pricing.

DHL

DHL’s standard shipping in the U.S. is mainly handled through DHL eCommerce, which is optimized for cost-effectiveness and small-to-medium-sized packages.

It’s often used for lower-cost deliveries that aren’t time-sensitive, and for international eCommerce orders.

Delivery Time

Typically 2–8 business days, depending on the selected service level.

Cost

Pricing varies by size, weight, and destination. Quotes are available through DHL’s shipping calculator.

USPS

USPS offers one of the most affordable standard shipping options through its Ground Advantage service.

It's widely used for personal shipments and small businesses looking for a cost-effective way to send packages across the U.S.

Delivery Time

Usually arrives within 2–5 business days anywhere in the U.S.

Cost

Starts at $5.25 for packages up to 70 lbs. Rates vary slightly depending on distance and package size.

How Does Standard Shipping Compare to Other Shipping Methods?

Standard shipping is often seen as the middle ground in the world of delivery options—slower than express, but far more affordable.

Compared to other methods like expedited, same-day, or overnight shipping, the differences mainly come down to speed, cost, and priority.

Here’s how they typically stack up:

• Standard Shipping is the most budget-friendly and commonly used for non-urgent deliveries. It usually takes 3 to 7 business days domestically and is ideal for everyday items that don’t need to arrive quickly.
• Expedited Shipping is faster—usually 2 to 3 business days—and costs more. It’s used when customers want quicker delivery but don’t necessarily need it the next day.
• Overnight or Next-Day Shipping guarantees arrival by the next business day, but it comes at a premium. This option is often chosen for time-sensitive or high-value items.
• Same-Day Delivery is the fastest and most expensive. It’s limited by availability and location, and often used in urban areas for urgent needs like gifts or perishables.
• Two-Day Shipping (e.g. Amazon Prime) is a popular in-between that offers speed without the extreme costs of overnight services.

In short, standard shipping is the most practical for price-conscious buyers and sellers—as long as time isn’t a critical factor. When speed matters more than savings, other methods like expedited or next-day shipping make more sense.

When to Choose Standard Shipping

Standard shipping isn’t always the fastest, but it’s often the most practical—especially when you’re balancing cost, convenience, and expectations.

If you're wondering when it's the right option for your situation, here are a few key factors to consider:

Delivery Timeline Flexibility

If your order doesn’t need to arrive urgently, standard shipping is a smart choice.

It’s reliable and consistent, even if it takes a few extra days. For personal purchases, non-perishables, or regular inventory restocks, speed often isn’t worth the extra cost.

Cost vs. Value

When you're working with a tight budget—either as a shopper or a small business—standard shipping helps keep total costs down.

It's usually the most affordable option and still gets the job done for everyday deliveries.

Type of Product

Standard shipping works best for items that aren’t fragile, oversized, or time-sensitive.

Things like clothing, books, accessories, and non-urgent packages are perfect candidates. If the item needs special care or arrives damaged easily, a faster or premium method might be safer.

Distance and Location

If the destination isn’t too far or doesn’t require special routing, standard shipping is more than sufficient.

Many domestic orders fall within 3–5 business day windows, especially with well-optimized carrier networks.

Customer Expectations

For online sellers, choosing standard shipping depends on what your customers expect.

If you're clear about delivery timeframes at checkout and offer tracking updates (which platforms like Carriyo can help with), standard shipping often meets customer needs just fine—without extra cost or complexity.

FAQs

Is standard shipping tracked?

Yes—most standard shipping services offer tracking, though the level of detail depends on the carrier. USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL all provide tracking numbers for standard shipments, so you can check the delivery status online. However, tracking may update less frequently compared to express options.

Can standard shipping be delayed?

It can happen, especially during holidays, peak shopping seasons, or severe weather conditions. Since standard shipping doesn’t have the same delivery guarantees as express or expedited methods, delays are usually tolerated within a 1–2 day window.

Is standard shipping available for international orders?

Yes—standard shipping is available internationally, but delivery times are much longer. It typically takes 1–3 weeks depending on the destination, customs clearance, and the courier’s international network.

Final Thoughts

Standard shipping is a reliable and cost-effective way to get products delivered, and it’s still one of the most used methods in eCommerce.

If you're running a business and looking to make your shipping operations more efficient, Carriyo can help simplify the process.

You can explore solutions like shipping automation to reduce manual work, carrier management to handle multiple couriers in one place, and customer experience tools that keep buyers updated without overwhelming your support team.

If you're focused on optimizing delivery routes and reducing delays, last-mile intelligence offers the data you need to improve performance.

Carriyo supports businesses across industries, including eCommerce, retail, 3PLs, enterprise logistics teams, and small businesses. You can check out our blog for insights and best practices or reach out to our team to learn how they can support your goals.

Whatever your next step looks like, we hope this guide helped make sense of standard shipping.