Shipping Cost by State & City (2026)
Compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL shipping rates from any US city. Select your state to see per-city rate calculators with all carrier options.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
What's on Each City Page
- ✅ Live rate calculator — enter weight, select destination
- ✅ Full rate table: USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Express
- ✅ UPS Ground, 2nd Day Air, Next Day Air
- ✅ FedEx Ground, 2Day, Priority Overnight
- ✅ DHL eCommerce rates
- ✅ Cheapest carrier recommendation per weight bracket
How Shipping Zones Work
USPS, UPS, and FedEx all use zones to calculate rates — the farther your package travels, the higher the zone (1–8) and the higher the cost. Zone 1 is the closest (same region), Zone 8 is the farthest (opposite coast or Alaska/Hawaii).
| From \ To | NE | SE | MW | SW | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Southeast | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Midwest | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Southwest | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| West | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
Shipping Cost by State FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a package within the US?
A small 1 lb parcel runs about $4-8 with USPS Ground Advantage, roughly $8-12 with UPS or FedEx Ground to nearby zones, and more for cross-country or heavier shipments. The price climbs with weight, box size (dimensional weight), and the number of zones the package crosses. Open your state's city page above to compare live USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL rates for your exact route.
What is the cheapest way to ship a package between states?
For parcels under 1 lb, USPS Ground Advantage or First Class is usually cheapest; for 1-5 lb, compare USPS Priority Mail against UPS and FedEx Ground; for heavy or bulky boxes over 5 lb, UPS and FedEx Ground often win on higher zones. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes ignore weight and zone entirely, so they pay off on dense, heavy items going cross-country. Compare every option by weight in the city calculators above.
How is shipping cost calculated by state?
Carriers price by zone, not by state name - the zone is the distance between the origin and destination ZIP codes (Zone 1 is local, Zone 8 is coast to coast). Two addresses in the same state can fall in different zones. Weight and dimensional weight set the base rate, and residential, fuel, or extended-area surcharges are added on top. The region-to-region zone chart above shows the typical zones you will hit.
Which carrier is cheapest for shipping across the US?
There is no single winner. USPS is usually cheapest for small, light parcels because it adds no residential or fuel surcharge, while UPS and FedEx Ground tend to win on heavier boxes and offer deeper discounts as your volume grows. The only reliable way to know is to weigh and measure the box, then compare all carriers side by side in the city calculators above before you print a label.