Estimate shipping costs for envelopes and documents.
UPS Next Day Air® Early
UPS Next Day Air®
UPS Next Day Air Saver®
UPS 2nd Day Air®
UPS® Ground
UPS Express Envelope (Flat Rate)
My Own Packaging / Rigid Mailer
Zone 2 (0-150 miles / Local)
Zone 4 (301-600 miles / Regional)
Zone 6 (1001-1400 miles / Halfway)
Zone 8 (1801+ miles / Cross Country)
International (Canada/Mexico approx.)
Commercial Address
Residential Address
Base Service Rate:$0.00
Zone/Distance Surcharge:$0.00
Fuel Surcharge (Est. 14%):$0.00
Residential Surcharge:$0.00
Declared Value Cost:$0.00
Total Estimated Cost:$0.00
Understanding UPS Letter Rates and Pricing
Shipping documents and letters via UPS requires understanding the balance between speed, distance (Zones), and packaging type. Unlike standard postal services, UPS utilizes a zone-based pricing model combined with dimensional weight calculations, although standard letters often fall under flat-rate categories.
1. UPS Express Envelopes vs. Custom Packaging
The most common way to ship urgent letters is using the UPS Express Envelope. This is a specific cardboard envelope provided by UPS.
Flat Rate Eligibility: Generally, if your documents fit in the UPS Express Envelope and weigh less than 8 oz (0.5 lbs), you pay the flat rate for the zone.
Weight Limits: If you stuff the envelope beyond 0.5 lbs, UPS may charge you based on the actual weight, rounded up to the nearest pound.
Custom Packaging: If you use your own rigid mailer or a plain manila envelope, you are charged based on weight and dimensions immediately, often resulting in a higher cost for light items compared to the branded envelope.
2. How Zones Affect Your Cost
UPS measures the cost of shipping based on "Zones." A Zone represents the distance between the origin zip code and the destination zip code.
Zone 2: Local shipments (approx. 0-150 miles). Cheapest rates.
Zone 4: Regional shipments (approx. 300-600 miles). Moderate increase.
Zone 8: Cross-country shipments (approx. 1800+ miles). Highest domestic rates.
3. Service Levels Explained
The urgency of your letter determines the base service rate:
UPS Next Day Air® Early: Guaranteed delivery early morning (usually by 8:00 or 9:00 AM). The most expensive option.
UPS Next Day Air®: Guaranteed delivery by 10:30 AM or 12:00 PM depending on destination. Standard overnight choice.
UPS Next Day Air Saver®: Guaranteed delivery by end of day (EOD). A cost-effective overnight option.
UPS 2nd Day Air®: Delivery by the end of the second business day. Good for non-critical contracts or documents.
UPS® Ground: Day-definite delivery (1-5 days). The most economical choice, though not typically used for urgent letters.
4. Additional Surcharges
The calculator above includes estimates for common surcharges that often surprise shippers:
Fuel Surcharge: A variable percentage applied to the shipping cost, fluctuating weekly based on fuel prices (typically 12-16%).
Residential Surcharge: Delivering to a home costs more than delivering to a business office.
Declared Value: UPS covers up to $100 of value automatically. If your documents (e.g., tickets, checks) have a higher declared value, additional fees apply (usually a minimum charge or a percentage of value).
function toggleWeightInput() {
var packType = document.getElementById("packagingType").value;
var weightInput = document.getElementById("weightLbs");
// If Express Envelope is selected, suggest 0.5 lbs but allow edit
// Users might overstuff an envelope.
if (packType === "express_envelope") {
if (parseFloat(weightInput.value) > 1) {
// Keep user value if they already typed something heavy
} else {
weightInput.value = 0.5;
}
}
}
function calculateUPSRate() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var service = document.getElementById("serviceLevel").value;
var packType = document.getElementById("packagingType").value;
var zone = parseInt(document.getElementById("zoneDistance").value);
var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("weightLbs").value);
var declaredValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById("declaredValue").value);
var isResidential = document.getElementById("residential").value === "yes";
// Validate Inputs
if (isNaN(weight) || weight 0.5lb, it effectively becomes package rate or rated by weight.
// For calculator simplicity: if > 0.5, add $2 per lb over.
if (service === "ground") {
// Ground doesn't have an 'Express Envelope' rate, treated as package
if (weight > 1) {
weightCost = (weight – 1) * 1.50; // $1.50 per extra lb
}
} else {
// Air Services
if (weight > 0.5) {
var excessWeight = Math.ceil(weight – 0.5);
weightCost = excessWeight * 4.50; // Air weight is expensive
}
}
} else {
// Custom Packaging (Rated by weight immediately)
// Assuming base rate covers first 1 lb.
if (weight > 1) {
var ratePerLb = (service === "ground") ? 1.25 : 3.50;
weightCost = (Math.ceil(weight) – 1) * ratePerLb;
}
}
// 4. Surcharges
var residentialSurcharge = 0;
if (isResidential) {
residentialSurcharge = (service === "ground") ? 4.75 : 5.85;
}
var insuranceCost = 0;
if (declaredValue > 100) {
// Usually roughly $1.15 for each $100 over $100, minimum ~$3.45
var valueOver100 = declaredValue – 100;
insuranceCost = Math.ceil(valueOver100 / 100) * 1.30;
if (insuranceCost < 3.90) insuranceCost = 3.90;
}
// Subtotal before fuel
var subTotal = calculatedBase + weightCost + residentialSurcharge + insuranceCost;
// Fuel Surcharge (Dynamic, usually ~14-16%)
var fuelRate = 0.145;
var fuelSurcharge = subTotal * fuelRate;
// 5. Total
var total = subTotal + fuelSurcharge;
// 6. Display Results
document.getElementById("resultContainer").style.display = "block";
// Breakdown
document.getElementById("resBaseRate").innerHTML = "$" + (baseCost * zoneFactor + weightCost).toFixed(2);
// For visual clarity, we separated Zone Charge in the display logic,
// but for calculation simplicity above we combined them.
// Let's split them for the UI:
var rawBase = baseRates[service];
var trueZoneAddon = (rawBase * zoneFactor) – rawBase;
// Recalculate display to match the logic breakdown
document.getElementById("resBaseRate").innerHTML = "$" + (baseRates[service] + weightCost).toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resZoneCharge").innerHTML = "$" + trueZoneAddon.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resFuel").innerHTML = "$" + fuelSurcharge.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resResidential").innerHTML = "$" + residentialSurcharge.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resInsurance").innerHTML = "$" + insuranceCost.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resTotal").innerHTML = "$" + total.toFixed(2);
}