While shopping online, you’ve probably seen different shipping options such as economy shipping or standard shipping. At first glance, they might seem similar to you, but they aren’t. Each of them offers different delivery times, costs, and levels of convenience. Knowing the difference between the two odes can help you decide which one is best for you, whether you are a buyer or a seller, according to your budget and timeline.
Economy shipping is usually the slowest but cheapest method. It is best for items that aren’t required right away. In comparison, the standard shipping is a bit faster and may provide more predictable delivery windows.
Understanding how these shipping options function and serve your shipping needs helps you make a better choice, especially when you are a frequent online shopper or run your own business. In this article, we’ve broken it down in the simplest way.
What Is Economy Shipping?
Economy shipping is a budget-friendly option to send your packages. The transportation is slower as cargo is transferred through ships or trains, so it costs less than most of the quicker shipping services. You can also follow your package in most cases.
Since the shipping speed is slow, economy delivery is ideal for items that aren’t time sensitive or for people with a limited budget.
But how long does economy shipping take? If you’re going for domestic economy shipping, expect longer delivery times, like 5 to 10 business days or even more. Examples include FedEx Ground Economy for domestic shipments, or FedEx International Economy for international shipments.
What Is Standard Shipping?
Standard shipping is the middle ground option. This level of service provides a balance between cost and delivery times, such as USPS Priority Mail, FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx International Priority, or DHL Standard International.
Usually, standard shipping time is shorter than economy shipping time, with shipping time ranging from 2-7 business days within the country, depending on distance and the carrier you choose.
One of the biggest plus points of standard shipping is better tracking. Here, you’re usually provided with consistent updates, so you’ll know where your package is exactly at the moment. Moreover, because of its speed and reliability, it is the most common choice for regular orders that aren’t urgent but also shouldn’t take forever to reach.
How to Choose Between Economy and Standard Shipping?
When you are choosing between standard and economy shipping, this isn’t only about speed. For sellers offering free shipping service, it is about finding a sweet spot between cost, customer expectations, and the type of products. Every business is different, so the best option depends largely on your business setup.
Let’s quickly go through the difference between economy and standard shipping, and then you can decide what’s best for your business. We’ve also added some smart tips for you.
Consider Your Customer Locations
Delivery speed is not a luxury now. With the evolving online market, it’s something customers expect naturally. For instance, on Amazon, shoppers want faster deliveries without any additional charges. But the farther the package goes, the higher the shipping cost.
For instance, if your warehouse is in Los Angeles but most of your customers are on the East Coast, even a small order will suddenly travel across multiple shipping zones, which will eventually increase your cost. In that case, economy service may become too slow, and standard shipping would definitely cost you more.
But here’s a smart solution. Like many brands, you can use multiple warehouses. For example, if you have a facility in both Chicago and Los Angeles, you can ship your items from whichever is closer to the customer. So you can reduce the shipping time and save your delivery costs without disappointing your clients.
However, you need to calculate the warehousing fees and shipping fees beforehand to decide if using multiple warehouses is truly cost-effective.
Consider Product Size and Weight
This is where things got a little tricky. Carriers don’t just charge based on actual weight; rather, they sometimes use dimensional weight, which considers size, shape and the space a package will occupy.
Economy services have lower base rates and higher surcharges for big or heavy packages. So if your item is bulky or close to weight or size limits, economy shipping may not save much money.
On the other hand, the standard shipping provides better weight allowances and faster delivery for only a slightly higher price. For items over a certain weight, like 5 to 10 kg, standard shipping can actually be a better value.
In short, choose economy shipping for small, lightweight products and standard shipping for larger or heavier items.
Tracking and Reliability
Standard shipping usually offers better tracking, which makes it easier to monitor your package’s journey throughout. While economy shipping may have limited tracking options. This means there may be fewer updates along the way.
Economy vs. Ground Shipping
Even though the economy and ground shipping are sometimes used interchangeably, they aren’t the same. Economy shipping refers to the cheapest rates a carrier is offering for its customers, while ground shipping specifically means shipping packages through land, like by trucks or trains.
Practically, a shipping service labeled as “economy” could not necessarily be ground only. Here’s a quick comparison between these two modes.
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Economy rates are usually the cheapest you’ll find. Conversely, ground shipping isn’t always the cheapest.
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Economy shipping describes the service level, while ground shipping describes the transportation method.
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Ground shipping tends to be faster, usually taking 3 to 5 business days if it is for a domestic shipment. Yet, going for economy or ocean shipping will take more time.
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Ground services usually offer more stable delivery times and better tracking than some of the basic economy tiers.
The Best Choice?
So, the real choice depends on your shipping zones and your products. If you’re close to your customers or products are smaller, the economy can definitely save money without affecting your delivery timings. Nevertheless, if speed and reliability really matter, or if your items are bulky, standard shipping might be the best choice for the long term.
In summary, always go for the option that keeps your customers happy and protects your profits. If you need dropshipping service or shipping a package across borders, partnering with a freight forwarder like Foresmart can make the process smoother and cost-efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the economy faster than standard shipping?
No, economy shipping is slower than standard shipping. Economy service focuses on keeping costs low, so the packages move through the carrier’s network at a slower pace. Standard shipping is usually faster, more consistent, and expensive.
Are ground shipping and standard shipping the same?
No, they are not the same. For some carriers like UPS and FedEx, standard shipping is often fulfilled by ground shipping, so people treat them as the same. But technically, the standard shipping refers to a service level, and the ground shipping is about the shipping mode where the package travels by road.
What’s the cheapest method of shipping?
Economy shipping can be a cheap method of shipping. It keeps costs low, with longer delivery routes and transit times, usually chosen for light-weight and non-urgent packages.
Additionally, the cheapest options for shipping can vary depending on the carrier, package size, shipping route, and available discounts.
No, economy shipping is slower than standard shipping. Economy service focuses on keeping costs low, so the packages move through the carrier’s network at a slower pace. Standard shipping is usually faster, more consistent, and expensive.
No, they are not the same. For some carriers like UPS and FedEx, standard shipping is often fulfilled by ground shipping, so people treat them as the same. But technically, the standard shipping refers to a service level, and the ground shipping is about the shipping mode where the package travels by road.
Economy shipping can be a cheap method of shipping. It keeps costs low, with longer delivery routes and transit times, usually chosen for light-weight and non-urgent packages.
Additionally, the cheapest options for shipping can vary depending on the carrier, package size, shipping route, and available discounts.
