UPS Next Day Air Saver: A Guide

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Amazon Prime is a game changer. Because of it, customers expect their packages faster than ever before. To remain in the game and retain your competitive advantage for order fulfillment, you need to be able to ship fast – usually no later than the next day. How are you going to do it and keep costs down? A viable option to offer your customers is UPS Next Day Air Saver. It’s overnight shipping, it’s cost-effective and might be the right choice for your customers.

What is UPS Next Day Air Saver?

Cargo plane getting ready to taxi with ecommerce shipment.

The clue is in its name. Essentially, it’s an overnight air freight shipping mail service that offers expedited next-day shipping at a lower rate than regular UPS Next Day Air. While both options provide one-day delivery that allows you to ship your packages overnight, the distinction is the delivery timing of your shipment.

With Next Day Air Saver, you still get your packages in the customer’s hands within one business day, but it’s usually delivered later in the day than UPS Next Day Air.

UPS Next Day Air has a guaranteed commitment to delivery by 10:30 a.m., the next morning after shipping; UPS Next Day Air Saver, on the other hand, promises next-day delivery between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m. to commercial addresses and at the end of the day to residential addresses.

It’s designed to help build your business while balancing speed and shipping costs.

Where Does it Ship To?

UPS Next Day Air Saver ships to all 48 contiguous states, plus certain areas in Alaska and Hawaii. The caveat is, it’s not available in locations where standard Next Day Air has an end-of-day delivery time guaranteed instead of guaranteed morning delivery. 

eCommerce Cargo plane taking off with cargo containers visible on the ground.

How Much Does It Cost?

While UPS Next Day Air Saver is cheaper than the standard UPS Next Day Air Service, actual savings vary depending on the size and volume of packages being sent. Typically, a letter will cost $1 to $1.50 less via Next Day Air Saver. That may not sound like a lot, but it can add up quickly if you’re shipping a larger volume.

UPS Next Day Air Saver costs for letters range from $25.00 to $46.87, depending on the zone of the recipient. For Next Day Air, this same letter would cost $25.21 to $61.89, meaning the Saver option would reduce your costs by anywhere from $0.21 to $15.02, which is substantial when you consider that the Saver letter will arrive on the same day.

Packages shipped via Next Day Air Saver start at $28.27 for the lightest weight and zone 132, rising to $46.87 for zone 138. A 50 lbs. package would cost between $108.38 and $417.67 via Saver. Using the standard Next Day Air offering, you’re paying between $2.94 and $44.54 more for the lightweight package. When it comes to the 50 lbs. box, the regular Next Day Air increases your prices by $8.61 all the way up to an additional $55.47.

The heavier your package and the further it travels, the more you can save by choosing UPS Next Day Air Saver.

You can get a more reliable estimate of UPS Next Day Air Saver shipping costs by using the UPS Shipping Calculator.

Pros and Cons of Using UPS Next Day Air Saver

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Next Day Air Saver is a great option for businesses who want to send something fast with guaranteed next-day delivery and save money at the same time. But, choosing this option has some limitations in terms of service area, and what you’re sending must fall within the shipping requirements for sizes and weights. You should weigh your options and choose Next Day Air Service if it meets your requirements.

Pros:

  • Guaranteed next day delivery.
  • Guaranteed arrival times
  • Cheaper than UPS Next Day Air, when you need to get a package delivered overnight.

Cons:

  • Smaller delivery area than UPS Next Day Air

Does It Have a Weight Limit?

The weight limit for UPS Next Day Air Saver is the same as for Next Day Air, 150 lbs.

What are the Dimensional Limitation of UPS Next Day Air Saver?

UPS Next Day Air Saver packages must be no more than 108 inches in length. And the longest side cannot exceed 30 inches. These size limits are comparable to UPS Next Day Air.

Carriers like UPS use dimensional weight or DIM weight pricing to determine the cost to ship a package based on its volume. This allows them to incorporate the size of the packages they ship into their pricing structure as the size as well as weight determines how many packages, they can fit on one truck.  When you work with a 3PL like Red Stag Fulfillment, volume pricing discounts can save you and your customers on shipping – especially when it comes to shipping large or bulky items.

When Does it Make Sense to Choose it?

If cost is an important consideration but without sacrificing speed, UPS Next Day Air Saver makes good sense. It can be a reliable way to get your packages to customers the next day, without cutting into your profits.

Since the packages arrive the very next day, as with UPS Next Day Air, customers might not notice the subtle time differences between the two delivery options – but you will notice the savings.

UPS Next Day Air Saver is a useful option for eCommerce businesses looking to satisfy customer demands for speed while managing costs and maximizing margins.

The Bottom Line

UPS Next Day Air Saver is a great option for businesses that require fast, reliable, and affordable shipping. It guarantees that your packages are delivered quickly and securely, without any of the hassles and delays usually associated with express shipping. If you’re looking for an expedited solution that can save you money, it might be worth considering.

eCommerce plane on the runway ready to takeoff

Reduce Your Shipping Rates with a 3PL

One important thing to be aware of is that you can further reduce your shipping costs by working with a 3PL like Red Stag Fulfillment. We can typically negotiate more favorable shipping rates by leveraging our total shipping volumes across all partners. Depending on your packages and costs, these savings can be significant enough to help you grow and invest more into your business.  If you’re considering working with a 3PL, we can help you control carrier or DIM weights and help you with large, bulky, and high-value orders to save you money on shipping.

Learn more about Next Day Air Saver and other overnight shipping options, plus how your business can save on its ground and standard shipments by having a quick conversation with Red Stag Fulfillment. We’ll point you in the direction of the best options and eCommerce fulfillment partners for your business.

Start saving money on eCommerce shipping  with Red Stag Fulfillment

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