UPS and FedEx are the two largest package delivery companies in the United States. Both offer extensive tracking capabilities, but they have different strengths depending on your shipping needs.
Tracking Number Formats
UPS Tracking Numbers
UPS tracking numbers are 18 characters starting with "1Z" followed by a combination of letters and numbers (example: 1Z999AA10123456784).
FedEx Tracking Numbers
FedEx uses several formats depending on the service:
- 12 digits: Express and Ground
- 15 digits: Ground and Home Delivery
- 20-22 digits: SmartPost and Ground Economy
Delivery Speed Comparison
Both carriers offer similar service levels:
Overnight/Express Services
- FedEx Priority Overnight: Next business day by 10:30 AM
- UPS Next Day Air Early: Next business day by 8:00 AM
- Winner: UPS for earliest delivery times
Ground Services
- FedEx Ground: 1-5 business days
- UPS Ground: 1-5 business days
- Winner: Tie - both offer comparable transit times
Tracking Tip
Both UPS and FedEx provide detailed tracking with real-time GPS updates for delivery vehicles. You can track packages from either carrier using our unified tracking tool.
Tracking Features Comparison
UPS My Choice
- Free and premium membership options
- Delivery alerts and notifications
- Reschedule deliveries
- Redirect packages to different addresses
- Authorize delivery release
FedEx Delivery Manager
- Free service
- Delivery notifications via email, text, or app
- Schedule delivery windows
- Request vacation hold
- Customize delivery preferences
Which Should You Choose?
Choose UPS if:
- You need the earliest possible delivery times
- You ship internationally frequently
- You prefer extensive drop-off location options
Choose FedEx if:
- You need reliable residential delivery
- You ship time-sensitive documents
- You want free delivery management features
Track UPS or FedEx Packages
Our tool supports both carriers. Enter any tracking number to get instant updates.
Track Package →
