Does UPS Deliver on Saturdays? Everything You Need To Know

Wondering if you can get your UPS packages delivered on a Saturday? As an increasing number of shoppers rely on online stores and fast shipping, delivery companies like UPS have expanded their services to include weekend deliveries.

So does UPS deliver on Saturdays? The short answer is yes, UPS offers Saturday delivery services in over 100 metro areas across the United States.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about UPS Saturday delivery. You’ll learn about:

• The UPS shipping services that offer Saturday delivery
• Additional fees and surcharges for weekend shipping
• Tracking and receiving your Saturday deliveries
• Filing claims for late or lost shipments
• And more!

We’ll also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about UPS weekend delivery options so you know exactly what to expect.

Overview of UPS Saturday Delivery Services

UPS began testing Saturday delivery services in select markets back in the late 2016s. As demand grew over the next decades, so too did their weekend shipping reach.

Now, UPS Saturday delivery covers about 85% of the total U.S. population, spanning more than 100 metro hubs. This includes major cities as well as surrounding suburban areas that UPS services.

Eligible UPS shipping services for Saturday delivery include:

• UPS Next Day Air: Guaranteed delivery by 10:30AM, 12PM or end of day, depending on destination
• UPS Next Day Air Early: Delivery by 8:30AM, 9AM or 9:30AM
• UPS 2nd Day Air: Ships out Thursday for Saturday arrival
• UPS 3 Day Select: Packages shipped Wednesday – Friday
• UPS Ground: 1-5 business day transit time includes Saturdays

Saturday delivery helps meet customer expectations for fast fulfillment. It also aids businesses who want to ship orders later in the week by pushing deliveries into the weekend.

Is There an Additional Fee for UPS Saturday Delivery?

UPS does tack on some extra fees for the convenience of weekend deliveries. However, it depends on the exact shipping service used.

For UPS Ground residential packages, Saturday delivery comes at no additional cost. But for air and international shipments, a $16 surcharge applies per package.

There are also additional charges if you require UPS Sunday delivery. This is only available under select circumstances for extremely urgent healthcare and emergency inventory orders. Expect to pay premium rates that vary based on weight, destination and size.

Commercial customers can receive UPS Ground packages on Saturdays at no added fees either. However, the carrier charges $4 per package for commercial Saturday deliveries at non-residential addresses. Enrolling in scheduled Saturday pickups from UPS negates this.

Clearly, having to pay extra for weekend shipping isn’t always ideal. But UPS Saturday delivery presents advantages too, like faster transit times to delight customers.

What are the UPS Saturday Delivery Hours?

Customers can expect to receive UPS shipments at various times throughout a Saturday, depending on the service purchased:

• UPS Next Day Air Early: As early as 9AM delivery
• UPS Next Day Air: Between 12PM-1:30PM
• UPS 2nd Day Air: End of day by 9PM at the latest
• UPS Ground: Typically delivered by the end of the day as well

For reference, UPS defines its end-of-day cutoff as 11:59PM – so you could theoretically receive a Ground package in the late evening hours.

Commit times also depend on if you live in a major hub or surrounding zones. Urban areas tend to get earlier UPS Saturday delivery guarantees than more remote addresses.

Either way, UPS does not operate on Sundays except for certain critical shipments. So expect Next Day Air packages transiting Friday to arrive Saturday instead.

Does UPS Also Offer Saturday Pickup Options?

Another major perk offered by UPS is the ability to ship out packages on Saturdays as well.

UPS provides Saturday pickup services to residential and commercial clients upon request. There is no additional charge for this beyond what you already pay for shipping.

Having Saturday pickup means businesses don’t lose momentum on fulfilling orders over the weekend. For online sellers, this extra day allows faster processing to meet early Monday delivery targets.

And for individuals, the flexibility helps ensure you meet shipping deadlines, return items promptly, or send care packages on your own schedule.

To schedule a Saturday pickup:

1. Log into your UPS account online
2. Select “Schedule a Pickup”
3. Choose Saturday on the pickup date dropdown menu
4. Confirm cutoff times based on your location
5. Print the label and have your package ready to go!

Does UPS Deliver Packages on Sundays Too?

Unlike FedEx and the USPS in select areas, UPS does not yet offer any standard Sunday delivery services. The company still classifies Sundays as well as major holidays as non-operating days.

However, some UPS SurePost packages do get delivered on Sundays. These are shipments handed off to USPS for actual delivery after transiting through UPS’s network. So there’s an outside chance your UPS tracking shows movement over the weekend.

For now, Sunday delivery remains elusive unless you’re shipping extremely urgent healthcare supplies, legal documents, or emergency inventory via UPS Express Critical. These logistical challenges means opening up full Sunday operations is unlikely in the near term.

Steps to Add Saturday Delivery to Your UPS Shipments

Adding Saturday delivery to your UPS packages only takes a quick extra step while checking out:

1. Prepare your shipment as normal and select a service like Next Day Air or Ground
2. Click on “Delivery Options” and check the box next to Saturday Delivery under Additional Charges
3. Enter in the $16 fee for air/international packages or simply request it at no added cost for UPS Ground
4. Confirm the delivery date now shows Saturday instead of the standard weekday

One caveat – while Saturday delivery reaches huge swathes across the continental United States, some exceptions exist. Remote addresses may not qualify, especially in territories like Alaska and Hawaii.

Checking eligibility beforehand on ups.com prevents unexpected delays come shipment time.​

Tracking and Receiving Your Saturday Delivery

You can closely monitor your Saturday shipment every step of the way using UPS’s tracking tools:

• Receive proactive alerts via email or text message with status updates
• View delivery progress on a live map right down to the arriving truck’s location
• Get helpful timestamps so you know when to expect the package
• Require driver release signatures upon successful delivery

Come delivery day, make sure someone is available to receive the package. UPS normally mandates signatures for handing off shipments directly.

For commercial or difficult-to-access destinations, you can provide special drop-off instructions ahead of time during checkout under “Delivery Instructions”. This ensures drivers know exactly where to bring your Saturday packages.

What Happens If Your Saturday Shipment Is Delayed?

Despite UPS’s best efforts, unforeseen delays occasionally happen – even with time-guaranteed services.

Fortunately, UPS offers refunds or rebates when Saturday deliveries don’t occur within their promised delivery windows. This applies to premium Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, or 2nd Day Air options.

The process requires contacting their customer service team to start a claim typically within 15 days of the promised delivery date. UPS then initiates an investigation into what prevented the timely arrival. Once completed, they’ll issue the guaranteed service refund or credit.

For lost or damaged packages, UPS also has claim procedures in place to make affected senders and receivers financially whole again.

So while missed timelines disappoint customers initially, UPS does aim to make it right to maintain trust and loyalty.

Save on Shipping with UPS Ground Instead of Saturday Delivery

To avoid the extra charges altogether, some UPS customers elect standard Ground service. Without paying for Saturday delivery:

Pros

• Lowest cost option with UPS
• Still reliably arrives within 1-5 business days
• No chance of incurring added fees or surcharges

Cons

• Cannot guarantee specific delivery day
• Transit times subject to extra day or two delays
• Lacks premium shipment tracking, insurance and guarantees

At the end of the day, assess your tolerance for slower delivery windows against the urgency for receiving goods exactly on Saturday. Often the shipping savings add up significantly for high order volumes – so keep all factors in mind.

Other Weekend Shipping Options Besides UPS

If UPS delivery services don’t quite fit your business, other carriers provide alternative choices:

• FedEx Home Delivery: Free Saturday and Sunday residential delivery – up to 150lbs USPS Priority
• Mail: Ships Monday-Saturday without extra weekend charges
• Amazon Shipping: Offers Saturday and Sunday delivery to Prime members in select areas

How To Get Refunds or Credits For Missed UPS Shipments?

Despite UPS’s best efforts, delays or issues can happen with your shipment. Fortunately, UPS offers refunds in certain situations:

Guaranteed Service Refunds: If a time-guaranteed Next Day Air or 2nd Day Air shipment is late, you can request a refund of the shipping charges. This must be submitted within 15 days of the promised delivery date.

Loss/Damage Claims: For lost, stolen or damaged items, UPS allows claims up to $100 or actual value, whichever is less. Extra insurance can be purchased as well. Claims should be reported promptly online or by phone.

Filing for refunds or claims requires contacting UPS customer service and providing details around the shipment. UPS will investigate and issue credits or payments accordingly.

Tips For Successful UPS Weekend Deliveries

Here are some top tips for smooth weekend shipping with UPS:

• Check eligibility by destination to confirm Saturday delivery is supported
• Have someone available to sign for deliveries requiring adult signatures
• Provide special delivery instructions for difficult-to-find addresses
• Schedule weekend pickups so you don’t miss cutoffs
• Insure valuable contents in case issues arise
• Act swiftly if packages are late or lost

Following these best practices ensures reliable, timely UPS weekend shipping.

Conclusion

As the demand for faster ecommerce deliveries increases, UPS continues expanding and enhancing Saturday operations. Their weekend shipping now spans over 100 metro regions, covering 85%+ of the population.

With groundbreaking Sunday USPS deliveries happening too, expectations will only grow further. UPS bringing more addresses into Sunday coverage seems imminent down the road.

For now, the carrier’s broad Saturday reach already aids numerous residential and commercial customers. The option for weekend pickups also empowers convenient shipping no matter your location or volume needs.

Just remember to check eligibility, delivery times and possible fees based on your situation. With proper preparation using the guidance above, your UPS packages can arrive precisely when promised.