What is Economy Shipping? How long does it take?

For any start-up or small business, choosing cheaper shipping options such as economy shipping is crucial to maintain profits. There are many other factors to consider as well to save on shipping costs.

Let's dive in.

Key Takeaways

• Economy shipping is the cheapest but slowest option. It helps small businesses save money, but it takes longer to deliver. It's best for non-urgent shipments where speed isn't a priority.
  
  
• Each shipping provider offers different services. The options vary depending on the company. There are postal services, freight forwarders, and 3PLs. Each provides different pricing, speed, and other shipping tools you can use in your business.

So, What is Economy Shipping?

Economy shipping is typically the cheapest shipping option provided by carriers for your packages. It is also usually the slowest, so it's best to use it for non-urgent deliveries and inform your customers accordingly. Note that some shipping providers refer to economy shipping as standard or ground shipping.

Most customers and businesses choose this shipping option because it can help them save more. It allows them to allocate the remaining budget from the money they save from shipping to the other aspects of the business, such as marketing and admin tasks.

On a side note, when choosing this shipping service, you should not expect the parcel to arrive at lightning speed like Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express. It will take a few days to a week for the goods to arrive at their destination, depending on the geographical location and season.

So, you'll need to contact your customers and inform them about the schedule to ensure they won't give you a bad review. The services, like Stallion Economy, can also offer savings passed onto the customer due to the low-cost but longer transit times.

Are Ground Shipping and Economy Shipping Similar?

Yes, ground shipping and economy shipping are relatively similar, but not always identical. Both options refer to slower, cost-effective delivery methods that prioritize affordability over speed.

Ground shipping specifically uses trucks for land transport within the same country. Economy shipping, on the other hand, can include both ground and other low-cost options, especially for international deliveries. In many cases, economy shipping is ground shipping, just labelled differently by shipping companies.

What are Some Economy Shipping Services You Should Know?

While each service has specific details and offerings, you can still check the details below to differentiate what postal services, freight consolidations, third-party logistics providers, and regional or local carriers can offer.

Note that having a proper consultation with the respective providers is better to ensure precise information regarding their economic shipping options.

Which Couriers Offer Economy Shipping Options?

Here are some of your options for Economy Shipping:

Stallion

While Stallion does not offer a traditional "Economy Shipping" tier, it still offers options with budget-friendly pricing comparable to standard shipping solutions.

• Whiz Delivery Next Day. You cannot simply overlook this option. While it may be Stallion's cheapest option, it's next to none when it comes to delivery times. Customers can enjoy deeply discounted shipping rates while still receiving their packages as early as the next business day.
  
  
• Intelcom and Ecom Next Day. Both offer comparable pricing and service levels, giving customers multiple cost-effective options without sacrificing speed.

FedEx

FedEx offers several Economy Shipping options ideal for non-urgent shipments:

• FedEx Ground. It is a cost-effective solution for domestic shipments within the US and Canada.
  
  
• FedEx International Economy. This is FedEx's economy international shipping option. It allows you to deliver orders across borders without compromising reliability.
  
  
• FedEx Ground Economy (formerly FedEx SmartPost). Designed for low-weight, non-urgent packages, this service combines FedEx’s ground network with USPS for final delivery.

UPS

Like FedEx, UPS also offers economy and standard shipping options to its shippers, such as:

• UPS Standard (also known as UPS Ground in the US) is an economy shipping service by UPS Canada. It offers cost-effective ground transportation for non-urgent shipments. It also includes tracking and is ideal for businesses looking for affordable shipping without time-sensitive deadlines.
  
  
• UPS Worldwide Economy. It is a budget-friendly international shipping service designed for lightweight, low-value parcels. It's ideal for eCommerce sellers shipping to global destinations at a lower cost, with basic tracking and consolidated customs clearance.

Canada Post

Canada Post’s economy shipping option for domestic deliveries is called Regular Parcel. It’s the most affordable ground service for sending non-urgent packages within Canada.

For cross-border deliveries, Canada Post offers Surface shipping as its economy international option. While slower than air services, it provides significantly lower international shipping rates, making it a budget-friendly choice for heavier packages that don’t require fast delivery.

Purolator

Purolator's economy option is Purolator Ground. It includes tracking, delivery confirmation, and optional insurance. Like many other standard shipping services, it's designed for non-urgent deliveries across Canada.

It is also ideal for businesses seeking an alternative to expedited shipping for a lower cost, while still enjoying dependable service and national coverage.

How Many Days Does Economy Shipping Take Within Canada?

While Stallion offers a next business day delivery, the majority of the delivery lead time takes between 2 to 9 business days, depending on the origin and destination. The time varies by distance. Note that urban-to-urban routes are faster, while rural or cross-country shipments may take longer.

How Many Days Does Economy Shipping Service Take for International Shipping?

For international shipments, most economy options usually take 2 to 6 weeks. It usually takes longer due to surface transport, customs clearance, and destination-specific factors.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right shipping method depends on your budget, timeline, and delivery expectations. Economy shipping is a great option for cost-conscious businesses that don't require urgent delivery. While it comes with a longer delivery time, it offers reliable service at a fraction of the cost of express shipping alternatives.

Whether you’re shipping within Canada or internationally, balancing cost and convenience will help you select the method that best meets your needs.

Ship Smarter Across Canada with Stallion’s Low-Cost Solutions

Take advantage of Canada's most trusted 3PL service to meet all your shipping needs!

Whether you're sending packages across Canada or looking to ship internationally, Stallion's discounted rates and fast delivery times are here to help you. With our cost-effective shipping solution, you can confidently offer free shipping to your customers by covering the fees yourself.

What's the catch? Nothing! You can get that competitive edge without hurting your bottom line. 

Jose Sagun

Jose is Stallion's Senior Business Analyst. He helps improve the company’s shipping processes, works closely with delivery partners, and looks at shipping data to find the best prices for our customers. Outside of work, Jose has a passion for running, regularly completing 5k and 10k runs, with the goal of running a full marathon in the near future.