Consumers are increasingly sensitive when it comes to delivery times, and many may lose interest in ordering a product as soon as they see the “arrives in 5-7 business days” – sometimes, waiting just isn’t an option.
In the case of last-minute birthday gifts, or low inventory, individuals and businesses may need items ASAP. There’s also a growing expectation that items should arrive in a couple of days at most, making quick shipping options (two-day delivery, next-day delivery, or same-day delivery) increasingly popular.
In this environment, businesses need to consider offering expedited shipping, closing the gap between people who need their orders fast but don’t necessarily want to pay for overnight shipping.
But how fast is expedited shipping, how does it compare to standard shipping, and is it worth it for ecommerce businesses? Read on for everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
What is expedited shipping?
How fast is expedited shipping?
Expedited shipping vs. standard shipping: What’s the difference?
Expedited vs. overnight shipping: Are they the same?
Is expedited shipping worth it for ecommerce businesses?
A look at expedited shipping in ecommerce
In conclusion
What is expedited shipping?
Expedited shipping is a faster-than-standard delivery that offers faster options than regular shipping methods. But what does “regular” mean here? That depends on the shipping company involved.
Since shipping covers everything from international freight to domestic, last-mile deliveries, standard options can take months, weeks, or days (depending on the distance and transport mode). Expedited shipping, which can take hours, days, or weeks, is therefore faster than standard options.
However, given the extra speed, expedited shipping usually costs more than standard options.
How fast is expedited shipping?
Exact delivery time will depend on which carrier businesses use and their chosen service. But that’s not all, it also depends on distance and transport mode. Remember that for a delivery to be “expedited,” it has to be faster than standard shipping, even if there is only a few days’ difference.
Let’s say an ocean freight international shipment typically takes 18 days to go from Shanghai to LA; if a supplier offers a 14-day shipping option, it’s expedited. On the other hand, domestic shipping (within the US, for example) takes five to eight business days standard, but expedited options can shorten it to three days or less.
Nevertheless, express shipping is not the same as expedited shipping. Although both options are faster than standard shipping, express typically covers same-day or two-day delivery. So, if you compare the two, express may be quicker overall.
Expedited shipping vs. standard shipping: What’s the difference?
The biggest difference between expedited and standard shipping is delivery time and speed. For instance, vehicles moving expedited shipments will make fewer stops than those carrying standard orders.
Using the earlier ocean freight example, the container may travel straight to Los Angeles without stopping at Long Beach. And for domestic shipments, truck drivers may skip or reduce stops to hasten delivery. Some companies even send two drivers per truck so they can take turns driving without long rest breaks.
Every delivery company offers different standard delivery times, so expedited delivery may take two days, overnight, the next day, or the same day for domestic shipments.
Here’s a quick summary of the differences:
| Feature | Standard shipping | Expedited shipping |
| Cost | Usually the cheapest, sometimes even free | More expensive than standard |
| Tracking | Basic tracking and slower updates | Expedited shipping may offer more detailed tracking |
| Shipping method | Usually ground shipping for domestic and ocean freight for international shipments | Utilizes air or faster ground shipping |
Note: For businesses, this choice comes down to cost vs. speed. If customers expect fast shipping, expedited shipping is usually worth offering.
Expedited vs. overnight shipping: Are they the same?
The biggest difference between overnight and expedited shipping is speed (like other options). Overnight shipping guarantees that a package arrives within one business day – which is why some businesses call it next-day or one-day shipping.
If businesses and consumers want overnight shipping, the package must be dropped off or picked up before the shipping company’s cut-off time (usually around 6 p.m.). This timing gives workers enough time to sort, load, and transport the packages overnight, arriving at the destination the next day.
As mentioned earlier, expedited shipping means a package will reach its destination faster than standard shipping. Although some businesses offer overnight shipping as a form of expedited shipping, it depends on the destination. For instance, offering overnight delivery would be the expedited option if standard shipping takes three days.
Is expedited shipping worth it for ecommerce businesses?
Shipping speed can make or break a sale for online businesses. Thanks to Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping, customers expect faster delivery times across the board – even from small businesses. Buyers might go elsewhere if a store takes a week or more to ship.
Offering expedited shipping makes sense for ecommerce when:
✅ The business sells high-demand or time-sensitive products. For example, people expect fast shipping for fashion, electronics, beauty products, and gift items.
✅ The competition offers faster shipping. If everyone in the brand’s niche delivers in two to three days, and they take seven, the business might lose sales.
✅ Brands want to increase customer satisfaction. Faster shipping = happier customers = more repeat business.
And might not be worth it when:
❌ If the brand’s margins are low. Expedited shipping costs more, so if the profit margins are thin, it could eat into the bottom line.
❌ For heavy or bulky items. Expedited shipping is expensive for large, heavy items (like furniture).
❌ If customers are fine with slower shipping. Standard shipping is often good enough if the business’s audience values low cost over speed.
A look at expedited shipping in ecommerce
Now that you know the details of expedited shipping, the next question is whether it’s worth it for your ecommerce brand. Here are some key online shopping and delivery facts that may provide the answer.
- 22% of US shoppers – nearly one in every four shoppers – don’t check out because of slow shipping times
- 50.7% of shoppers only buy online because of free shipping
- 28.4% choose online shopping for next-day delivery services
- 60% of customers will pay for quicker shipping; most choose next-day delivery
While these numbers show that online shoppers want fast shipping, they also prove that many prefer free options. For this reason, expedited shipping shouldn’t be the only option. To help cover the cost, you may want to offer expedited shipping on orders over a set amount, especially if the order value is higher than the average. This is often how the top businesses attract more customers without hurting their profits.
Note: Since more consumers are willing to pay for faster delivery, splitting some of the added cost isn’t a bad idea.
In conclusion
Expedited shipping is a great way to send orders faster than standard delivery. Although there’s no set definition for what “expedited shipping” entails, by guaranteeing faster shipping, you can offer customers attractive perks. However, it comes at a higher price, meaning expedited shipping isn’t always the best strategy for all ecommerce businesses.
Nevertheless, businesses that want to offer faster shipping options can lower expedited shipping on orders above a set minimum or by having consumers eat some of the costs. These options work to give consumers faster delivery without dropping your profit margins.
