Unlock Sunday Shipping: 7-Day Delivery Strategies for Amazon Sellers
Does USPS deliver on Sunday? No—USPS does not deliver regular mail (First-Class, Marketing Mail, Periodicals) on Sundays. However, USPS Priority Mail Express guarantees delivery seven days a week, and through the Amazon Sunday program, USPS delivers Amazon-fulfilled Prime parcels on Sundays in eligible ZIP codes.
Meeting customer expectations for fast, reliable delivery is critical for Amazon, Walmart, DTC, and dropshipping sellers alike. Yet many carriers only ship Monday–Saturday, leaving Sunday orders in limbo and increasing cart abandonment risk over weekends. In this post, we'll map out every major U.S. carrier's weekend offerings—so you can build a true seven-day logistics network that keeps your shoppers happy and your reviews glowing.
| Carrier & Service | Use-Case Scenario | Service Area | Delivery Days (Incl. Sun.) | Cost Premium | Best Practices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail Express | Urgent, time-sensitive orders | Nationwide | Mon–Sun (365 days) | High (overnight guarantee) | Use for premium listings; require signature for high-value items |
| USPS (Amazon Sunday Program) | Amazon-fulfilled Prime parcels | Eligible ZIP codes | Sun only (selected areas) | None extra | Enable Sunday routing in FBA settings; track volume by ZIP code |
| UPS Express Critical® | Emergency & heavyweight shipments | Nationwide | Mon–Sun | Very High | Reserve in advance; ideal for large-ticket or event-driven orders |
| FedEx Home Delivery | Standard residential e-commerce | Contiguous U.S. | Mon–Sun | Standard ground rates | Great for DTC products; schedule pickups 24 hrs ahead |
| Amazon Logistics (Prime) | Any Amazon order with Prime | Nationwide (Flex network) | Mon–Sun | Included in Prime | Optimize FBA inventory to tap Sunday capacity |
| OnTrac | West-coast & Mountain region | 12 western & central states | Mon–Sun | Standard | Negotiate zone-skip discounts for high volume |
| LaserShip | East-coast last-mile | 20+ Eastern states | Mon–Sat (Sun by fee) | +5 weekend fee | Check weekend surcharge; batch orders into Sat/Sun runs |
| Spee-Dee Delivery | Midwestern small packages | Upper Midwest & Plains | Mon–Fri (Sat on request) | Weekend express extra | Plan Fri shipments early; request Saturday runs for critical SKUs |
| LSO (Lone Star Overnight) | South & Southwest markets | TX, OK, AR, LA & surrounds | Mon–Fri (select Sat) | Standard | Use for regional promotions; stack shipments to central hubs |
| Roadie | On-demand same-day/rush | Nationwide (gig drivers) | Mon–Sun (24/7) | Variable (dynamic pricing) | Integrate via API for emergency orders; cap mileage for cost control |
User Pain Point: Weekend Orders Falling Through the Cracks
Imagine a shopper who clicks "Buy Now" on Saturday night—expecting a Sunday drop—but your chosen carrier doesn't run on Sundays. That lost convenience often translates into a canceled order or a one-star review. For high-velocity channels like Amazon and Walmart, WEEKEND SUITABILITY can make or break your seller metrics.
Ideal Solution: A True Seven-Day Logistics Network
By mixing and matching carriers that cover Sundays, you can create a seamless delivery promise:
- Reserve USPS Priority Mail Express for your highest-value, time-sensitive SKUs.
- Leverage Amazon Logistics on Prime-eligible listings to unlock built-in weekend runs.
- Dial in regionals (OnTrac, LaserShip) for cost-effective Sunday coverage in specific zones.
- Use on-demand options like Roadie for occasional rush orders outside standard windows.
Product Integration: Building Your Multi-Carrier Workflow
To stitch carriers into one cohesive system:
- Inventory tagging: Mark SKUs by priority (urgent vs. standard) so your order management software auto-routes them.
- Zone mapping: Define geographic rules—e.g., West Coast Sunday orders go OnTrac, East Coast go LaserShip weekend service.
- Rate shopping: Automate live rate checks on checkout to show customers real Sunday-eligible options.
- Label automation: Integrate with your OMS (Shopify, ChannelAdvisor, etc.) to generate the correct carrier label instantly—no manual switching.
Choosing Logistics by Product Category
Different types of products have unique shipping needs. Match your category to the right carrier mix:
- Lightweight, Low-Value Items: USPS First-Class or FedEx Home Delivery for cost-efficiency; weekend coverage via FedEx Home Delivery's Sunday service.
- High-Value Electronics & Luxury Goods: UPS Next Day Air, USPS Priority Mail Express, or UPS Express Critical® for guaranteed speed and insurance options.
- Perishables & Temperature-Sensitive Items: Amazon Fresh for groceries, FedEx SameDay® with refrigerated options, or local cold-chain couriers for freshness.
- Bulky Furniture & Large Items: UPS Freight, FedEx Freight, or LTL carriers; Roadie for same-day local deliveries of oversized goods.
- DTC & Brand-Building Shipments: FedEx Home Delivery for branded packages, Amazon Logistics for Prime-exposed DTC offers, and branded tracking pages for engagement.
- Dropshipping & International Sourcing: DHL Express, FedEx International Priority, or USPS Priority Mail International with Sunday pickup options.
Further Tips: Optimize Packaging, Negotiate Rates & Plan for Peaks
- Package dimension planning: Use the smallest footprint that still protects to avoid dimensional-weight surcharges on express services.
- Negotiate volume discounts: Even regionals offer tiered pricing—aggregate weekly volumes for better deals.
- Peak season strategy: Line up Sunday-ready backup carriers before Q4 surcharges hit.
- Customer communication: Clearly display Sunday delivery options at checkout and in post-purchase tracking emails to set accurate expectations.