Built for the middle weights
In this capture the tier looked strongest from 5 to 20 lb eastbound, where rows like $14.31 and $23.22 led or nearly led the field. Below that USPS owns the market; above it, regular ground services take over.
FedEx deferred tier
FedEx Ground Economy rates, measured on two lanes
Ground Economy is what became of SmartPost after the rebrand: the FedEx tier for parcels that can afford an extra day or two in exchange for a lower price. We ran one defined carton up a ten-step weight ladder on two long routes through our checkout on 2026-07-27 and printed both it and regular FedEx Ground for scale.
Formerly SmartPostLadder of ten weightsAll rows dated 2026-07-27
The economy tier under a lens
Two services, two lanes, one carton. Rows appear exactly as the production engine returned them, gaps included.
Ground Economy versus FedEx Ground, 2026-07-27
The carton is 25 x 20 x 10 cm, re-quoted at each weight. Dashes mean a service wasn't among the returned options at that weight; light FedEx rows lose out to USPS on these lanes, and that competition is visible in the gaps.
Eastbound: Newark, NJ 07102 to Atlanta, GA 30303
| Weight | Ground Economy | GE transit | FedEx Ground | FG transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | – | – | – | – |
| 2 lb | $12.42 | 4-5 business days | – | – |
| 3 lb | $12.42 | 4-5 business days | – | – |
| 5 lb | $14.31 | 4-5 business days | – | – |
| 10 lb | $17.57 | 4-5 business days | – | – |
| 15 lb | $20.51 | 4-5 business days | $32.23 | 3-4 business days |
| 20 lb | $23.22 | 4-5 business days | $34.22 | 3-4 business days |
| 30 lb | $33.05 | 4-5 business days | $43.15 | 3-4 business days |
| 40 lb | $47.92 | 4-5 business days | $53.64 | 3-4 business days |
| 50 lb | $55.23 | 4-5 business days | $63.45 | 3-4 business days |
Westbound origin: Los Angeles, CA 90011 to New York, NY 10001
| Weight | Ground Economy | GE transit | FedEx Ground | FG transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | – | – | – | – |
| 2 lb | – | – | – | – |
| 3 lb | – | – | – | – |
| 5 lb | – | – | – | – |
| 10 lb | $27.99 | 7-8 business days | – | – |
| 15 lb | $33.79 | 7-8 business days | – | – |
| 20 lb | $38.47 | 7-8 business days | – | – |
| 30 lb | $60.59 | 7-8 business days | $80.23 | 7-8 business days |
| 40 lb | $79.66 | 7-8 business days | $97.53 | 7-8 business days |
| 50 lb | $91.79 | 7-8 business days | $112.57 | 7-8 business days |
On the eastern lane the Economy discount is steady and the transit penalty mild, 4-5 days against 3-4. Cross-country, both FedEx tiers slow to 7-8 day windows, which changes the calculus: at that point Economy competes on price alone, and rows like 20 lb at $38.47 against UPS Ground Saver's $35.06 from the same capture show it doesn't always win even there.
Residential-friendly by design
The deferred model was created around residential delivery, with the final leg historically handled like mail. Porches, apartment clusters and PO-adjacent addresses are its native habitat, not loading docks.
Never assume the FedEx tiers rank themselves
Economy under Ground held true in every paired row here, but the gap swung from about a dollar band to twenty across weights. The ranking is stable; the margin isn't, and the margin is what you're paying.
Ground Economy, examined
What is FedEx Ground Economy?
The deferred tier FedEx used to sell as SmartPost. Parcels ride the FedEx ground network with a slower, cheaper handling profile, historically finishing through postal carriers. It's aimed at shippers who trade a day or two for a lower bill.
What does it cost on a real route?
From our 2026-07-27 capture: $12.42 for a 2 lb carton and $23.22 for 20 lb from Newark to Atlanta; $27.99 for 10 lb and $38.47 for 20 lb from Los Angeles to New York. Totals include everything charged at checkout.
How does it compare with regular FedEx Ground?
Where both appeared, Economy stayed under Ground consistently: $55.23 against $63.45 at 50 lb eastbound, $91.79 against $112.57 at 50 lb westbound. The price of the gap is transit, 4-5 days versus 3-4 on the east lane in this capture.
Why are light westbound weights missing?
Below 10 lb on the Los Angeles lane, Ground Economy didn't crack the strongest-options set our engine returned; USPS and UPS tiers held those slots. The table reports the capture as it happened instead of splicing in numbers from elsewhere.