A carry-on and a checked bag, quoted on 2026-08-18 from the same origin to the same destination.
What each carrier actually asks for
FedEx: plan on a box
Both ship paths in FedEx's how-to-ship-luggage guide run through “a sturdy box with 2-3 inches cushioning space,” seams taped, and the guide has labels and documents secured to the luggage with a tie-on tag. It also states FedEx does not accept liability for damage to any type of luggage during transit — boxed or not. Read 2026-08-18.
UPS: as is, or boxed
The UPS Store's own travel page says plainly: “ship your suitcase as is.” It also offers a dedicated luggage box and, when the store packs it, backs it with its own Pack & Ship Guarantee. UPS's fee page counts packaging not fully encased in corrugated cardboard as an Additional Handling trigger, so the as-is route can cost extra. Read 2026-08-18.
USPS: sized like any parcel
Ground Advantage's published ceiling is 70 lb and 130 in of combined length and girth, same as any other box. USPS's own packaging guidance walks through boxing, taping and labeling a carton; it does not describe a bare-bag option. Read 2026-08-18.
The same route, two sizes, on 2026-08-18
We priced a 22 × 14 × 9 in carry-on at 7 lb and a 30 × 20 × 12 in checked bag at 17 lb, both from Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 to Denver, CO 80202. Nothing below is edited.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground Saver | $29.15 | about 5 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $29.63 | 6-7 business days |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $33.87 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $34.94 | 5-6 business days |
| FedEx | Ground | $49.38 | 6-7 business days |
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground | $65.38 | 5-6 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $77.59 | 6-7 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $88.58 | about 5 business days |
| FedEx | Ground | $103.93 | 6-7 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $113.27 | 5-6 business days |
The checked bag's dimensional weight works out well inside USPS's own 70 lb, 130 in combined ceiling, so the published limits don't explain the missing row. We don't know the exact mechanism; what we know is that on this route, on this day, USPS quoted the smaller bag and not the larger one. Pull a live quote on your own measurements instead of assuming either way — a couple of inches is the difference between three carriers bidding and two.
What decided the price
Size crosses a line
The cheapest rate more than doubled between the carry-on ($29.15) and the checked bag ($65.38), and one carrier stopped bidding altogether. That is a bigger swing than most people expect from eight extra inches of length.
The slow tier usually wins — not always
FedEx Ground Economy came in under FedEx Ground on both bags: $29.63 against $49.38, then $77.59 against $103.93. UPS flipped between sizes — Ground Saver took the carry-on at $29.15, then lost the checked bag to UPS Ground, $88.58 against $65.38. Check both tiers instead of assuming the slow one is cheaper.
Box it regardless of what's allowed
The UPS Store permitting a bare suitcase is not the same as recommending one: UPS's own fee page makes a package not fully encased in corrugated cardboard an Additional Handling trigger, and a boxed bag is what keeps wheels and handles from taking the first hit in a belt sorter either way.
Where these carrier rules come from
- FedEx, How to Ship and Package Luggage — the box requirement and the luggage liability disclaimer. Read 2026-08-18.
- The UPS Store, Ship Luggage & Travel Services — the as-is option, the luggage box, and the Pack & Ship Guarantee. Read 2026-08-18.
- UPS, Avoid Additional Shipping Fees — the Additional Handling trigger for packaging not fully encased in corrugated cardboard. Read 2026-08-18.
- USPS, Ground Advantage — the 70 lb and 130 in combined length-and-girth ceiling. Read 2026-08-18.
- USPS Postal Explorer, Preparing Packages — the box-and-tape packaging guidance. Read 2026-08-18.
Carrier pages and rate tables change without notice, and both changed more than once earlier in 2026. Treat the prices above as what this route returned on the date shown, and price your own bag before you buy a label.
Common questions
Does FedEx require luggage to be boxed?
Effectively yes. FedEx's own guide never words it as an outright refusal, but both of the ship options it walks through pack the bag into a sturdy box with 2-3 inches of cushioning, and its label instruction is a tie-on tag secured to the luggage. FedEx also states plainly that it does not accept liability for damage to any type of luggage during transit, boxed or not.
Does UPS require a suitcase to be boxed?
No. The UPS Store's own guidance says a suitcase can ship as is. A box is still offered, and UPS's fee page lists a package not fully encased in corrugated cardboard among its Additional Handling triggers, so the bare-bag route can carry a surcharge a boxed bag would not.
Will USPS price a suitcase?
Sometimes. In our own test on one route, USPS Ground Advantage priced a 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on but returned no rate at all for a 30 x 20 x 12 in checked bag, even though USPS's published ceiling of 70 lb and 130 in of combined length and girth covers both boxes on paper. Pull a live quote on your own box rather than assuming either way.
Which carrier is cheapest for a suitcase?
It depends on the size, on this test alone. For the carry-on, UPS Ground Saver and FedEx Ground Economy priced within 50 cents of each other, both under USPS. For the checked bag, UPS Ground was the clear cheapest of the five rates returned. Carrier pricing moves with weight, zone and the week, so treat this as one dated example, not a rule.
Is a suitcase protected if it's damaged in transit?
Ask before assuming so. FedEx states outright that it does not accept liability for luggage damage. The UPS Store's Pack & Ship Guarantee covers items the store packed and shipped itself, using materials bought there. Boxing the bag yourself and adding shipping protection at checkout is the more dependable route either way.