Downeast takes longer
The quoted window is measured to Portland. Addresses along the coast past Ellsworth or up in Aroostook County ride an extra leg on rural routes, so read the far end of any window as the realistic date for those ZIPs.
End of the line, northeast
Shipping to Maine: what it really costs
Maine is where the Northeast corridor runs out — cheap and quick from the New York area, a full-length haul from the West Coast, and the far Downeast ZIPs sit at the long end of every quoted window.
Live carrier pricesNo signup to buy a labelTracking included
Priced, not guessed
The numbers below came straight from the carriers on 2026-07-27, tied to one real box and two real routes.
Live prices to Portland, ME — quoted 2026-07-27
On 2026-07-27 we asked the SMKlog calculator to price a real shipment, a 12 × 10 × 6 in box at 5 lb filled with everyday household items, to Portland from Newark and again from Los Angeles. The tables below are the raw results. Each price is the complete amount at checkout, covering the label and SMKlog's charge together.
From Newark, NJ (07102) to Portland, ME 04101
| Carrier | Service | Price | Quoted transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $10.37 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $11.09 | 4 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $11.68 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $12.32 | 2-3 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail | $14.15 | 2-3 business days |
From Los Angeles, CA (90011) to Portland, ME 04101
| Carrier | Service | Price | Quoted transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $17.30 | 6-7 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $19.14 | 7 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $19.30 | 7-8 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $27.17 | 3-4 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail | $28.19 | 3-4 business days |
Cheapest on the day: USPS Ground Advantage, at $10.37 from Newark and $17.30 from Los Angeles. Portland behaves like the rest of the Northeast corridor, while coastal villages and the far north of the state often need an extra day on the same label. None of this is fixed, though. Prices get refiled constantly, so plug in your actual ZIPs for a current answer.
Weigh days against dollars
From Newark, FedEx Ground Economy at $11.68 quoted 2-3 business days while the $10.37 USPS option quoted 3-4. That is a day or two bought for about a dollar. Scan the transit column before defaulting to the top row.
No tape measure required
Describe the item in a sentence and SMKlog estimates the packed box for you; exact dimensions work too if you have them. You then see USPS, UPS, and FedEx priced side by side for your actual route.
Shipping to Maine: common questions
How much is shipping a box to Maine?
For our 12 × 10 × 6 in, 5 lb test parcel on 2026-07-27, Portland cost $10.37 from Newark and $17.30 from Los Angeles at the cheapest tier. Both totals are final checkout prices with the label and SMKlog charge rolled together. Yours depends on your box and ZIPs.
What are the transit times to Maine?
Ground from the New York area quoted 3-4 business days on our run; from Los Angeles the same tier quoted 6-7. The exact window sits beside each price in the tables, straight from the carriers, and quicker tiers trim it for more money.
Which service is cheapest to Maine?
USPS Ground Advantage won both directions when we checked: $10.37 out of Newark, $17.30 out of Los Angeles. It does not always win. Box size, ZIP pair, and the week all shuffle the order, so run a fresh comparison before buying.
Do I have to sign up to print a label?
You do not. Say what the item is, enter origin and destination ZIPs, compare the live prices, and pay. The label arrives immediately with tracking already attached.