In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about U.S. shipping zones, how they work, and how you can leverage a 3PL like Daguer Logistics to gain a competitive advantage.
Understanding shipping zones is critical to running a profitable ecommerce operation. As your business scales across the United States, shipping distance directly impacts both cost and delivery speed. That’s where Daguer Logistics comes in — offering distributed fulfillment solutions that help ecommerce brands reduce shipping zones, transit times, and operational costs.
Shipping zones are geographical areas used by carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS to determine how far a package travels from its point of origin to the delivery address — but instead of miles, it’s measured in zones ranging from Zone 1 to Zone 8 in the continental U.S.
Zone 1 = Local (within 50 miles)
Zone 2 = 51–150 miles
Zone 3 = 151–300 miles
Zone 4 = 301–600 miles
Zone 5 = 601–1000 miles
Zone 6 = 1001–1400 miles
Zone 7 = 1401–1800 miles
Zone 8 = 1801+ miles
Zone 9 = Freely Associated States (e.g., Guam, Puerto Rico)
Zones vary based on where the shipment originates, which means the same destination can fall into different zones depending on the starting point.
Each shipment’s Zone 1 is the origin point. From there, the destination zone is calculated based on how far it is from the origin.
Example:
Shipping from Los Angeles to St. Louis = Zone 7
Shipping from Dallas to St. Louis = Zone 4
That’s why warehouse location makes a huge difference in your logistics costs.
The farther a package travels (higher zone), the more it typically costs. Services like USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, and FedEx Home Delivery are all zone-based.
However, services like USPS Flat Rate, First-Class Mail, and Media Mail are not zone-dependent.
Heavier packages and larger dimensions increase costs significantly when zones go up.
Example:
· A 1-pound package from Zone 1 to Zone 8 = ~$3.90 increase
· A 3-pound package from Zone 1 to Zone 8 = ~$14.65 increase
That’s why shipping lightweight packages to far zones can still be economical, while heavier ones quickly become costly.
Carriers calculate cost based on whichever is greater — actual weight or dimensional (DIM) weight:
This prevents large, lightweight packages (like pillows or shoes) from getting cheaper rates due to low actual weight.
Free shipping isn’t free, it’s a strategic cost management decision. Brands typically:
· Include shipping cost in product price
· Set a minimum order value (e.g., free shipping on orders $50+)
· Limit shipping zones
The goal is to balance cost recovery and customer experience.
· Zone 1–2 = 1–2 days (ground)
· Zone 7–8 = 3–5 days or more
73% of shoppers expect fast, affordable shipping. If shipping takes longer than 4 days, 24% may cancel their orders.
This is why reducing your average shipping zone is essential for both cost and customer retention.
To reduce time and cost, brands distribute inventory across multiple fulfillment centers in different zones. This allows you to:
· Ship orders from the location closest to the customer
· Use ground shipping to reach high zones faster and cheaper
Daguer Logistics specializes in this model, helping ecommerce brands reduce average shipping zones across the USA.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best fulfillment locations are:
· Close to your largest customer clusters
· Near major urban areas for faster last-mile delivery
· Within 1–3 zones of your top markets
We use historical order data and SKU velocity reports to help you decide where to store inventory.
We operate strategically located fulfillment centers across the U.S. and Canada. This allows brands to split inventory for lower zone delivery.
We use automated systems to quickly pick, pack, and ship your orders — getting them out the door faster, improving lead time, and keeping customers happy.
We negotiate shipping rates with major carriers. Our clients benefit from enterprise-level rates without needing to meet volume thresholds.
We compare carrier options in real time to find the best rate and delivery time for every order, based on zone, weight, and dimensions.
Understanding shipping zones isn’t just about logistics, it’s about optimizing your ecommerce strategy to reduce costs, increase delivery speed, and win customer loyalty.
With Daguer Logistics, you gain a fulfillment partner that knows how to minimize your average shipping zone, cut your shipping costs, and exceed customer expectations across the U.S.
From startups to global brands, we empower ecommerce businesses with scalable, tech-driven fulfillment solutions that deliver measurable results.
Shipping zones are regions used by carriers to measure the distance between the shipment origin and destination. U.S. domestic zones range from Zone 1 (local) to Zone 8 (farthest).
The higher the zone number, the more expensive the shipping, especially for heavier or larger packages.
Yes. Higher zones usually mean longer transit times, which can hurt customer satisfaction. Reducing zones leads to faster delivery.
You can split your inventory across multiple fulfillment centers near your customers. A 3PL like Daguer Logistics can handle this efficiently.
Yes. We offer distributed inventory storage across the U.S. and Canada to minimize zone-related costs and delays.
Yes, if done strategically by baking shipping costs into product prices, setting free shipping thresholds, or reducing zone-related costs through distributed fulfillment.
We offer negotiated shipping rates, strategic inventory placement, and smart carrier selection to reduce your average shipping cost per order.
