Christmas is days away, but you still haven't put your presents in the post. The three largest mail carriers — Federal Express, UPS, and the United States Postal Service — offer two-day services that provide timely delivery and won't cost more than the gift itself. Use this guide to decide which service is best for you. (Rates for all carriers vary depending on package size and delivery distance.)

FEDEX

Service and Cost
2Day costs $15 to send a three-pound package from New York to Los Angeles. To contact: www.fedex.com.

Pros

Delivery guaranteed. If the sender doesn't require a signature, packages will be left under almost all conditions.

Free tracking. Boxes can be tracked on-line or by phone.

Cons

Pickup fee. It costs an extra $4 per package to send from home.

Payment restrictions. Many drop-off locations don't accept cash. Call ahead for your local store's policy.

Best for
Sending a package to someone who may not be home or doesn't have a doorman.

UPS

Service and Cost
2nd Day Air costs approximately $22 to send a three-pound package from New York to Los Angeles. To contact: www.ups.com.

Pros

Low-cost convenience. Free at-home pickup on weekdays.

Free tracking. Boxes can be tracked on-line or by phone.

Cons

No drop-off guarantee. The sender can make a note to release a box if the recipient isn't home, but it's up to the driver to decide if a location is secure enough for a drop-off.

Payment restrictions. Cash is not accepted for at-home pickups.

Best for
Sending packages from home.

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Service and Cost
Priority Mail, a two- to three-day service, costs $8.55 to send a three-pound package from New York to Los Angeles. (The average piece takes 2.1 days to arrive.) To contact: www.usps.com.

Pros

Easy access. There are 38,000 post offices in the U.S.

Inexpensive. Priority Mail costs at least $7 less than other two-day services, and you don't have to pay extra for Saturday delivery.

Wide delivery. Unlike other carriers, the post office delivers to P.O. boxes.

Cons

No tracking. Delivery confirmation costs an additional 45 cents; signature confirmation is $1.80.

Pickup fee is $12.50 to send any number of packages from home.

Best For
Sending less valuable gifts on a budget. (If your box weighs 13 ounces or less, First-Class Mail may be even more cost-efficient. Compare prices and delivery times using the calculator at postcalc.usps.gov.)