How to Schedule a FedEx Pickup With a Prepaid Label
Yes, you can schedule a FedEx pickup with a prepaid label, and you don't need a FedEx account. Use guest pickup scheduling on fedex.com. Express (expedited) parcels can be picked up the same day or the next day. FedEx Ground parcels are picked up from the next business day, up to 10 business days ahead. You don't have to be home. FedEx charges a fee for on-call pickups, shown when you book. If you'd rather not pay, drop the package at a FedEx retail location for free.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check the service on your label
Look at the service name printed on the label, such as FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx 2Day or Priority Overnight. FedEx books Express (expedited) pickups and Ground (standard or economy) pickups differently, so pick the matching option when you schedule.
- 2
Open guest pickup on fedex.com
Go to fedex.com and choose Schedule a Pickup. With a prepaid label, use guest pickup scheduling. No account or login is needed. Enter the address where the package is now, not the address on the label.
- 3
Pick a date and enter the package details
Enter how many packages there are and their total weight. Express pickups can be booked for the same day or the next day. Ground pickups can be booked for the next business day, or up to 10 business days ahead. FedEx asks that packages be ready at least two hours before your business closes. Opt in to pickup notifications to get a confirmation, a reminder and the outcome.
- 4
Leave the package where the driver can reach it
Tape the prepaid label flat on the box and cover or remove old labels and barcodes. You don't need to be there. Leave the package somewhere safe that the driver can reach. Look for a FedEx door tag afterwards: it confirms the pickup and gives tracking details, or explains why the driver couldn't take it.
- 5
Watch for the first tracking scan
Once the driver collects it, the tracking number on your label starts showing scans. If the pickup was missed, contact FedEx customer service at 1-800-463-3339, or take the package to a FedEx retail location instead. The same prepaid label works there.
Good to know
- •Pickup fee: FedEx charges for on-call pickups. Since August 18, 2025, the fee is charged per pickup stop, not per package. The price shows when you book. Weekend pickups cost extra.
- •If the driver arrives during your pickup window, FedEx says the fee applies even if no package is collected. Cancel the pickup on fedex.com if your plans change.
- •Free option: drop the package at a FedEx retail location. FedEx says drop-off there is free. FedEx drop boxes are usually emptied between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- •Returns: a prepaid return label from a store works the same way. Book an on-call FedEx Ground pickup, or drop it off.
Pickup or drop-off: which should you choose?
| On-call pickup | Drop-off | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fee per stop, shown when you book | Free at a FedEx retail location |
| Account needed | No, guest pickup works with a prepaid label | No |
| Timing | Express: same or next day. Ground: next business day, up to 10 days ahead | Any time the location is open |
| Need to be home | No, leave it somewhere safe and reachable | You take it in |
Common mistakes that cause a missed pickup
- Booking the wrong type: an Express label with a Ground pickup, or the reverse.
- Entering the address from the label instead of the address where the package waits.
- Leaving the package out of sight or behind a locked gate.
- An old barcode still showing on a reused box.
Frequently asked questions
Can I schedule a FedEx pickup with a prepaid label?
Is FedEx pickup free with a prepaid label?
Can FedEx pick up the same day?
Do I need to be home for a FedEx pickup?
What if FedEx misses my pickup?
Related Guides
Create a New Shipping Label
Free label maker for USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL.
Make a Label Free →