FedExPickup

How to Schedule a FedEx Pickup With a Prepaid Label

When you have a prepaid FedEx label — whether it's a return label from a retailer, a label you printed through Pirate Ship, or one from FedEx Ship Manager — you can schedule FedEx to come to you instead of driving to a drop-off location. Here's exactly how to do it for FedEx Ground and FedEx Express, plus what it costs and what to expect.

Step-by-step

1
Confirm your label type before scheduling
FedEx Ground and FedEx Express pickups are handled by separate drivers on separate routes. Check your label's service type in the upper-right corner: it will say 'FedEx Ground', 'FedEx Home Delivery', 'FedEx Express', '2Day', 'Priority Overnight', etc. You must schedule a pickup that matches the service on your label — scheduling a Ground pickup when your label is Express (or vice versa) means the wrong driver arrives and your package doesn't move.
2
Go to FedEx.com → Schedule a Pickup
Visit fedex.com and sign in (or use Guest Pickup if you don't have an account). Navigate to Shipping → Schedule a Pickup, or go directly to fedex.com/en-us/shipping/schedule-pickup.html. Select the service type that matches your label: FedEx Express or FedEx Ground/Home Delivery. Enter your pickup address — this is the address where your package is located, not the shipping origin on the label.
3
Enter package details and pickup window
Enter the number of packages and approximate total weight. For the pickup date, same-day pickup is available for Express if you schedule before the cutoff time (typically 2 PM local time). Ground pickups generally require next-business-day scheduling. Choose your pickup window — FedEx gives a 2–4 hour window for Express; Ground pickups are a broader window (usually 'end of business day' for Ground). Note your confirmation number.
4
Prepare the package and leave it accessible
Attach the prepaid label securely to the outside of the package. Cover or remove any previous shipping labels or barcodes from reused boxes — conflicting barcodes cause scan errors and misdirection. Place the package in a visible, accessible location: your front door, porch, mailbox area, or designated pickup spot. FedEx does not ring doorbells for scheduled pickups in most cases — the driver looks for the package and scans it.
5
Track the pickup and confirm scan
After the driver picks up your package, the tracking number on your label will update to 'Picked Up' or 'In Transit'. This scan typically happens within a few hours of pickup. If your tracking status hasn't updated 4 hours after your pickup window ended, call FedEx at 1-800-463-3339 or file a pickup exception report online. Keep your pickup confirmation number until the package is confirmed delivered.

Good to know

•FedEx charges $5–$15 for scheduled pickups depending on service type. FedEx Express pickup fees are often higher than Ground. Some FedEx account holders get free pickups — check your account contract.
•For return labels provided by retailers: the retailer pays the shipping cost, but FedEx still charges you the pickup scheduling fee separately unless your account has a free pickup agreement.
•FedEx drop boxes and FedEx Office locations are always free alternatives to scheduled pickup. If your package fits in a FedEx drop box (generally up to 20 inches on longest side) and has a valid label, you can drop it 24/7 with no appointment.