FedEx OnSite is the name FedEx uses for FedEx services that run inside partner retail stores, such as Walgreens and Dollar General. So what is FedEx OnSite in practice? It is a counter or drop point where you can leave a package, not a FedEx owned store.
The label can confuse people because FedEx also runs its own locations. FedEx Office and FedEx Ship Center are separate location types listed next to the partner stores. This guide on what is FedEx OnSite covers what partners do and where to go for anything else.
For the bigger picture, see what FedEx is and how its services fit together.
What is FedEx OnSite and who runs it?
According to the official FedEx drop off page, the program puts FedEx services inside retail locations you already visit. The partners FedEx names are Walgreens, Dollar General, Office Depot and OfficeMax, Walmart, PakMail, Postal Annex and PostNet.
That list mixes two kinds of businesses. Walgreens, Dollar General and Walmart are general retailers. PakMail, Postal Annex and PostNet are independent shipping and packing stores that work with FedEx.
Because the staff belong to the partner store, the experience depends on the shop. The cashier at a drugstore will do less than a trained packing counter. FedEx does not publish a single service standard for every partner on its OnSite page, so call the store if you need something unusual.
What can you do at a FedEx OnSite location?
FedEx lists four services for these partner stores: package drop off, package pickup, shipping label creation and printing, and packing help at select locations. The words “at select locations” matter. Not every partner offers every service.
| Service | What FedEx says |
|---|---|
| Drop off a package | Available, with no additional fee for dropping off |
| Pick up a package | Available, including packages redirected through Delivery Manager |
| Create and print a label | Listed as a service, but check the specific store |
| Packing help | Select locations only |
Dropping off is the most common use. If you already have a label on the box, a partner counter can take it. You do not pay FedEx extra just for handing it over.
Pickup works the other way. A partner store can hold a package until you collect it, which helps if you miss deliveries at home. Ask the counter which service they run before you drive over.
Can you print at FedEx OnSite?
Printing is where partner stores differ most. FedEx lists label creation and printing as an OnSite service, yet the same page describes the barcode method for FedEx Office and participating Ship Center locations, not for every partner.
You build the label in the FedEx Mobile app, which can issue a barcode, and you save the barcode to your phone. A staff member scans it and prints the label. Our guide on whether FedEx will print your label covers the QR code steps in detail.
Returns are a special case. If the retailer you bought from emailed you a FedEx issued QR code, FedEx says you can take the item to FedEx Office or a participating Walgreens and staff will print the label there.
The safest plan is to print at home if you can. If you cannot, ask the partner store before you go whether it can print a FedEx label from a code on your phone. A store that is unsure is not worth the trip.
Package size and weight limits
FedEx states that packages should be 55 lb or less for these drop off points. FedEx Drop Box items have a tighter size cap of 20 x 12 x 6 in. A drop box is a small slot, so a boxed pair of boots will not fit.
- Weight: 55 lb or less.
- FedEx Drop Box items: up to 20 x 12 x 6 in.
- Heavy or oversized freight: take it to a staffed FedEx location instead.
If you are shipping a letter or a small flat item, you may not need a box at all. See where to get FedEx envelopes for free and paid options.
Picking up a package at a partner store
FedEx Delivery Manager can redirect a package to a retail pickup point. FedEx says redirecting to Walgreens, Dollar General or FedEx Office is free. That is useful if nobody is home or you do not trust your porch.
The FedEx hold at location page sets the pickup rules. FedEx holds the package for up to 7 days before returning it to the shipper, and you bring a government issued photo ID. If the address on your ID does not match the label, bring the tracking number plus a second document such as a utility bill, insurance card or credit card statement.
Someone else can collect it for you. Anyone who lives at the same address can pick up the package with the tracking number and a photo ID showing that address, and a Delivery Manager user can share a QR code so another adult can collect it, unless the shipment requires an adult signature.
What is FedEx OnSite vs FedEx Ship Center and FedEx Office?
FedEx does not explain the difference on its OnSite page. It simply lists FedEx Office, FedEx Ship Center, FedEx Authorized ShipCenter and Drop Box beside the retail partners as places that accept packages. Here is how the pieces break down from what FedEx lists.
| Location type | Who it is | Listed for |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx OnSite partner | Retail or shipping store working with FedEx | Drop off, pickup, labels at select stores |
| FedEx Office | FedEx branded store | Drop off, label printing from a barcode |
| FedEx Ship Center | FedEx location | Drop off, label printing from a barcode at participating sites |
| FedEx Drop Box | Self serve box | Small packages up to 20 x 12 x 6 in |
In short, a Ship Center or FedEx Office is run by FedEx. An OnSite partner is a store that offers FedEx services alongside its own business. For a full list of where to leave a parcel, read every FedEx drop off option explained.
Hours at FedEx OnSite locations
FedEx does not publish one set of hours for OnSite. The partner store sets them, so a pharmacy open late may take packages late, while a small packing store may close at 5 p.m. FedEx notes that some of its drop off locations are open 24 hours, but that applies to specific sites, not the whole program.
Also check the pickup cutoff posted at the counter. A package dropped after the last FedEx pickup of the day usually starts moving the next business day. Our page on what time FedEx closes by location type goes through the differences.
Why partner stores exist
A partner counter puts a FedEx drop point closer to where people already shop. That matters in towns without a FedEx Office. It also means you can ship while running other errands.
The tradeoff is consistency. Staff handle FedEx work next to their regular jobs, so wait times and skills vary from store to store. Treat the first visit as a test and note what that location can do.
How to choose the right place
- Pre printed label under 55 lb: any partner store near you is fine.
- No printer: use a FedEx Office or Ship Center with the app barcode, or ask a partner store first.
- Need packing help: choose a PakMail, Postal Annex or PostNet style shipping store.
- Held package: redirect it with Delivery Manager to a partner pickup point.
Before you pick a carrier at all, run your box through the shipping cost comparison tool. It shows whether FedEx is worth the trip.
Bottom line on FedEx OnSite
So, what is FedEx OnSite? It is FedEx service inside partner stores, mainly for dropping off and picking up packages up to 55 lb. Printing and packing help depend on the store, so call ahead.
When you need a full service counter, FedEx Office or a Ship Center is the safer choice. To plan timing once your package is in the system, try the delivery time estimator.
