UPSUPS tracking
The brown trucks — 1Z tracking, My Choice redelivery and Access Point collection.
UPS runs on one code: 1Z. Eighteen characters starting with 1Z — and the number itself tells you which service your parcel is on, before the tracker even loads.
Track your UPS parcel
Enter your UPS tracking number below.
Most UPS numbers are 18 characters starting '1Z' — '1Z' plus a 6-character shipper number, a 2-digit service code, a 7-digit package ID and a check digit, for example 1Z999AA10123456784. UPS also uses 12-digit, 9-digit and 'T' + 10-digit formats.
Your 1Z number tells you the service
A 1Z number is built in parts: ‘1Z’, then a 6-character shipper number, then a 2-digit service code, then a 7-digit package ID and a check digit. The two service-code digits are the useful part — they name the service (for example, 03 is Ground) — so the number itself hints at how fast the parcel should arrive.
UPS also uses 12-digit, 9-digit and ‘T’ + 10-digit formats, but 1Z is the one you will see most in the UK. Whatever the format, it tracks on the same UPS page.
Your UPS tracking number
Most UPS numbers are 18 characters starting '1Z' — '1Z' plus a 6-character shipper number, a 2-digit service code, a 7-digit package ID and a check digit, for example 1Z999AA10123456784. UPS also uses 12-digit, 9-digit and 'T' + 10-digit formats.
Example format: 1Z999AA10123456784 — that is a shape, not a real parcel. Enter your own number exactly as the sender gave it: a single wrong letter is the most common reason a tracker says “not recognised”.
Check the number starts 1Z and is 18 characters — a 12-digit number is a different UPS format, but it is still trackable on ups.com. The number is on the shipping label or in the sender's dispatch email.
UPS services & delivery times
The standard service for parcels that don't need express speed.
Express delivery, less urgent than UPS Express.
The fastest UPS international service.
Have the parcel held at a nearby Access Point shop and collect it yourself.
See incoming parcels and change delivery options — free to join, and it works without the tracking number.
Delivery aims are the courier's stated aims for the service, not guarantees for every parcel. Bank holidays, bad weather and busy periods (especially Christmas) can add a day.
Missed it? My Choice and Access Point
The driver leaves an InfoNotice with the next steps — and you don't have to wait another day hoping. In My Choice (free to join) you can rearrange the delivery, leave instructions, or send the parcel to an Access Point. Or have it held at a nearby Access Point shop and collect it yourself.
My Choice members can also see incoming parcels without the tracking number — useful when the retailer hasn't sent it yet.
What each UPS status means
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Label created | The sender created the label; UPS may not have the parcel yet. | Wait for the first UPS scan. |
| Picked up | UPS collected the parcel from the sender. | Nothing to do; the next scan is usually in transit. |
| In transit | Moving through the UPS network. | Nothing to do; parcels can sit between scans for a day. |
| Out for delivery | With the driver, due today. | Be ready, or rearrange it in My Choice. |
| Delivered | Delivered. | Check safe places and neighbours if you can't find it. |
| Delivery attempted | The driver came and couldn't deliver. | Read the InfoNotice and rearrange in My Choice or collect at an Access Point. |
| Exception | A delay, address problem or customs hold. | Read the tracker's note — it usually says what happens next. If it mentions an address problem, contact UPS or the sender. |
Parcel stuck or delayed — what to do
- Check the number starts 1Z and is 18 characters — a 12-digit number is a different UPS format, but it is still trackable on ups.com.
- My Choice members can see the parcel without the number — join free and check your incoming deliveries.
- After a missed attempt, rearrange the delivery in My Choice or send it to an Access Point — don't wait for another attempt.
- If there is no scan for 48+ hours, contact the sender first — they hold the shipment record — then UPS on +44 3457 877 877.
More detail: Parcel stuck in transit — the full step-by-step guide.
Contact UPS
Customer servicesUPS UK customer support, Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–5pm. Billing: +44 345 161 0016, Mon–Fri 9am–4pm. Have your 1Z tracking number ready.
If you are the recipient and the parcel is lost or damaged, contact the retailer/sender first — most couriers only accept claims from the sender.
UPS tracking — FAQs
What does 1Z mean?
It's the UPS tracking prefix. Most UPS numbers are 18 characters starting '1Z': '1Z', a 6-character shipper number, a 2-digit service code, a 7-digit package ID and a check digit.
Can I collect my UPS parcel from a shop?
Yes — have it held at a UPS Access Point, a local shop that holds parcels for collection, and pick it up yourself.
Can I track a UPS parcel without the number?
Yes, with a free My Choice account — it shows your incoming parcels without a tracking number.
What is UPS My Choice?
UPS's free delivery-control service: see incoming parcels, change the delivery day, leave instructions, or send a parcel to an Access Point.
What happens if I miss a UPS delivery?
The driver leaves an InfoNotice with the next steps. Rearrange the delivery in My Choice, or have the parcel held at an Access Point and collect it yourself — don't wait for another attempt.
Track with another UK courier
Not UPS after all? Your parcel may have changed hands — check the other couriers: