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Fresh flowers make a thoughtful and easy gift. We ordered more than 65 bouquets from 24 brands to find the best flowers for all occasions.
Jaclyn Turner; Kinsley Searles/Business Insider
Sending flowers from one of the best flower delivery services is one of our favorite ways to mark the occasion, whether you’re celebrating a milestone, birthday, anniversary, or holiday, saying thank you, expressing sympathy, or just because. They make a great last-minute gift, and many of the best online florists also offer subscriptions for the gift that keeps on giving.
We’ve ordered more than 65 arrangements from 25 flower companies to assess product assortment, order and delivery experience, and how the bouquet arrived and thrived for a week. We frequently retest to make sure our experience remains consistent. And if you think they may be more of a plant person, we’ve also tested all the best places to buy houseplants online.
Get to the point: The Bouqs Co. creates some of the most visually stunning floral arrangements with a modern, farm-fresh appeal that last for weeks, earning its spot as our go-to florist. For last-minute floral delivery, we also love FTD , which connects you to local florists for same-day delivery, arrives ready in a vase, and offers affordable options too.
The best online flower delivery services
Best overall flower delivery: The Bouqs Co.
Best same-day flower delivery: FTD
Best for unique arrangements: UrbanStems
Best value flower delivery: 1-800-Flowers.com
Best flowers on Amazon: Benchmark Bouquets
Best farm-fresh flowers: Farmgirl Flowers
Best flower subscription: BloomsyBox
Best fresh roses: David Austin Rose Bouquets
Best forever roses: Venus Et Fleur
Best dried flowers: Idlewild Floral
Quick shop our favorite flower arrangements for fall
Best overall
Why it won: If you love the appeal of artfully arranged farm-fresh flowers with a modern aesthetic, The Bouqs Co. emerged as our favorite flower delivery experience. Delivery is fast, the arrangements are exciting, and the flowers are long-lasting. It was a close comparison between The Bouqs Co. and UrbanStems , our favorite for unique arrangements, but we preferred the product assortment and browsing experience of The Bouqs Co., which offers about twice as many arrangements as UrbanStems and lets you browse by color, flower type, or occasion.
The flowers: Arrangements come in three sizes. The popular “Deluxe” option doubles the original stem count — giving you twice the flowers or two separate bouquets to split up. The assortment also includes dried flowers, plants, access to renowned David Austin Roses , and large party boxes so you can curate your own arrangements for special events. You can add a vase. I also like that the site provides details about the farmers who grow the flowers and where they ship from.
The Bouqs Co. serves up fresh farm flowers and excels in creative, rose-forward arrangements.
Jaclyn Turner; Lily Alig; James Brains/Business Insider
Ordering & cutoffs: Same-day delivery is available in select metros (order by noon in the recipient’s time zone); next-day delivery cutoff is midnight. Specialty arrangements may require up to five days’ notice.
These two bouquets were shipped in the same time period, one to Michigan and the other to Georgia; one was wrapped in plastic, and the other had cardboard for extra protection.
James Brains;JaclynTurner/Business Insider
Our experience: We’ve tried The Bouqs various times in 2021, 2025, and 2026. In our first experience in 2021, poor packaging left the flowers damaged and wilted, but the brand has since stepped up its packaging, placing the flowers in protective cardboard or plastic and zip-tying them to the box to keep them secure. The flowers reach peak vibrancy after about 12 hours of hydration. Another time, a colleague was refunded shipping fees when the flowers arrived after the delivery date due to poor weather.
Best same-day delivery
Why it won: When you need to send flowers fast, a floral wire service is your best option. Florists’ Transworld Delivery Service (FTD) has been in the flower delivery business for more than 100 years and partners with local florists to fulfill and deliver orders in all 50 states and more than 125 countries . In most cases, same-day delivery is readily available. The arrangements lean toward more traditional colors and flowers instead of more modern or unique designs. In addition to flowers, you can send gift baskets like fresh chocolate-covered strawberries, charcuterie boxes, and spa gift sets. Perhaps even better, arrangements arrive ready to go in a vase — no pruning or arranging required on your part.
FTD partners with local florists to quickly fulfill and deliver orders in all 50 states and more than 125 countries, whether planned out or last minute.
Lauren Savoie/Jenny McGrath/Business Insider
Our experience: We preferred our experience with FTD to other similar floral wire services. The bouquets and plants we received from FTD were fuller, fresher, and in better condition. As local florists typically fulfill orders, your experience may vary depending on who ultimately fulfills it. FTD is part of a family of brands, including From You Flowers , the more value-centric offering, and ProFlowers , which, representatives explained, caters to a younger, trendier customer. In our recent 2026 testing, the same florist fulfilled our orders for all three websites, and we even began to notice similarities in the arrangements.
Best for unique arrangements
Why it won: UrbanStems delivers peak “wow-factor” with modern, trend-forward styling and creative multi-bloom arrangements. They excel in seasonal florals (especially peonies) and offer unique add-on pairings with cult-favorite brands like Levain, Brightland, Apotheke, and Aveline wine.
We tried a vast array of arrangements from UrbanStems including fresh bouquets, plants, and dried flowers.
Lauren Savoie; Jaclyn Turner; Maria Del Russo; Rachael Shultz/ Business Insider
Ordering & trade-offs: Filters are best by delivery location and target date for real-time same- and next-day availability. Arrangements come in single and double sizes. You can easily add a vase or curated extras—like candles and body care products—at checkout. We’ve noticed bouquet variety has shrunk, and searching specifically by flower type is buried deep in the filter settings. Arrangements come in single and double sizes. You can easily add a vase or curated extras—like candles and body care products—at checkout.
The UrbanStems bouquet was shipped in tissue with plastic sleeves and zip-tied together to stay secure.
Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
Our experience: While product names frequently change, we tried five different fresh bouquets, along with a Chinese money plant, over two testing periods. Everything arrived on time and in excellent condition. The arrangements were among the freshest and most attractive we tested, filled with lively, creative blooms in a range of colors. UrbanStems arrangements have that spark, but if you’re looking for a single type of flower, like classic red roses (of which the brand has only one dedicated offering), you may want to turn to Bouqs, which offers more robust single-flower options.
Best value
Why it won: 1-800-Flowers.com delivers exceptional value across all price points, with test bouquets arriving fuller and more vibrant than the stock website photos suggest. 1-800-Flowers.com has bouquets starting at $40 and frequently offers promotions. Beyond fresh flowers, it acts as a true one-stop gifting hub for houseplants, dried stems, preserved roses, and gourmet gift baskets.
We ordered the Floral Meadow for Mom in Small, Nature’s Charm in Medium, and 36 stems of the Sorbet Roses from 1-800-Flowers.com.
Jaclyn Turner/James Brains/Sarah Saril/Business Insider
Fulfillment & delivery: Offers same-day and next-day delivery using two distinct fulfillment paths: local florists (delivered pre-arranged in a vase via courier) or direct farm partners (shipped in-box via FedEx). You can filter catalog options by local delivery vs. direct shipping, intended delivery ZIP code, and delivery date, and you can sort by occasion and flower type. It can be difficult to figure out exact delivery fees until you check out, but if you enroll in the $20 Passport program, you’ll get free shipping for a year, among other perks.
Our experience: We mailed ourselves four bouquets to Georgia, Michigan, and California; each was more beautiful than the next. They were lush and vibrant, looking even more beautiful than the photos. The locally fulfilled arrangement arrived ready to display, with no trimming required, and lasted about a week with frequent water changes. The farm-shipped all-rose bouquet lasted the longest. One outlier experience was a farm-direct order of ranunculus that shipped from Ecuador, showing how carrier handoffs matter—a FedEx delivery left outside in sub-freezing weather without knocking caused one batch to freeze completely.
Best on Amazon
Why it won: Most independent flower companies charge up to $25 for delivery, in addition to the cost of the flowers. Benchmark Bouquet operates exclusively on Amazon, offering fast, free shipping. They are upfront about their pricing, which is remarkably affordable, too. The prices are affordable, too. Benchmark Bouquet’s selection is more curated, and the offerings are more traditional. The flowers are grown on Rainforest Alliance- and Florverde-certified farms in Colombia and Ecuador and are imported into the US, then shipped from one of six US warehouses.
Orders placed Monday through Thursday before noon can arrive the next day via UPS or FedEx. The biggest tradeoff about ordering flowers from Amazon is that there’s no ability to set your own delivery date.
We think these flowers from Benchmark Bouquet look as good as and as healthy as flowers double the price.
Kinsley Searles;Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
Our experience: My bouquet arrived quickly, and the flowers were fresh and healthy. My $50 rose and alstroemeria bouquet looked just as nice as bouquets double the cost, and looked healthy for over two weeks. I particularly liked the vase that came with my arrangement, which reminded me of a gemstone cut. Two dozen classic red roses with a vase also cost $60, which feels like an incredible value.
Best farm-fresh
Why it won: Farmgirl Flowers offers inventive, playful bouquets, wrapped in signature burlap and based on what’s in season, that look like they were plucked straight from the garden. While every surprise arrangement is slightly unique, sizing is clearly categorized from Fun Size up to Fancy Pants XL . If you prefer specific blooms, they also offer targeted single-flower options with a big emphasis on peonies, ranunculus, and hydrangeas, depending on what’s in season. You can also add a small gift to your flowers, like candy or a candle, and record a personalized video message.
Farmgirl Flower arrangements are bursting with color and arriving looking like they’ve been freshly picked from a garden.
Lauren Savoie/Connie Chen/Business Insider
Our experience: We received a Just Right and a Big Love and had another Just Right sent to a tester in California. We loved that the arrangements had a whimsical, wild shape and were gorgeous from every angle. The Just Right and Big Love appeared the same size when we first received them, but after a few hours in the water, the Big Love’s closed buds opened up to create a fuller bouquet.
The Valentine arrangement follows founder Christina Stembel’s signature technique with taller sides with a valley in the middle; it transitions easily from its signature burlap wrapping to a vase.
Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
Fulfillment and logistics: Shipping costs a flat $25 per bouquet, and Farmgirl Flowers strongly recommends purchasing its Route Package Protection to insure against loss, damage, shipping delays, and theft; otherwise, your flowers are not protected if you’re not satisfied with their condition upon arrival. You can also check out the Free Ship Shop to see what’s on offer that comes with delivery fees waived. The current selection spans roses and hydrangeas.
Best subscription
Why it won: If you want recurring floral cheer delivered straight to your door, BloomsyBox offers one of the most flexible and value-driven subscription services available. While the retailer sells à la carte bouquets and houseplants, its subscription plans deliver the best overall value, starting at $60 per month with flexible weekly or monthly delivery schedules. You can pay month-to-month or save by prepaying for 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscriptions.
New York Botanical Garden’s floral experts help curate the monthly NYBG subscription and feature in-season blooms.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
Our experience: We tried BloomsyBox’s priciest subscription: Its NYBG Collection . Each bouquet in the subscription is curated by the New York Botanical Garden’s floral experts and features in-season blooms. A portion of the subscription supports the NYBG’s plant science and conservation efforts. There are also subscriptions dedicated to roses, hydrangeas, pet-safe, and tropical flowers.
Best fresh roses
Why it won: Previously available through The Bouqs , David Austin Rose Bouquets launched direct-to-consumer operations to deliver its famed, exquisite English roses straight to your door. The unboxing feels like opening an invitation to a black-tie affair—wrapped in moody navy tissue paper with a tailored bow, detailed care instructions, and an elegant gift note. Stems arrive in bud form before unfurling over several days into lush, ultra-fragrant masterpieces. David Austin also offers shrubs and flowers for weddings and events.
Our experience: At the heart of the collection are the Muses, signature flower creations that have been assigned full-on personas, like Tess , a velvety, lush red rose that is both classic and captivating, or Juliet , an ethereal pink rose inspired by the spirit of the Shakespearean namesake. I also loved the Pink Taffeta bouquet arrangement — a vibrant mix of Keira roses, ranunculus, and anemones — which looked like a playful burst of pink bubblegum and remained remarkably healthy past day 10.
David Austin Rose Bouquets arrive in bud form before blooming into full, lush roses over the first few days.
Kinsley Searles;Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
Pricing and logistics: David Austin Roses are available in increments of 18, 24, and 36, costing about $7 per stem, with prices decreasing as the bouquet size increases. This is on par with our previous top pick from Roses Only , which excels at traditional long-stem roses in red, pink, or yellow, delivered in a gift box. You’ll also need to plan if you’re choosing to send from David Austin, as they quote a three- to four-day shipping speed with no next-day delivery yet.
Also consider: if you’re hoping to find a rose specialist that is a little more economical, April & Ashley also wowed us with their vast rose assortment and more value-minded pricing: a dozen roses for $69 or two dozen for $89. However, the unboxing experience felt more like a personal purchase than unboxing a gift.
Best forever roses
Why it won: An innovator in the preserved-flower space, Venus Et Fleur offers real Ecuador-grown roses subjected to a proprietary dehydration process that keeps them looking fresh, velvety, and lightly fragranced for up to a full year with zero upkeep. Beyond classic rose arrangements—which can be customized with specific color patterns, initials, or shapes—the brand has expanded its “eternal” technology to long-stemmed roses and mixed florals like hydrangeas, gardenias, and ranunculus.
Pricing, sizing, and site quirks: Preserved florals are a significant investment across any brand: single stems start around $59, while full arrangements typically run between $300 and $400. Site navigation can make comparing options tricky; for example, both the Small Round ($299 with ~14 roses in a hatbox) and the Small Le Plein ($539 with 45-49 roses in a dome) are categorized as “Small,” despite drastic differences in price and stem count. Additionally, while most arrangements ship in tastefully branded vessels, ceramic options are available if you prefer an unbranded look. Part of the preservation process also requires that these flowers stay in the vessels they come in.
Venus Et Fleur eternal roses look beautiful for up to a year and are lightly fragranced.
Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
Our experience: The Small Round arrangement arrived securely packaged, and after six months on display, the flowers remain as fragrant and velvety-soft as day one. It offers an effortless way to incorporate lasting florals into your decor, though keep in mind that the preservation process requires the stems to stay permanently inside their original vessels.
Best dried
Why it won: Fresh flowers will all eventually wilt, making dried arrangements the ultimate zero-upkeep alternative for long-lasting floral style. California-based Idlewild Floral creates some of the most imaginative and beautiful preserved arrangements we’ve encountered. Each flower is harvested at the peak of its bloom before being dried, and some are coated in natural glycerin for preservation. This gives them a papery texture that isn’t plasticky or artificial-looking. Idlewild Florals also offers dried greenery, individual bunches, and wreaths. Bouquets are typically available in petite, deluxe, and statement sizes, as well as dried greenery, individual bunches, and wreaths.
Both Idlewild Floral Bouquets arrived well-protected and wrapped in tissue paper with a bow.
Jaclyn Turner; Lily Alig/Business Insider
Our experience: We shipped test bouquets to Atlanta and New York City. While shipping from California took a little longer than expected, both arrangements arrived well-protected and wrapped in tissue paper tied with a bow, looking even more beautiful in person than in their site photos. Two years after our initial testing, the bouquets still look as pristine as day one—tester Lily Alig regularly gets compliments on hers and constantly recommends Idlewild as a permanent home decor staple.
What else we recommend
Fresh Sends surprises you with a seasonal bouquet in fun packaging; April and Ashley specializes in unique and timeless roses.
Jaclyn Turner/Business Insider
We’re perpetually sending ourselves flower arrangements. Here are five other noteworthy options worth considering:
Fresh Sends : TheFresh Sends experience employs a “trust your florist” approach — you choose a bouquet size, and they handle the rest, with the option to add trendy gifts like Tower28 beauty or Graza olive oil. While you give up control over specific flowers or personalization, you gain an element of surprise, and its Instagram gives a peek at weekly arrangements. Many of the sends are centered on celebrations and themes, making it one of the best flower delivery services for gifting. For nailing the perfect message, Fresh Sends also has an AI-powered assistant to pen a heartfelt note. The flowers arrived in a cutesy newsprint wrapping, immediately ready for the vase. I very much enjoyed my bouquet’s assortment, though one more critical coworker thought they were a slightly more elevated “bodega arrangement” and struggled with the overall value.
From You Flowers : From You Flowers taps into the same network as FTD, with an emphasis on value-minded arrangements. They offer frequent promotions (we found bouquets as low as $28), a robust selection of flowers, and even access to food gift baskets and plants. I like that you can add balloons, chocolate, and teddy bears, and that a standout personal option is a custom photo vase. Deliveries are available any day of the week, including same-day options.
Teleflora : Teleflora works with an extensive network of over 30,000 local florists worldwide to offer same-day delivery of fresh, hand-arranged bouquets in vases. I appreciated knowing which local florist fulfilled my order, and delivery fees remain consistent, even on weekends, with only slight increases on major holidays. However, because orders are fulfilled locally, there can be variations from what’s shown online, including flower types or vases, as the bouquet I selected was more of an inspiration than a direct copycat. It can also be hard to tell the difference between bouquet sizes like standard, deluxe, and premium when ordering.
Edible : Send fruit and floral bouquets simultaneously. With over 1,000 locations across the country, Edible can deliver flowers alongside a sweet treat in as soon as an hour. The flower selection is a tad limited, but the bouquet I received stayed fresh for over two weeks. I paired mine with perfectly packaged chocolate-covered strawberries, but fresh cookies and other treats are also available. It’s also available for quick delivery through DoorDash .
April & Ashley : April & Ashley offers some of the most unique roses I’ve ever seen. It grows over two dozen varieties with its partner Milagro Farms in Colombia, including standouts like the Red Panther , a classic red rose with streaks of hot pink, and Westminster Abbey , a moody and unexpected bloom with a lavender-grey tint. The roses arrived healthy and fragrant, blooming into a lush and full arrangement overnight. April & Ashley say the roses should last up to 14 days, but mine lasted about eight with care. Roses cost $69 for a dozen and $89 for two dozen, which is more affordable than Roses Only, Ode A La Rose, FTD, or David Austin roses. However, the $25 shipping for every two dozen flowers can add up for larger orders. If you consider yourself a rose connoisseur, you need to know about April & Ashley, but it falls just short of the luxury presentation and longevity offered by David Austin Rose Bouquet. It feels more like a personal purchase than a gift-ready one.
How we test flower delivery services
We sent flowers to our staff located all over the country from 24 flower delivery companies.
Caitlin Petreycik/Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
To find the best flower delivery service, we conducted hands-on testing of every brand in this guide. We ordered two to three arrangements from each brand, evaluating the selection, ordering, and delivery process. We sent bouquets to testers in different parts of the country — including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, rural Colorado, and suburban Connecticut and Michigan — to see whether quality and delivery time varied by location. In all, we tested 68 bouquets from 24 brands. It’s an ongoing evaluation.
What to look for in a flower delivery service
We considered all parts of the experience: from ordering and delivery to the quality and consistency across bouquets.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
Here’s what we looked for in the best flower delivery service:
Ordering: We scrutinized the ordering process of each service, noting whether the website was simple to navigate, what the product selection was like, and how easy it was to place an order. We also looked at shipping options and estimated delivery times.
Delivery: We noted whether the arrangements arrived when they said they would (all did), evaluated the packaging, and assessed the condition of the flowers when they first arrived. Testers across the country compared notes; we found delivery times and quality to be consistent.
Quality of flowers: We looked for full bouquets of lively-looking flowers that matched the description and photo of the arrangement we ordered online. We read all care instructions and followed them meticulously, noting how long the flowers remained fresh enough to display.
Consistency: A good flower service should deliver quality blooms no matter the recipient’s location. Our testers across the country took photos and detailed notes about delivery and bouquet quality to compare experiences.
Value: When choosing a flower delivery service, it’s important to consider your budget. Flower prices can vary widely, and some delivery services charge more than others for their arrangements. To stay within your budget, consider shopping around and comparing prices from different florists. You can also look for seasonal flowers to help keep costs down.
Packaging, customization, and extras: Customization options are important, especially if you want to add a personal touch to your gift. Look for a service that offers a variety of vase options and add-ons such as chocolates, balloons, or stuffed animals. Some services even offer personalized messages or cards that can be included with your delivery.
Flower delivery service FAQs
With proper care and attention, fresh flower arrangements should last at least a week.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
When should I order flowers for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and other popular holidays?
While many flower delivery services offer next-day delivery for most of the year, all bets are off when it comes to major holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. When ordering for popular holidays, we recommend placing your order two weeks before the day you want the flowers delivered. This will ensure you have plenty of arrangements and delivery dates to choose from. We’ve also noticed companies offering discounts to those who shop early.
What’s the difference between local florist delivery and direct-from-farm shipping?
Local florist orders arrive fully arranged in a vase via courier, ready for immediate display. Direct-from-farm stems ship boxed in bud form via FedEx or UPS; they last longer in a vase, but require trimming, hydration, and self-arranging upon unboxing.
What happens if flowers arrive wilted, damaged, or late?
Reputable services offer freshness guarantees. If stems arrive damaged or weather-delayed, snap photos immediately upon unboxing and reach out to customer service. Most brands will issue a full replacement, store credit, or a refund on shipping fees.
Why are flower delivery fees so expensive?
Shipping live, perishable stems requires cold-pack insulation and rapid overnight routing, pushing standard delivery fees to $15 to $30. While hand-delivery from local florists covers the cost for a courier. To bypass these fees, look for free-shipping membership perks (like 1-800-Flowers Passport) or Prime-eligible farm-direct brands (like Benchmark Bouquets on Amazon).
Is it safe to have fresh flowers around pets?
It depends on the types of flowers. The ASPCA maintains a comprehensive list of flowers and plants and whether they are toxic or safe for dogs and cats. It’s important to remember that certain plants can still be toxic to animals even if they are kept out of reach; pollen and other airborne spores can get into animals’ fur and be ingested during grooming.
If you’re ordering flowers for a household with pets, it’s best to choose a service that lets you see the types of flowers in the arrangement before you order. Some brands, like Fresh Sends or subscription services, don’t allow you to preview the bouquet before it’s sent, which could land you with a bouquet that isn’t pet-safe.
Our top picks, like The Bouqs Co. and UrbanStems, list the types of flowers in each arrangement so you can check to ensure it’s safe for your pet, while Farmgirl Flowers has a dedicated pet-safe section to take out any guesswork.
Check out our guide to the best pet-friendly plants.
How long do fresh flowers last?
A lot depends on how recently the flowers were cut before they arrived at your home. Flowers can be cut hours, days, or weeks before shipping to you, greatly varying their lifespan in your home. On average, however, you can expect fresh flowers to last five days to a week in a vase with good care, which entails trimming the stems and replacing the water every few days. If you want longer-lasting flowers, preserved roses or a dried bouquet are great options.
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