UPS, FedEx, and USPS all add holiday charges to shipping labels in 2026. UPS and FedEx start with oversized and hard-to-handle packages in late September, then add a per-package charge for residential ground in late October. USPS raised its prices on Oct. 4. Everything ends in mid-January, with the highest amounts from late November through Dec. 27.

When do 2026 holiday surcharges start and end?

Domestic holiday charges start between Sept. 27 and Oct. 26, depending on the carrier and package type, and they all end by Jan. 17, 2027. UPS, FedEx, and USPS each publish their own dates and amounts.

What are the USPS holiday prices for 2026?

USPS raised commercial prices on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select from 12 a.m. CT on Oct. 4 until 12 a.m. CT on Jan. 17, 2027. USPS builds the increase into its prices, so the rate you see when you buy a label already includes it.

The table shows the commercial increase per package. Source: USPS announcement.

Priority Mail Express increases run from $1.40 to $18.20, depending on weight and zone. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes go up $0.85, except Large Flat Rate boxes at $1.75, and the Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope goes up $2.35. Cubic and Parcel Select increases are in the full USPS announcement.

The 8 percent price increase USPS added on April 26 for the same four services is also still in effect until Jan. 17, so it stacks with the holiday prices.

What are the UPS peak surcharges for 2026?

UPS adds $0.50 to $0.75 per package on residential ground and Ground Saver from Oct. 25 to Jan. 16, plus higher charges on large and hard-to-handle packages starting Sept. 27. The amounts come from the UPS demand surcharge schedule published Aug. 26.

The Additional Handling, Large Package, and Over Maximum Limits charges are added to UPS's regular fees for those packages, so a package that triggers one pays both.

What are the FedEx demand surcharges for 2026?

FedEx adds $0.50 to $0.80 per package on residential Ground and Home Delivery from Oct. 26 to Jan. 17, plus higher charges on large and hard-to-handle packages starting Sept. 28. FedEx lists the amounts on its demand surcharges page.

Like the UPS charges, the Additional Handling, Oversize, and Unauthorized charges are added to FedEx's regular fees for those packages. Unauthorized applies only to packages that exceed the size and weight limits for parcel service.

Do holiday surcharges apply to international shipments?

Yes, if you ship internationally with FedEx. USPS and UPS holiday price increases are for domestic services only.

FedEx adds a per-pound charge to international shipments from the U.S. FedEx can change these amounts during the season, so check its demand surcharges page before you quote international shipping to customers.

For example, a package billed at 5 lbs. going to Europe adds $1.50.

Large, heavy, and hard-to-handle international packages also pay a flat $8.80 (additional handling), $95.75 (oversize), or $200 (unauthorized) per package through Feb. 7, 2027. These flat charges don't apply to FedEx International Ground.

How can you keep holiday shipping costs down?

Three changes make the biggest difference: right-size your boxes, compare rates on every order, and move non-urgent shipments to the quieter weeks.

Right-size your boxes. Additional handling and oversize charges depend on a package's size, weight, and packaging, so a smaller or sturdier box can remove the charge entirely. Carriers also remeasure packages in their network, so enter accurate dimensions to avoid an adjustment later.

Compare rates on every order. Carriers change their amounts on different dates, and the gap between them shifts with weight, zone, and service, so the carrier that's cheapest for a package in September may not be in December. We show you discounted rates from 40+ carriers side by side when you buy each label, with peak pricing already included, so the best option for each package is easy to spot. If your customers chose a delivery date rather than a specific service, ground may still get there on time for less than an expedited service.

Ship non-urgent orders after Dec. 26. Peak amounts step down after Dec. 26 with UPS and Dec. 27 with FedEx, so restocks and B2B shipments moved into early January cost less than the same shipments in the last week of December.

To compare live rates for your own packages, create a free Shippo account.

Frequently asked questions

When do holiday shipping surcharges end?

For domestic shipments, UPS charges end Jan. 16, 2027, and FedEx and USPS charges end Jan. 17. FedEx's international add-ons run through Feb. 7, and its per-pound international charge has no set end date.

Do I pay holiday charges on top of regular fees?

With UPS and FedEx, the large and hard-to-handle package charges are added to the regular fees for those packages, so a package that triggers one pays both. USPS builds its increase into the price, so there's nothing extra to add.

Why is USPS raising prices twice this year?

They're two separate, temporary changes. The 8 percent increase began April 26, and the holiday prices began Oct. 4. Both end Jan. 17.

Can I avoid holiday surcharges?

Partly. A smaller or sturdier box can often avoid additional handling and oversize charges. The per-package residential ground charges apply to every package in the window, so the only way around them is to change the service, carrier, or ship date.