UPS, FedEx, and USPS have all published their 2026 peak season surcharges. The first charges take effect September 27, not at Thanksgiving, and the last of them run through January 17, 2027. Every rate is below, along with how much each one went up from 2025 and what the increases mean for your cost per package.
Peak season surcharge dates at a glance
| Carrier | Surcharges begin | Residential demand charge begins | Highest rates | Season ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | October 4, 2026 | N/A. Service-wide increases begin Oct. 4. | No separate peak tier | January 17, 2027 |
| UPS | September 27, 2026 | October 25, 2026 | Nov 22 – Dec 26 | January 16, 2027 |
| FedEx | September 28, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | Nov 23 – Dec 27 | January 17, 2027 |
Two dates matter more than the rest. September 27 is when the first money leaves, on handling and size charges. October 25 and 26 is when the residential demand charges start, and those apply to nearly every parcel a direct-to-consumer brand ships.
What is a peak season surcharge, and why do carriers apply one?
A peak season surcharge, also called a demand surcharge, is a temporary per-package fee carriers add during the holiday shipping window on top of base rates. In 2026 the charges run from late September through mid-January, with the highest rates falling between Thanksgiving and the end of December.
Carriers apply them to offset the cost of handling significantly higher volume: extended service hours, seasonal hiring, added sort capacity, and more residential stops per route. The fee is separate from your negotiated rates and separate from standard accessorials, which means it applies whether or not anything goes wrong with the shipment.
USPS works differently from the others. Rather than a flat per-package fee, USPS raises the published rate itself by weight and zone, so the increase is built into the price of the label instead of appearing as a line item.
If you’re curious to see how these surcharges compare to last year’s, see our 2025 peak season surcharge blog.
How can I keep shipping costs down during peak season?
We ran a quick analysis of the average surcharge increase from 2025 to 2026. Here are the results.
| Service Level | Percentage Increase | Details |
| USPS Ground Advantage | 32% | Commercial USPS Ground Advantage surcharges across all zones and weights. |
| UPS Ground (residential) | 23% | Average UPS Ground (residential) surcharge across all three peak periods. |
| FedEx Ground (residential) | 22% | Average FedEx Ground (residential) surcharge across all three peak periods. |
The pattern worth noticing: the increases landed hardest on the flat residential charges, the ones that apply to ordinary parcels with nothing unusual about them. Handling and oversize charges went up single digits at both national carriers. Residential demand charges went up 22% to 32%. If you budgeted off last year’s accessorial increases, you benchmarked the line that moved least.
How can I reduce peak season surcharges and keep shipping costs down?
Most of what determines your peak surcharge bill is already set. Surcharge language is typically locked by late September, and the volume baselines the high-volume tiers are measured against were calculated in June. What’s left are three levers, and they aren’t equally useful.
Change what ships where. Carrier and service mix is the fastest structural lever. A package moving on a service with a lower demand charge costs less for the same delivery outcome, and that’s a routing decision you can make today rather than a contract you have to reopen.
Watch your weekly volume against your baseline. Both national carriers charge high-volume shippers more when weekly volume runs above a baseline percentage. Staggering promotional dates and pulling volume into the shoulder weeks changes what you pay without changing what you sell.
Audit packaging and dimensional data. Additional handling, large package, and oversize charges apply to parcels that cross a threshold or whose declared dimensions don’t match what the carrier measures. This is the only lever that pays back inside a week.
To ensure you’re always getting the best rates to keep shipping costs down, even with peak season surcharges, ship with EasyPost Wallet Carriers. Get discounts up to 88% vs. Retail rates, lower surcharges, centralize your carrier billing to one location, and easily get started with popular carriers without having to negotiate your own contracts or create a separate account.
USPS peak season surcharges
Rather than a flat per-package fee, USPS applies a temporary increase to the published rate, so the amount you pay scales with weight and zone. Heavy, long-haul parcels absorb far more of the increase than light regional ones.
USPS surcharges will be in effect from October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027. All EasyPost users have access to Merchant Discount pricing and commercial rates, which provide lower label costs and fees compared to Retail pricing.
Commercial Priority Mail Express®
| Weight | Zone 1-4 | Zone 5-9 |
| 0-3 lbs. | $1.40 | $2.35 |
| 4-10 lbs. | $2.10 | $5.55 |
| 11-25 lbs. | $4.90 | $10.50 |
| 26-70 lbs. | $12.55 | $18.20 |
| Priority Mail Express Flat Rate | Surcharge |
| Flat Rate Envelopes | $2.35 |
Commercial Priority Mail®
| Weight | Zone 1-4 | Zone 5-9 |
| 0-3 lbs. | $0.40 | $0.85 |
| 4-10 lbs. | $0.65 | $1.75 |
| 11-25 lbs. | $1.05 | $3.85 |
| 26-70 lbs. | $3.15 | $9.10 |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate | Surcharge |
| Large Flat Rate Boxes | $1.75 |
| All other Flat Rate Products | $0.85 |
Commercial Ground Advantage®
| Weight | Zone 1-4 | Zone 5-9 |
| 0-3 lbs. | $0.40 | $0.55 |
| 4-10 lbs. | $0.65 | $1.05 |
| 11-25 lbs. | $1.05 | $1.75 |
| 26-70 lbs. | $3.15 | $7.70 |
Note the spread. A 26 to 70 pound Priority Mail parcel into zones 5 through 9 carries a $9.10 increase, while the same weight on Ground Advantage carries $7.70 and a light regional parcel carries 40 cents. If your mix skews heavy and long-haul, USPS is not the peak season relief valve it may have been in past years.
UPS peak season surcharges
UPS surcharges will be in effect from September 27, 2026 through January 16, 2027. Rates change across three periods, with the highest charges falling between Black Friday and Christmas, so the same package costs different amounts depending on the week you ship it.
UPS® Air, UPS® Ground Residential, and UPS Ground Saver® Packages
The following demand surcharge will apply to UPS® Air, UPS® Ground Residential, and UPS Ground Saver® packages for most shippers.
| Service Level | October 25, 2026 until November 21, 2026 | November 22, 2026 until December 26, 2026 | December 27, 2026 until January 16, 2027 |
| UPS Ground Saver | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| UPS Next Day Air | $1.35 | $2.50 | $1.35 |
| All Other UPS Air | $1.35 | $2.50 | $1.35 |
Higher Volume Shipper
UPS will use a different surcharge if you’re a high-volume shipper with more than 20,000 packages and ship above your “baseline” volume during peak season. This baseline is determined by averaging your weekly UPS volume for select service levels.
Read the tiers carefully, because the jump is steep and it happens early. A shipper running just over 105% of baseline pays $1.75 per ground residential package instead of $0.50 during the shoulder weeks. That is more than triple the standard rate for volume only 5% above the baseline. Note also that commercial air does not escalate through the tiers at all, holding at $1.35 and $2.50 regardless of volume. The tiering applies to residential.
October 25, 2026 until November 21, 2026
| Service Level | 0% to 105% | >105% to 125% | >125% to 150% | >150% to 200% | >200% to 300% | >300% to 400% | >400% |
| UPS Ground Saver | $0.50 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.65 | $3.35 | $5.65 | $8.00 |
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.50 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.65 | $3.35 | $5.65 | $8.00 |
| UPS Next Day Air | $1.35 | $3.00 | $3.70 | $4.00 | $4.60 | $6.90 | $9.35 |
| All Other UPS Air Residential | $1.35 | $3.00 | $3.70 | $4.00 | $4.60 | $6.90 | $9.35 |
| UPS Next Day Air Commercial | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 |
| All Other UPS Air Commercial | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 |
November 22, 2026 until December 26, 2026
| Service Level | 0% to 105% | >105% to 125% | >125% to 150% | >150% to 200% | >200% to 300% | >300% to 400% | >400% |
| UPS Ground Saver | $0.75 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.65 | $3.35 | $5.65 | $8.00 |
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.75 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.65 | $3.35 | $5.65 | $8.00 |
| UPS Next Day Air | $2.50 | $3.00 | $3.70 | $4.00 | $4.60 | $6.90 | $9.35 |
| All Other UPS Air Residential | $2.50 | $3.00 | $3.70 | $4.00 | $4.60 | $6.90 | $9.35 |
| UPS Next Day Air Commercial | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 |
| All Other UPS Air Commercial | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.50 |
December 27, 2026 until January 16, 2027
| Service Level | 0% to 105% | >105% to 125% | >125% to 150% | >150% to 200% | >200% to 300% | >300% to 400% | >400% |
| UPS Ground Saver | $0.50 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.65 | $3.35 | $5.65 | $8.00 |
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.50 | $1.75 | $2.35 | $2.65 | $3.35 | $5.65 | $8.00 |
| UPS Next Day Air | $1.35 | $3.00 | $3.70 | $4.00 | $4.60 | $6.90 | $9.35 |
| All Other UPS Air Residential | $1.35 | $3.00 | $3.70 | $4.00 | $4.60 | $6.90 | $9.35 |
| UPS Next Day Air Commercial | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 |
| All Other UPS Air Commercial | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 | $1.35 |
Additional Handling, Large Package, and Over Maximum
A surcharge will apply to packages that require special handling, such as Additional Handling, Large Package, and Over Maximum Limits. These start September 27, four weeks before the residential demand charges.
| Surcharge | September 27, 2026 until November 21, 2026 | November 22, 2026 until December 26, 2026 | December 27, 2026 until January 16, 2027 |
| Additional Handling | $8.75 | $11.90 | $8.75 |
| Large Package | $96.25 | $117.50 | $96.25 |
| Over Maximum Limits | $530.00 | $590.00 | $530.00 |
FedEx peak season surcharges
FedEx surcharges will be in effect from September 28, 2026 through January 17, 2027. Like UPS, FedEx runs three rate periods with the highest charges between Black Friday and Christmas, and it splits the start dates: handling and size charges begin September 28, while residential and Express demand charges begin October 26.
Demand Surcharge
| Service Level | October 26, 2026 until November 22, 2026 | November 23, 2026 until December 27, 2026 | December 28, 2026 until January 17, 2027 |
| FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight® | $1.30 | $2.55 | $1.30 |
| FedEx 2Day® A.M., FedEx 2Day® | $1.30 | $2.55 | $1.30 |
| FedEx Express Saver® | $1.30 | $2.55 | $1.30 |
| FedEx Ground (residential) | $0.50 | $0.80 | $0.50 |
| FedEx Home Delivery | $0.50 | $0.80 | $0.50 |
| FedEx Ground® Economy | $2.55 | $4.05 | $2.55 |
Additional Demand Surcharges
| Surcharge | September 28, 2026 until November 22, 2026 | November 23, 2026 until December 27, 2026 | December 28, 2026 until January 17, 2027 |
| Additional Handling Surcharge | $8.80 | $11.85 | $8.80 |
| Oversize Charge | $95.75 | $117.25 | $95.75 |
| Ground Unauthorized Package Charge | $535.00 | $595.00 | $535.00 |
FedEx Delivery Charge Demand Surcharges
FedEx will apply a dynamic surcharge that is recalculated each week to customers with high shipping volume. Your surcharge is based on your shipping volume and “peaking factor” during your “calculation week” and is then applied during your “application week” two weeks after. For more information, please see the FedEx website.
| Service Level | >105% to 125% | >125% to 150% | >150% to 200% | >200% to 300% | >300% to 400% | >400% |
| FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight® | $3.05 | $3.75 | $4.05 | $4.70 | $6.95 | $9.35 |
| FedEx 2Day® A.M., FedEx 2Day® | $3.05 | $3.75 | $4.05 | $4.70 | $6.95 | $9.35 |
| FedEx Express Saver® | $3.05 | $3.75 | $4.05 | $4.70 | $6.95 | $9.35 |
| FedEx Ground | $1.70 | $2.40 | $2.70 | $3.35 | $5.60 | $8.00 |
| FedEx Home Delivery | $1.70 | $2.40 | $2.70 | $3.35 | $5.60 | $8.00 |
The peaking factor is a ratio, not an increase. A peaking factor just above 105% means you shipped a little over 5% more than your baseline average, not 105% more, and at that level a ground package carries $1.70 instead of the standard 80 cents. The threshold is easier to cross than most shippers assume.
What to check before September 27
- Model your own package mix. Group your forecast by carrier, service, weight, zone, dimensions, and residential status, then apply the rates above. The carrier’s example mix won’t tell you your number.
- Compare your forecast to your baseline. Divide your weekly forecast by your baseline average and find the weeks that cross 105%. That’s where the high-volume tiers start, and the jump from $0.50 to $1.70 happens immediately.
- Audit the parcels closest to a threshold. Start with your highest-volume SKUs sitting nearest the additional handling and oversize limits. It’s the only item on this list you can fix this week.
Peak season surcharge FAQs
When do 2026 peak season surcharges start? UPS surcharges start September 27, 2026 and FedEx starts September 28, 2026, both beginning with handling and size charges. Residential demand charges start October 25 at UPS and October 26 at FedEx. USPS increases take effect October 4, 2026.
When do 2026 peak season surcharges end? UPS surcharges end January 16, 2027. FedEx and USPS surcharges end January 17, 2027.
Which weeks have the highest peak season surcharges? November 22 through December 26 at UPS, and November 23 through December 27 at FedEx. USPS applies a single rate for the full period with no separate peak tier.
How much did peak season surcharges go up in 2026? Commercial USPS Ground Advantage surcharges rose an average of 32% over 2025. UPS Ground residential rose an average of 23% and FedEx Ground residential rose an average of 22%, both averaged across all three peak periods.
Do peak season surcharges apply to every package? The residential demand surcharge applies to qualifying residential packages on the covered services. Additional handling, large package, and oversize charges apply only to parcels that cross a size, weight, or packaging threshold. USPS increases are built into the published rate rather than assessed as a separate fee.
How are high-volume shippers charged differently? Both UPS and FedEx apply a tiered surcharge to shippers whose weekly volume exceeds a baseline. The tiers begin just above 105% of baseline and rise to $8.00 per ground package and $9.35 per air package at more than 400% of baseline.
Get better rates before peak season starts
Peak surcharges apply on top of whatever you already pay. EasyPost Wallet Carriers give you discounts up to 88% versus retail rates and lower surcharges, with no contract negotiation and no separate carrier accounts.
