Dive Brief:
- Amazon Shipping will levy peak season surcharges from Oct. 26 through Jan. 17, 2026, the e-commerce giant's delivery service announced Friday.
- The fees, which reach their highest point from Nov. 23 to Dec. 27, include a per-package demand surcharge and levies for parcels that are large, heavy or require additional handling.
- The surcharges are higher compared to what Amazon Shipping applied in 2024, although the service's listed 2025 fees do not include a volume-based surcharge like the one it installed last year.
Amazon’s 2025 holiday fees
| Oct. 26 - Nov. 22 | Nov. 23 - Dec. 27 | Dec. 28 - Jan. 17, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per-package demand surcharge | $0.40 | $0.60 | $0.40 |
| Additional handling | $8.25 | $10.80 | $8.25 |
| Large package | $90 | $107 | $90 |
| Extra heavy package | $485 | $540 | $485 |
Source: Amazon. Parameters for which shipments the Additional Handling, Large Packages and Extra Heavy Package Fee surcharges apply to can be found in Amazon Shipping's service guide.
Dive Insight:
Like FedEx, UPS and other major parcel carriers, Amazon Shipping said it installs temporary fees during the holidays to help cover added operating costs as volume spikes.
"Maintaining reliability during times of high demand [requires] us to make operational changes," Amazon Shipping said on its website. "Peak surcharges help support these updates and ensure our service meets expectations."
Amazon also levies higher fees during the peak season for Fulfillment by Amazon and other third-party seller services. For the 2025 holidays, the e-commerce giant is planning to increase fulfillment charges by the same rate as it did last year.
The pending holiday surcharges come as Amazon Shipping attracts more shippers into its network, including BarkBox owner Bark and children's subscription box company KiwiCo. Executives at both companies said switching from other carriers has resulted in faster delivery times and more economical shipping rates.
Facing heightened parcel shipping rates, shippers have displayed an increased appetite for alternative carriers in recent years. In 2024, Amazon's logistics arm saw U.S. volume increase by 7.3% year over year, outpacing the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx, according to the Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index. Other carriers collectively grew their volumes by 22.6%, although they remain a small piece of the overall market.
