Dive Brief:
- FedEx announced a 5.9% average increase for standard list rates on U.S. package shipping services, including exports from and imports into the country, effective Jan. 5, 2026.
- The company will also impose a bevy of surcharge hikes on the same date. Affected fees include additional handling, oversize, delivery area, residential delivery and U.S. inbound processing surcharges.
- FedEx Freight rates will jump 5.9% or 6.9% on average, depending on the service. Rates for Ground Economy, Ground Multiweight, International Premium and International Priority DirectDistribution will increase as well, but FedEx didn't specify by how much.
Examples of FedEx surcharges increasing in 2026
| Surcharge | Applicable service | 2025 price | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional handling (Zone 2, weight based) | U.S. package services | $43.50 | $46.00 |
| Additional handling (based on dimensions) | International package services | $27 | $29.50 |
| Delivery area | U.S. package services (Residential) | $6.20 | $6.60 |
| Delivery area | U.S. package services (Commercial) | $4.20 | $4.45 |
| Oversize (Zones 3-4) | FedEx Home Delivery | $260 | $275 |
| Residential delivery | U.S. package services | $6.55 | $6.95 |
| U.S. inbound processing | Fedex International Ground | $2.50 | $2.65 |
Source: FedEx
Dive Insight:
FedEx's rate jump is an annual fixture in the parcel delivery world, and the upcoming hike mirrors the 5.9% increase it implemented in 2024 and 2025. Rival UPS levies similar price bumps each year, although the carrier hasn't announced a 2026 increase as of Friday.
The January price increase from FedEx comes as shippers grapple with heightened delivery costs due to surcharges and reduced discounting activity. The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index reported in July that per-package ground delivery rates reached a record high in Q2 and are expected to remain elevated.
Although FedEx is hiking various surcharges, the bump for additional handling and oversized shipping fees is much lower than it was in 2025, parcel analyst and LPF Spend Management founder Nate Skiver said on LinkedIn. For example, a weight-based additional handling surcharge for a Zone 2 shipment increased by $9 to $43.50 in FedEx's previous annual rate hike. That fee will increase by $2.50 to $46 in 2026.
Although the surcharge increases in that category are less pronounced, FedEx's bulky package shippers have weathered fast-rising delivery prices in recent years. Experts have said limited competition for large package deliveries and difficulties in moving bulky goods efficiently are factors in that trend.
