UPS has announced its 2026 holiday demand fees, joining FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service in instituting higher peak season charges than last year.
Starting Sept. 27, UPS will apply higher fees on packages that are bulky, oversized or require additional handling, along with surge fees on certain international shipments between the U.S. and other countries. Added surcharges on all UPS Air, Ground Residential and Ground Saver packages, plus another fee for high-volume shippers, will begin Oct. 25.
The price of many of the holiday charges peak between Nov. 22 and Dec. 26, when ordering activity typically jumps in the leadup to Christmas. The fees are active through Jan. 16, 2027.
UPS 2026 peak season surcharges
| Surcharge name | Services affected | Peak surcharge range per package | Effective dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Handling | U.S. domestic, various U.S. export shipments | $8.75 to $11.90 | Sept. 27 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
| Large Package Surcharge | U.S. domestic, various U.S. export shipments | $96.25 to $117.50 | Sept. 27 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
| Over Maximum Limits | U.S. domestic, various U.S. export shipments | $530 to $590 | Sept. 27 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
| Demand Surcharge | UPS Ground Residential, Air and Ground Saver packages | $0.50 to $2.50 | Oct. 25 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
| Demand Surcharge* | Certain UPS Ground Residential, Air Residential, Air Commercial and Ground Saver packages for qualifying customers | $0.50 to $9.35 | Oct. 25 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
| Surge Emergency Fee | UPS Standard shipments from the U.S. to Canada or Mexico, and vice versa | $0.50 | Sept. 27 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
| Surge Emergency Fee | UPS Worldwide Economy DDP and DDU shipments originating from the U.S. | $0.50 per pound | Sept. 27 - Jan. 16, 2027 |
*Applies in lieu of the previous Demand Surcharge to customers who are billed for more than 20,000 packages during any week following October 2025. The charge is based on how much their volume deviates from their "baseline" shipping activity.
"Compared with 2025, the handling and size demand charges increased approximately 6% to 10%, while the flat service-level charges increased approximately 22% to 25%," according to an analysis of the surcharges from ShipScience.
UPS and other parcel carriers regularly institute holiday surcharges each year to help cover increased operating costs as volume climbs. CEO Carol Tomé said in a July earnings call that UPS expects its U.S. volume to jump about 24% from Q3 to Q4, similar to the increase it encountered in 2025. EVP and CFO Brian Dykes added that the carrier expects it will "be able to price accordingly for the demand as well."
Increased holiday delivery costs are slated to add to the pricing pressures that parcel shippers have faced this year, driven by elevated fuel surcharges. However, experts told Supply Chain Dive last year that negotiating discounts, using alternative delivery providers and swaying customers to order when shipping fees are lower can help blunt the impact of peak season fees.
