FedEx dropped its 2026 peak season surcharges on July 22, and the headline is simple ...
Fees are up almost everywhere.
Express is now priced by delivery speed, and surcharges kick in on September 28, well before the holiday rush.
Highest-tier peak rates run from November 23 through December 27, before tapering off until everything ends January 17, 2027.
To help you prepare for peak, read on for a breakdown of what actually changed, what each fee costs, and how to keep peak from quietly wrecking your shipping budget.
The big structural shift is Express. FedEx retired the single "All Express Parcel" line it used in 2025 and replaced it with speed-based pricing. So, now the faster the service, the bigger the fee.
On top of that, most service-level demand surcharges (Ground Residential, Home Delivery, and Express) rose 12 - 23% year-over-year. And accessorial charges like Additional Handling, Oversize, and Ground Unauthorized Package increased by approximately 6 - 9%.
Here's a few things worth knowing ...
Unlike last year, time isn't the big problem. With Thanksgiving falling on November 26, we’ve got a pretty normal window between Black Friday and Christmas. The real headache in 2026 isn't running out of shipping days, it’s the extra fees hitting your bill.
FedEx split the rollout into two phases, so some fees start almost a month before the rest.
Here's a breakdown of the schedule ...
Note: If you ship anything bulky or oddly shaped, pay attention to the first date because you will be paying handling and oversize fees weeks before the broader increases land.
It depends on the service, the size, and the week.
Here's a look at the full picture ...
First, the accessorial charges that hit bulky, oversized, or nonconforming packages from September 28 through January 17:
| Surcharge | Sep 28 - Nov 22 |
Nov 23 - Dec 27 |
Dec 28 - Jan 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Handling | $8.80 | $11.85 | $8.80 |
| Oversize Charge | $95.75 | $117.25 | $95.75 |
| Ground Unauthorized Package | $535.00 | $595.00 | $535.00 |
A single oversized package during the peak window carries a $117.25 demand charge on its own, before the base rate, fuel, or anything else stacks on top.
Next, let's take a look at the service-level demand surcharges, in effect October 26 through January 17:
| Service | Oct 26 - Nov 22 |
Nov 23 - Dec 27 |
Dec 28 - Jan 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First, Priority & Standard Overnight | $1.30 | $2.55 | $1.30 |
| 2Day A.M., 2Day & Express Saver | $1.20 | $2.35 | $1.20 |
| Ground Residential & Home Delivery | $0.50 | $0.80 | $0.50 |
| Ground Economy | $2.55 | $4.05 | $2.55 |
That's the tiered Express structure in action right there.
First, Priority, and Standard Overnight sit in the top tier at $2.55 per package during peak, while 2Day and Express Saver come in a notch lower at $2.35.
Enterprise shippers moving more than 20,000 combined residential and Ground Economy packages in a single week. Separate from fixed accessorials, this dynamic charge is usually the single most expensive line item for anyone facing a real holiday spike.
Here's how it works ...
And the tiers look like this:
| Peaking Factor | Ground & Home Delivery | Eligible Express |
|---|---|---|
| 105% through 125% | $1.70 | $3.05 |
| 125% through 150% | $2.40 | $3.75 |
| 150% through 200% | $2.70 | $4.05 |
| 200% through 300% | $3.35 | $4.70 |
| 300% through 400% | $5.60 | $6.95 |
| More than 400% | $8.00 | $9.35 |
At the top tier, a single residential package can carry an $8.00 Ground charge or $9.35 on Express, layered on top of everything else.
Two details worth flagging here as well ...
FedEx adjusts holiday weeks by multiplying your volume by five and dividing by four to account for the missing operating day (which can bump you into a higher tier even when your raw count looks lower).
Any discount or cap you've negotiated on the standard Residential Delivery Charge does not carry over to this one. FedEx says so directly.
The official answer? To fund the network.
FedEx says demand surcharges cover elevated volumes, capacity crunches, and higher operating costs during the holidays, and help keep service reliable when it matters most.
The real reality is that peak pricing works. 2025 was FedEx's most profitable peak season on record, and leadership has publicly framed these surcharges as a win for both the carrier and its retail customers. So, yeah, they're not going anywhere, and now we must plan around them.
Shoppers are starting earlier and, in a lot of cases, spending more. But that just spreads volume out and doesn't shrink it.
Here's a few data points shaping this season (in case you are curious) ...
For 3PLs and brands, earlier shopping cuts both ways: Volume arrives sooner and stays elevated longer, which means more weeks exposed to demand surcharges, not fewer. It's the same cost pressure squeezing USPS shippers right now, just on a different carrier.
You can't opt out of peak, but you can shrink the bill.
The shippers who come out ahead during peak season don't wait for a surprise bill. Instead, they figure out their extra costs ahead of time and never pay for expensive shipping when a cheaper option exists
Here's what actually moves the needle ...
Diversifying carriers and automating the rate decision is the highest-leverage move on that list. It's also the one most shippers skip, because doing it by hand is miserable.
Want to see how much a rate-shopping engine trims off a peak-season invoice? Book a free demo and we'll run it against your numbers.
The first fees, for Additional Handling, Oversize, and Ground Unauthorized packages, begin September 28, 2026. Service-level surcharges for Express, Ground Residential, Home Delivery, and Ground Economy start October 26. All charges end January 17, 2027.
The peak window runs November 23 through December 27, 2026, when the highest fixed amounts apply.
The Oversize demand charge is $95.75 per package from September 28 to November 22, rises to $117.25 during the November 23 to December 27 peak, then returns to $95.75 through January 17.
FedEx replaced the single "All Express Parcel" fee from 2025 with speed-based pricing. First, Priority, and Standard Overnight cost $2.55 per package at peak, while 2Day A.M., 2Day, and Express Saver cost $2.35.
Enterprise shippers moving more than 20,000 combined residential and Ground Economy packages in a calculation week. The amount depends on how far weekly volume exceeds the June 1 to June 28, 2026 baseline, starting once volume passes 105% of that baseline.
You can't avoid them entirely, but rate shopping across multiple carriers, optimizing packaging to dodge handling and oversize fees, and reviewing your carrier contract before peak all reduce the total. Automated multi-carrier rate shopping, like Zenventory's ZenShip, routes each order to the cheapest qualifying carrier.
Peak season is beginning to loom in the not-so-distant future, and you know what that means? It's time for the annual disclosure of peak season surcharges.
To help you prepare and make the most informed decisions this year, we’re breaking down FedEx’s 2025 peak season surcharges and what they mean for your business.
So, what are we waiting for? Here’s everything you need to know ...
One of the primary factors influencing this year's FedEx peak season pricing strategy is the compressed timeline. With Thanksgiving falling on November 27, the window between Black Friday and Christmas will be significantly shorter.
Shipping demand for this year's peak season is projected to be more volatile, and here's why ...
To manage the anticipated holiday parcel deluge, FedEx has unveiled a cornucopia of peak season surcharges that will take effect from September 29, 2025, through January 18, 2026. These fees are designed to vary in magnitude based on the service type and timing, and the amount of each surcharge depends on the date (with prices hitting the highest peak between November 24 and December 28). All surcharges will end on January 18, 2026.
For domestic U.S. shipments, as well as import and export services, FedEx will impose an Additional Handling Surcharge ranging from $8.25 to $10.90 per package. This fee is intended to cover the additional costs associated with processing and handling packages that require special attention or handling, including items with unique packaging requirements or those requiring manual processing.
Packages exceeding FedEx's size limits will incur an Oversize Charge of $90 to $108.50 per shipment. This fee aims to compensate for the additional space and resources required to transport larger packages through the carrier's network. The increased rates reflect the growing challenges of handling oversized items in an e-commerce-driven market.
Shipments that exceed FedEx's maximum weight and size restrictions will be subject to a Ground Unauthorized Package Charge of $475 to $525 per package. This surcharge is designed to discourage shippers from sending excessively large or heavy packages, which can disrupt the carrier's operational efficiency and pose safety risks to handling personnel.
FedEx will implement comprehensive Demand Surcharges across its service portfolio for the 2025 peak season. The fee structure has been carefully calibrated, ranging from $0.40 to $3.55 per package.
For enterprise-level customers shipping more than 20,000 residential and FedEx Ground Economy packages, FedEx will impose a Residential Delivery Charge. This fee will adjust dynamically every week, ranging from $1.55 to $8.75 per package, based on the shipper's volume deviation from their baseline shipping activity.
FedEx emphasizes that these strategic pricing adjustments are essential for maintaining operational excellence during the challenging holiday period. The additional revenue generated will support critical investments in workforce expansion, fleet modernization, and technological upgrades. These investments are deemed necessary to deliver what FedEx terms an "amazing peak" experience – characterized by reliable service, consistent delivery times, and enhanced customer satisfaction during the most demanding shipping period of the year.
With FedEx's early announcement of the 2025 peak season surcharges, shippers are granted valuable time to strategize and prepare for mitigating the effects of these fees. This allows businesses the opportunity to explore proactive approaches, like:
In the face of heightened peak season surcharges, shippers must embrace agility and proactive negotiation to mitigate the impact on their bottom line. By staying informed and exploring alternative solutions, businesses can navigate this evolving landscape while maintaining efficient and cost-effective shipping operations.
FedEx's peak season surcharges reflect the carrier's efforts to manage capacity constraints and maintain service excellence during this critical period. While these fees may present challenges for shippers, proactive mitigation strategies, open communication, and collaborative efforts can pave the way for a successful peak season for all.
By fostering a spirit of adaptability, transparency, and mutual understanding, shippers and carriers can work together to navigate the complexities of the holiday rush, ensuring seamless delivery experiences for consumers while safeguarding the profitability and sustainability of the logistics ecosystem.