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 September 27, UPS will apply higher fees on packages that are bulky or oversized 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 October 25.
The price of many of the holiday charges peak between November 22 and December 26, when ordering activity typically jumps in the leadup to Christmas. The fees are active through January 16, 2027.
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 recent earnings call that UPS expects its U.S. volume to jump about 24 percent from Q3 to Q4, similar to the increase it encountered in 2025.
Increased holiday delivery costs are slated to add to the pricing pressures that parcel shippers have faced this year, driven by elevated fuel surcharges.
Visit ups.com for the full fee schedule.
