FedEx has unveiled its 2026 peak season fees, which will drive up costs for deliveries amid the holiday shipping rush. The charges are higher than last year’s fees and apply over roughly the same time period, with all surcharges active by Oct. 26 and running until Jan. 17, 2027.
The amount of each peak season surcharge depends on the date, with prices peaking from Nov. 23 to Dec. 27. FedEx said on its website that it applies demand surcharges during times of raised volumes, heightened demand for capacity and higher operating costs.
They added that the added fees will help them “continue to provide customers with the best possible service” during the busy holiday season.
FedEx 2026 peak season surcharges will vary by service, with the largest jumps in lower-cost, high-activity segments like Ground Residential and Ground Economy.
Demand surcharges for Ground Residential shipments will peak at $0.80 per package during the holidays compared to $0.65 last year, a 23% increase.
The Demand — Residential Delivery Charge will apply to enterprise-level customers who ship more than 20,000 residential and Ground Economy packages.
FedEx has been vocal this year about its decreased interest in pursuing general e-commerce volume — which typically surges during the holidays — instead prioritizing more profitable segments like healthcare.
Still, the holidays remain a key period for FedEx and the retail and e-commerce shippers it serves, with 2025 being the carrier’s most profitable peak season ever.
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In February, EVP and Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere called peak season surcharges “a win-win” for that customer segment and FedEx. “It lets them sell at Christmas and it allows us to bring on the resources profitably to do that,” Carere said during the company’s 2026 Investor Day.
For the people most affected by these surcharges, such as small businesses and individual shippers, the increased costs may be a significant burden.
They may need to adjust their pricing strategies or explore alternative shipping options to mitigate the impact of the surcharges.
The carrier’s announcement comes at a time of climbing shipping costs for FedEx and UPS customers, exacerbated by raised fuel fees.
To limit the sting of holiday surcharges, shippers should negotiate for discounts, incentivize consumers to buy earlier and explore alternative carrier options, parcel pricing experts told Supply Chain Dive last year.
UPS has also implemented peak season fees over the past several years.
The carrier hasn’t yet unveiled its 2026 holiday surcharges as of Thursday.
As the holiday season approaches, shippers will be closely watching the developments in the shipping industry to plan their strategies accordingly.
