FedEx Demand Surcharges 2026: Peak Rates, Peaking Factors, Handling Fees & Holiday Shipping Guide

How Much are the FedEx Domestic Demand Surcharges in 2026?

FedEx demand surcharges range from $0.50–$4.05 per package, applying from Oct. 26, 2026–Jan. 17, 2027. Fees peak from Nov. 23–Dec. 27, reaching $2.55 for overnight and $2.35 for 2Day/Express Saver services. Peak surcharges are $0.80 for residential Ground/Home Delivery and $4.05 for Ground Economy.

For U.S. domestic shipments, they run from Sept. 28, 2026 to Jan. 17, 2027. The highest rates apply in the peak surcharge season from Nov. 23 to Dec. 27, 2026.

Additional Demand and Handling Package Charges

FedEx demand handling and package charges apply from Sept. 28, 2026–Jan. 17, 2027, with peak rates from Nov. 23–Dec. 27. Additional handling costs 8.80–11.85 per package, while oversize charges range from $97.75 to $117.25 per package.

Ground unauthorized package charges range from $535 to $595 per package, with the highest fee during the peak period. 

Example: you send 200 Home Delivery packages in the week of Dec. 7. That's 200 x $0.80 = $160 in demand surcharges, before fuel and base rates. To see which FedEx service costs least for your parcels, read our FedEx rate comparison.

What is the FedEx Demand Residential Delivery Charge?

The Demand Residential Delivery Charge is an extra weekly fee for enterprise shippers who send more than 20,000 residential and FedEx Ground Economy packages in one week. If you ship fewer than that, it doesn't apply to you.

The fee changes every week. The difference is called the peaking factor, which shows how much a shipper’s weekly package volume increases compared to their normal, non-peak average. 

How do you calculate your Peaking Factor?

Peaking factor = (packages in the calculation week ÷ your weekly average from June 1 to June 28, 2026) x 100

Both numbers count residential and FedEx Ground Economy packages for U.S. domestic shipments.

Example: your June weekly average was 25,000 packages. In the week of Nov. 2 to 8, you ship 40,000.

40,000 ÷ 25,000 x 100 = 160%

A 160% peaking factor falls in the 150% to 200% band. You'd pay $2.70 extra on each FedEx Ground or Home Delivery residential package during the matching application week, Nov. 23 to 29.

What are the per-package rates by peaking factor?

FedEx One Rate packages are excluded. FedEx's chart lists no charge at or below 105%.

This fee is added on top of the regular Residential Delivery Charge. FedEx says any contract discount or cap you have on the regular charge does not apply to this one.

How do holiday weeks change math?

A week with a holiday has 1 fewer working day. FedEx adjusts for that:

Adjusted volume = packages shipped that week x 5 ÷ 4

Example: you ship 32,000 packages in Thanksgiving week (Nov. 23 to 29). (32,000 x 5) ÷ 4 = 40,000. FedEx uses 40,000 to work out your peaking factor, and the charge lands in the application week of Dec. 14 to 20.

When is each week calculated and charged?

FedEx counts your volume in a calculation week, then charges the fee 2 weeks later in the application week.

If you're close to 20,000 residential packages a week, you need to run the numbers immediately. 

What Demand Surcharges Apply to FedEx International Shipments from the U.S.?

When shipping internationally, FedEx levies a per lb charge which is categorized across different global regions. 

Examples:

• A 20 lb box to Canada: 20 x $0.30 = $6.00
• A 10 lb box to Dubai: 10 x $0.75 = $7.50
• A 2 lb box to the U.K.: 2 x $0.30 = $0.60, so the $1 minimum applies

Surcharges that apply to large or heavy packages being shipped internationally

These started on Sept. 28, 2026. They only apply to a package that already qualifies for the regular Additional Handling, Oversize or Unauthorized fee.

All domestic figures come from the FedEx demand surcharges page, updated July 22, 2026.

Peak weeks + bigger or heavier boxes = higher fees.

Some fees apply to every package on a service. Others only hit large, heavy or oddly shaped boxes. One fee only applies to very large shippers. 

International shipments have their own set of charges, and those run until Feb. 7, 2027.

FedEx One Rate packages are excluded from the Overnight and 2Day charges. FedEx Ground Economy is a contract-only service.

These do not apply to FedEx International Ground shipments. International Ground follows the domestic rates in the section above.

FedEx calls any package that meets the rules for these charges a "non-standard shipment."

What export rules should you check before shipping abroad?

FedEx's international holiday deadlines "do not take into account time requirements for customs clearance." Build in extra days for customs.

If one line of your shipment is worth more than $2,500 under a single Schedule B or HTS code, you'll likely need to file Electronic Export Information. The $2,500 exemption is in 15 CFR § 30.37. Shipments to Canada have separate exemptions under § 30.36 which usually includes exemption of certain items that may not require the EEI filing. 

What is the FedEx Fuel Surcharge during Peak Season 2026?

The FedEx fuel surcharge is a percentage FedEx adds to most shipping rates to cover fuel costs. FedEx updates it every Monday. Ground and Home Delivery follow the weekly U.S. diesel price, and Express and international shipments follow jet fuel prices. In October 2026, it ranged from about 29% for Ground to about 45% for international.

It moves in 0.25% steps. For Ground, every $0.09 change in diesel moves the surcharge 0.25%. At 29%, a $12 Ground label costs about $3.48 extra in fuel alone. You pay it on top of any other FedEx surcharges, including the holiday demand surcharges.

For this week’s rates, the full FedEx tables and examples of what it adds to an order, see our guide to the FedEx fuel surcharge and how it’s calculated.

What Should You Do (And Avoid) When Shipping with FedEx this Peak Season?

The 2 things you control most are when you ship and what size box you use. Everything below comes back to those.

What Should You Do When Shipping Via FedEx

• Ship before Nov. 23 where you can. Every domestic demand surcharge is lower before the peak window. Ground Residential is $0.50 per package until Nov. 22 and $0.80 from Nov. 23.
• Measure your top 5 box sizes. Check them against the Additional Handling and Oversize rules in the FedEx Service Guide. A box that triggers Oversize costs $117.25 extra in peak weeks.
• Add the export per-lb charge to international quotes. From Sept. 21, a 10 lb box to Europe carries $3.00 in demand surcharges before any other fee.
• Use Ground and Home Delivery early, Express late. Ground's last day for Christmas Eve delivery is Dec. 19. After that, only 2Day, Express Saver, Overnight and SameDay can still make it.
• Add customs time to international orders. FedEx's international deadlines don't include it.
• Compare rates before you buy labels. Use our shipping rate calculator to see FedEx next to other couriers for the same box.
• Use Multiple Couriers - Using multi carriers will ensure that you are not dependent on single courier and also using multiple couriers will ensure that you split your couriers based on which service is best for what courier type.

What You Shouldn’t Don't Do While Shipping via FedEx

• Don't ship an unmeasured box on FedEx Ground. A package that falls into the Unauthorized category pays $595 in demand surcharges alone from Nov. 23 to Dec. 27.
• Don't quote last year's fuel percentage. FedEx changes the fuel surcharge every week.
• Don't promise Christmas delivery after Dec. 19 on Ground. Switch the customer to a faster service or set the expectation early.
• Don't assume your contract caps cover the Demand Residential Delivery Charge. FedEx says they don't.
• Don't plan pickups for Nov. 26, Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. FedEx is closed on all 3 days, with modified service on some days around them.

How can Easyship help you ship with FedEx this holiday season?

FedEx's per-package demand surcharges start Oct. 26, and peak rates start Nov. 23. You have less than 4 weeks to set your peak shipping plan. 

With Easyship, you can compare FedEx rates across 550+ couriers before you buy a single label, and pick the service that fits each box and each deadline. Easyship's discounted rates give U.S. shippers savings of up to 91%.

 Create your free Easyship account today and have your FedEx labels ready before peak pricing starts.

FedEx Demand Surcharges FAQs

When does the FedEx peak surcharge start in 2026?

Domestic charges on large and heavy packages started Sept. 28, 2026. Per-package charges on Express, Ground Residential, Home Delivery and Ground Economy start Oct. 26, 2026. Peak rates run Nov. 23 to Dec. 27, 2026.

How much is the FedEx residential demand surcharge?

FedEx Ground Residential and Home Delivery Residential packages pay $0.50 extra from Oct. 26 to Nov. 22, $0.80 from Nov. 23 to Dec. 27, and $0.50 from Dec. 28 to Jan. 17, 2027. This is on top of the regular Residential Delivery Charge.

Do small businesses pay the Demand Residential Delivery Charge?

Only if they ship more than 20,000 residential and Ground Economy packages in a single calculation week. Below that, the charge doesn't apply. The flat $0.50 to $0.80 residential demand surcharge still does.

How is the FedEx fuel surcharge calculated?

FedEx Ground and Home Delivery use the weekly U.S. average diesel price. FedEx Express uses the weekly U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel price. FedEx matches that price to a band in its table and applies the percentage for that band. It updates weekly.

Do FedEx One Rate packages pay the demand surcharge?

No. FedEx One Rate packages are excluded from the Overnight and 2Day demand surcharges and from the Demand Residential Delivery Charge.

What is a FedEx non-standard shipment?

FedEx uses this term for any package that meets the criteria for the Additional Handling Surcharge, Oversize Charge, Ground Unauthorized Package Charge or Unauthorized Charge. The criteria are in the FedEx Service Guide.

What is the last day to ship FedEx Ground for Christmas 2026?

Dec. 19, 2026, for delivery by Dec. 24 on a 5-day transit route. The same date applies to Home Delivery and Ground Economy. If your route has a shorter transit time, check it with FedEx before you set your cutoff.

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