FedEx Fuel Surcharge 2026: How to Calculate It and How It Affects Holiday Shipping

What is the FedEx Fuel Surcharge

The FedEx fuel surcharge is an extra fee FedEx adds to your shipping rate to cover fuel costs. It is a percentage of your base rate, and it changes every week.

Fuel surcharge = Base rate × this week’s fuel surcharge %

For October 12 to 18, 2026, it is 28.75% for Ground, 32.25% for Express and 44.50% for international. On a $12.00 Ground label, that’s $12.00 × 28.75% = $3.45. You pay $15.45. From October 26, FedEx adds a holiday demand surcharge on top.

It covers most FedEx services:

• FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery
• FedEx Express (Overnight, 2Day, Express Saver)
• FedEx International shipments
• FedEx pickup services

The one exception: FedEx Express uses a weekly fuel surcharge based on jet fuel prices. Regional Economy services do not. FedEx can change this at any time. Check the FedEx fuel surcharge page before you quote rates.

How Does FedEx Calculate the Fuel Surcharge?

FedEx works out the fuel surcharge in 3 steps:

1. It checks the weekly fuel price. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) posts this price.
2. It finds that price in a table. Each price range has its own surcharge.
3. It multiplies your shipping rate by that surcharge. The answer is your fuel fee.

The fuel price FedEx checks depends on the service:

FedEx uses the fuel price from 1 to 2 weeks earlier. For example, the Ground surcharge for October 12 to 18 uses the diesel price from October 5, 2026.

This is how you can see your fuel surcharges when you place an order on Easyship. 

FedEx Fuel Surcharge at a Glance (October 12 to 18, 2026)

Source: FedEx Weekly Fuel Surcharge Changes, October 2026. FedEx updates these every Monday.

As per FedEx, these numbers "are subject to change without notice." Check the current rate before you set holiday shipping prices.

Quick example: Your FedEx Ground base rate is $12.00. This week's fuel surcharge is 28.75%.

• $12.00 × 28.75% = $3.45
• You pay $12.00 + $3.45 = $15.45, before any other fees.

If you ship 100 or more orders a month, this adds up fast. The easiest way to stop overpaying is to compare couriers before you buy each label. On Easyship, you can see FedEx rates next to 550+ other courier services in 1 dashboard. You also get up to 91% off retail rates.

What is the FedEx Ground Fuel Surcharge Rate at Each Diesel Price?

The FedEx Ground fuel surcharge depends on the weekly U.S. diesel price. FedEx finds that price in its table. Diesel prices change every week, so the surcharge can too.

The table itself has stayed the same since June 1, 2026. FedEx can change the table at any time. The rows below are part of that table. They cover diesel prices from $5.89 to $6.52 a gallon. This table is for FedEx Ground, Home Delivery, International Ground and pickup services.

How the table works: Each row covers $0.09 of diesel price. Each new row adds 0.25% to the surcharge.

How to read it: Say diesel costs $6.20 a gallon. Find the row where $6.20 fits. That's row 4, from $6.16 to $6.25. So the surcharge is 28.75%.

Example: Diesel goes up from $6.20 to $6.30 a gallon. $6.30 is in row 5 ($6.25 to $6.34). So the surcharge goes up 1 step, from 28.75% to 29.00%. On a $12.00 Ground label, that adds about $0.03.

FedEx uses this $0.09 step when diesel costs $4.99 or more. Below $4.99, the rows get wider. Then the surcharge moves 0.25% for every $0.27 change.

What is the FedEx Express Fuel Surcharge Rate at Each Jet Fuel Price?

The FedEx Express fuel surcharge depends on the weekly U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel price. FedEx finds that price in its Express table. Jet fuel prices change every week, so the surcharge can too.

The rows below are part of the table in effect since June 1, 2026. They cover jet fuel prices from $4.26 to $4.61 a gallon. This table is for FedEx Express domestic packages and shipments from the U.S. to Puerto Rico.

How the table works: Each row covers $0.05 of jet fuel price. Each new row adds 0.25% to the overall shipping surcharge. Row 1 runs from $4.26 to $4.31 at 31.50%. Row 2 starts at $4.31 and goes up to 31.75%.

Example: Jet fuel goes up from $4.43 to $4.48 a gallon. $4.48 is in row 5. So the surcharge goes from 32.25% to 32.50%.

FedEx uses this $0.05 step when jet fuel costs $3.01 or more. Below $3.01, the rows get wider. Then the surcharge moves 0.25% for every $0.21 change.

What is the FedEx International Fuel Surcharge Rate at Each Jet Fuel Price?

The FedEx international fuel surcharge also depends on the weekly U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel price. FedEx uses a separate table for international shipments. Its percentages are higher than the Express table.

The rows below are part of the table in effect since June 22, 2026. They cover jet fuel prices from $4.27 to $4.55 a gallon. This table is for FedEx international exports and imports.

How the table works: Each row covers $0.04 of jet fuel price. Each new row adds 0.25% to the surcharge. Row 1 runs from $4.27 to $4.31 at 43.75%. Row 2 starts at $4.31 and goes up to 44.00%.

Example: Jet fuel goes up from $4.40 to $4.44 a gallon. $4.44 is in row 5. So the surcharge goes from 44.50% to 44.75%.

FedEx uses this $0.04 step when jet fuel costs $2.59 or more. At lower prices, the rows get wider:

• Jet fuel from $2.49 to $2.59: the surcharge moves 0.25% for every $0.10 change.
• Jet fuel below $2.49: the surcharge moves 0.25% for every $0.20 change.

How Much Will the FedEx Fuel Surcharge Add to My Holiday Orders?

Your full FedEx charge has 3 main parts. Here's how to work it out in 4 steps:

1. Start with your base rate. This is the price for your package's size, weight and destination.
2. Work out the fuel surcharge. Multiply the base rate by this week's fuel surcharge.
3. Add the demand surcharge. From October 26 to January 17, add FedEx's flat holiday fee for your service.
4. Add it all up. That's your total before any other fees.

The formula:

Other fees, like residential delivery or extra handling, can add more. FedEx may also add the fuel percentage to some of those fees.

Here's what this week's rates add to 2 real orders. Both ship this week, before October 26, so there's no demand surcharge yet. The base rates are examples, not FedEx quotes.

Example 1: A candle shop ships with FedEx Ground Home Delivery

• Base rate: $12.00
• Fuel surcharge: $12.00 × 28.75% = $3.45
• Total before other fees: $12.00 + $3.45 = $15.45

Example 2: A clothing store ships to Canada with FedEx International

• Base rate: $60.00
• Fuel surcharge: $60.00 × 44.50% = $26.70
• Total before other fees: $60.00 + $26.70 = $86.70

Now scale it up. A store ships 1,000 Ground orders a month at $12.00 each. It pays $3,450 a month in fuel surcharges alone. If the surcharge rises to 29.50%, that bill grows to $3,540. Same orders. $90 more.

FedEx also adds the fuel percentage to some of its other fees. So your bill can be a little higher than these examples. Check the line items on your FedEx invoice to see where it applies.

Is the FedEx Fuel Surcharge the Same as the FedEx Peak Surcharge?

No. They are 2 different fees. During the holidays, you pay both.

• The fuel surcharge is a percentage of your rate. It changes every week with fuel prices.
• The demand surcharge (also called the peak surcharge) is a flat fee per package. It follows a set holiday calendar.

Here are the FedEx demand surcharges for the 2026 holiday season:

Sources: Supply Chain Dive, July 2026; 3PL Center, 2026. Express fees do not apply to FedEx One Rate.

Both fees together: Take the $12.00 Ground Home Delivery order from Example 1. Ship it on December 1. Now it costs:

• Base rate: $12.00
• Fuel surcharge: $12.00 × 28.75% = $3.45
• Demand surcharge (flat fee): $0.80
• Total: $12.00 + $3.45 + $0.80 = $16.25

That's $4.25 more than the base rate. It's about 35% extra on 1 holiday order.

How Can I Lower the FedEx Fuel Surcharge This Holiday Season?

Every FedEx label has the fuel surcharge. These 6 steps helps you reduce shipping surchages :

1. Use Ground for orders that aren't urgent. Ground's surcharge (28.75%) is lower than Express (32.25%). Ground base rates are lower too.
2. Ship before November 23. You still pay the fuel surcharge. But you skip the highest demand fees. Run early holiday sales to get orders out sooner.
3. Lower your base rate. The fuel surcharge is a percentage. A cheaper base rate means a cheaper surcharge.
4. Compare couriers on every order. The cheapest way to ship every box size and destination can be determined if you are able to compare them for the best rates.
5. Check rates every Monday. FedEx posts the new surcharge then. If it jumps, update the shipping prices you show customers.
6. Show live rates at checkout. Flat shipping prices set in October can be too low by December. Live rates charge customers what shipping costs that day. If you offer free shipping, add 1% to 2% to your prices to cover weekly changes.

Easyship helps with steps 3, 4 and 6. You get discounted FedEx rates, up to 91% off retail. You can compare 550+ courier services side by side before you print a label. Easyship's real-time checkout rates work with 60+ platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce and BigCommerce.

Every dollar you save on the base rate also cuts your fuel fee. Check current prices any time with the Easyship shipping rate calculator.

Ready to cut your holiday shipping costs? Sign up for Easyship for free. Compare discounted FedEx rates with 550+ other courier services in minutes.

FAQs About the FedEx Fuel Surcharge

How often does FedEx change its fuel surcharge?

FedEx changes its fuel surcharge every week. New rates start each Monday. FedEx posts this week's and last week's rates on its fuel surcharge page. Older weeks are on its historical fuel surcharge page.

Why is the FedEx international fuel surcharge so much higher?

FedEx uses a separate table for international shipments. That table has higher percentages at the same jet fuel price. At about $4.40 a gallon, the international table gives 44.50%. The domestic Express table gives 32.25%.

Does FedEx Regional Economy have a fuel surcharge?

FedEx Regional Economy services do not have the weekly, jet-fuel-based surcharge that FedEx Express uses. FedEx can change this at any time. Check the FedEx fuel surcharge page before you ship.

Can I negotiate the FedEx fuel surcharge?

Large shippers sometimes get a discount on the fuel surcharge in their FedEx contract. Most small businesses don't ship enough for that. The easier way is a lower base rate. A smaller base rate means a smaller surcharge.

Does UPS charge a fuel surcharge too?

Yes. UPS also adds a weekly fuel surcharge based on diesel and jet fuel prices. It uses its own tables. Compare the full cost of both carriers, fuel included, before you pick one for holiday orders.

Is the fuel surcharge charged on returns?

Yes. A FedEx return label is a shipping charge like any other. So the weekly fuel surcharge applies. Plan for this if you offer free holiday returns.