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Guide · Shipping rates

UPS and FedEx 2027 rate increases: every date and change

Updated · Rotomal

UPS Daily Rates for Ground, Air and International services rise an average net 5.9% on 21 December 2026, and FedEx standard list rates for US package services rise an average 5.9% on 4 January 2027. Both also change surcharges and ZIP code lists. FedEx adds new fees on 18 January 2027 and reclassifies zones for some ZIP pairs on 1 February 2027. Your own increase depends on your services, weights, zones and agreement.

Timeline

DateCarrierChange
9 Nov 2026FedExDomestic fuel surcharge tables updated
21 Dec 2026UPSDaily Rates for Ground, Air and International up an average net 5.9%; Additional Handling minimum billable weight from 40 to 50 lbs; area-surcharge ZIP list and ZIP-to-zone alignment change; Small Business Rates also increase
On or after 21 Dec 2026UPSPer-package surge fee on domestic Ground and Ground Saver from certain origin ZIP codes for qualified customers; UPS said details would follow in early November
4 Jan 2027FedExStandard list rates for US, US export and US import package services up an average 5.9%; minimums, surcharges and fees change; new Delivery Area and Pickup Area Surcharge ZIP lists
17 Jan 2027USPSAnnounced end of the temporary 8% increase on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select
18 Jan 2027FedEx$25 Paper Document Fee when trade documents are on paper, $5 Paper Air Waybill Fee on manual paper airbills, Residential Delivery Charge extended to qualifying international shipments to select countries and to the US and Canada
1 Feb 2027FedExZone classification changes for select US domestic origin-destination ZIP code pairs

Why your increase is not 5.9%

  • The 5.9% is an average across services, weights and zones. Light, short-zone parcels and heavy, long-zone parcels move by different amounts.
  • Surcharges change separately. A box that triggers UPS Additional Handling is billed at no less than 50 lbs from 21 December 2026, up from 40 lbs, even if it weighs less, and destinations can move onto a delivery-area list.
  • Zones change. If your warehouse ZIP to a customer ZIP moves up a zone, the base rate jumps more than the average.
  • Your agreement matters. UPS says the impact varies with your shipping characteristics and the terms of your UPS agreement.

How to work out your own increase

  • Export 3 to 12 months of shipments with service, billed weight, dimensions, origin and destination ZIP and the amount billed.
  • Look up each shipment's 2027 zone and base rate in the carrier's 2027 rate tables: UPS publishes 2027 preview daily rates, FedEx publishes 2027 standard list rates as PDF and XLS.
  • Add the surcharges that apply in 2027: residential, delivery area for the new ZIP lists, Additional Handling with the new thresholds, and fuel at the current table.
  • Apply your discounts as they appear on your invoices, total by service and zone, and compare with what you paid in 2026.
  • Update your checkout shipping rates and free-shipping threshold to match before the new rates apply.

If you want this done for you

Rate Impact reprices your own shipments at the published 2027 rates, shows what drives the increase, and gives you a new checkout rate table and a negotiation brief. From $99, paid once, report within 3 business days.

Questions

When does the UPS 2027 rate increase start?

21 December 2026, for UPS Daily Rates on Ground, Air and International services. UPS says its published Small Business Rates also increase that day.

When does the FedEx 2027 rate increase start?

4 January 2027 for standard list rates. New fees follow on 18 January and zone changes on 1 February 2027.

What changes for heavy packages at UPS?

The minimum billable weight for Additional Handling packages rises from 40 lbs to 50 lbs on 21 December 2026.

Is USPS raising prices in January 2027?

USPS announced that its temporary 8% increase on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select runs until 17 January 2027. Check USPS's price notices for what applies after that date.

Sources