Shipping carriers are gearing up for another busy peak season—and that means temporary surcharges and rate adjustments are coming. These changes help carriers manage increased holiday demand, but they can also affect your bottom line if you’re not prepared.
To help you stay ahead, we’ve rounded up 2025 holiday shipping surcharges and rate changes from major carriers—including USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and key European providers—all in one place.
Whether you’re a small business shipping out seasonal orders or an enterprise managing large-scale fulfillment, here’s what you need to know before peak season begins.
USPS
USPS' temporary rate changes are effective from October 5, 2025 through January 18, 2026.
Commercial pricing adjustments
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage—Zones 1-4 (same increase for both):
| Weight break |
Increase amount |
| 0–3 lbs. | $0.30 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $0.45 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $0.75 |
| 26–70 lbs. | $3.00 |
Priority Mail & USPS Ground Advantage — Zones 5–9 (different by service):
| Weight break |
Priority Mail increase |
USPS Ground Advantage increase |
| 0–3 lbs. | $0.70 | $0.35 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $1.25 | $0.75 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $2.75 | $1.25 |
| 26–70 lbs. | $7.00 | $5.50 |
Priority Mail Express — Zones 1–4:
| Weight break |
Increase amount |
| 0–3 lbs. | $1.00 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $1.50 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $3.50 |
| 26–70 lbs. | $8.95 |
Priority Mail Express — Zones 5–9:
| Weight break |
Increase amount |
| 0–3 lbs. | $1.75 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $3.95 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $7.50 |
| 26–70 lbs. | $13.00 |
Retail pricing adjustments
Priority Mail & USPS Ground Advantage — Zones 1–4:
| Weight break |
Increase amount |
| 0–3 lbs. | $0.40 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $0.60 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $0.95 |
| 26–70 lbs. & Oversized | $3.00 |
Priority Mail—Zones 5-9:
| Weight break |
Increase amount |
| 0–3 lbs. | $0.90 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $1.45 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $3.25 |
| 26–70 lbs. | $7.00 |
Priority Mail Flat Rate
| Product |
Increase amount |
| Large Flat Rate Boxes | $1.45 |
| All other Flat Rate Products | $0.90 |
USPS Ground Advantage—Zones 5-9
| Weight break |
Increase amount |
| 0–3 lbs. | $0.50 |
| 4–10 lbs. | $1.00 |
| 11–25 lbs. | $2.00 |
| 26–70 lbs. & Oversized | $5.75 |
Priority Mail Express— Retail (split by zones)
| Zone range |
Weight break |
Increase amount |
| Zones 1–4 | 0–3 lbs. | $1.10 |
| Zones 5–9 | 0–3 lbs. | $2.00 |
| Zones 1–4 | 4–10 lbs. | $2.00 |
| Zones 5–9 | 4–10 lbs. | $4.85 |
| Zones 1–4 | 11–25 lbs. | $3.90 |
| Zones 5–9 | 11–25 lbs. | $9.00 |
| Zones 1–4 | 26–70 lbs. | $9.75 |
| Zones 5–9 | 26–70 lbs. | $16.00 |
Priority Mail Express—Flat Rate
| Product |
Increase amount |
| Priority Mail Express — Flat Rate Envelopes | $2.00 |
For complete details on the new pricing, please visit the USPS page here.
FedEx 2025 holiday surcharges
| Surcharge name |
Applicable services |
Surcharge amount |
Effective date |
| Demand — Additional Handling Surcharge |
U.S. Package Services, FedEx International Ground Shipments |
$8.25 per package
$10.90 per package
$8.25 per package
|
Sept. 29–Nov. 23
Nov. 24–Dec. 28
Dec. 29–Jan. 18
|
| Demand — Oversize Charge |
U.S. Package Services, FedEx International Ground Shipments |
$90 per package
$108.50 per package
$90 per package
|
Sept. 29–Nov. 23
Nov. 24–Dec. 28
Dec. 29–Jan. 18
|
| Demand — Ground Unauthorized Package Charge |
FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, and FedEx International Ground Shipments |
$490 per package
$545 per package
$490 per package
|
Sept. 29–Nov. 23
Nov. 24–Dec. 28
Dec. 29–Jan. 18
|
| Demand Surcharge |
FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight®, FedEx 2Day® A.M., FedEx 2Day®, FedEx Express Saver® (excluding FedEx One Rate packages)
|
$1.05 per package
$2.10 per package
$1.05 per package
|
Oct. 27–Nov. 23
Nov. 24–Dec. 28
Dec. 29–Jan. 18
|
| Demand Surcharge |
FedEx Ground residential shipments and FedEx Home Delivery residential shipments |
$0.40 per package
$0.65 per package
$0.40 per package
|
Oct. 27–Nov. 23
Nov. 24–Dec. 28
Dec. 29–Jan. 18
|
| Demand Surcharge |
FedEx Ground® Economy Package Services |
$2.20 per package
$3.55 per package
$2.20 per package
|
Oct. 27–Nov. 23
Nov. 24–Dec. 28
Dec. 29–Jan. 18
|
For more detail, visit FedEx Demand Surcharges.
UPS 2025 holiday surcharges
UPS — Other demand surcharges
| Other Charges |
Sept. 28–Nov. 22 |
Nov. 23–Dec. 27 |
Dec. 28–Jan. 17 |
| Additional Handling |
$8.25 per package |
$10.80 per package |
$8.25 per package |
| Large Package Surcharge |
$90.50 per package |
$107.00 per package |
$90.50 per package |
| Over Maximum Limits |
$485 per package |
$540 per package |
$485 per package |
UPS — Demand surcharges by service level
| Service Level |
Demand Period: Oct. 26–Nov. 22 |
Demand Period: Nov. 23–Dec. 27 |
Demand Period: Dec. 28–Jan. 17 |
| UPS Ground Saver |
$0.40 per package |
$0.60 per package |
$0.40 per package |
| UPS Ground Residential |
$0.40 per package |
$0.60 per package |
$0.40 per package |
| UPS Next Day Air |
$1.10 per package |
$2.05 per package |
$1.10 per package |
| All Other UPS Air |
$1.10 per package |
$2.05 per package |
$1.10 per package |
DHL 2025 holiday surcharges
DHL 2025 holiday surcharge rates are effective October 5, 2025 through January 17, 2026.
DHL eCommerce SmartMail — Domestic Products
| Product |
Weight Break |
Zones 1–8 |
Zones 11–13 |
| Parcel Ground & Expedited |
All |
$0.62 |
$0.67 |
| Parcel Plus Ground & Expedited |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.62 |
$0.67 |
| Parcel Plus Ground & Expedited |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.77 |
$1.07 |
| Parcel Plus Ground & Expedited |
11–25 lbs. |
$1.07 |
$1.57 |
| Parcel Expedited Max |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.62 |
N/A |
| Parcel Expedited Max |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.77 |
N/A |
| Parcel Expedited Max |
11–25 lbs. |
$1.07 |
N/A |
| Bound Printed Matter Ground & Expedited |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.32 |
$0.67 |
| Bound Printed Matter Ground & Expedited |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.32 |
$1.07 |
| Bound Printed Matter Ground & Expedited |
11–25 lbs. |
$0.32 |
$1.57 |
DHL eCommerce SmartMail — Return Products
| Product |
Weight Break |
Zones 1–4 |
Zones 5–8 |
| Parcel Return Light |
All |
$0.30 |
$0.35 |
| Parcel Return Ground |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.30 |
$0.35 |
| Parcel Return Ground |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.45 |
$0.75 |
| Parcel Return Ground |
11–25 lbs. |
$0.75 |
$1.25 |
| Parcel Return Ground |
26–70 lbs. |
$3.00 |
$5.50 |
| Parcel Return Plus |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.30 |
$0.70 |
| Parcel Return Plus |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.45 |
$1.25 |
| Parcel Return Plus |
11–25 lbs. |
$0.75 |
$2.75 |
| Parcel Return Plus |
26–70 lbs. |
$3.00 |
$6.50 |
DHL additional domestic products
| Product |
Weight Break |
Zones 1–4 |
Zones 5–8 |
| Ground Advantage |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.30 |
$0.35 |
| Ground Advantage |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.45 |
$0.75 |
| Ground Advantage |
11–25 lbs. |
$0.75 |
$1.25 |
| Ground Advantage |
26–70 lbs. |
$3.00 |
$5.50 |
| Priority Mail |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.30 |
$0.70 |
| Priority Mail |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.45 |
$1.25 |
| Priority Mail |
11–25 lbs. |
$0.75 |
$2.75 |
| Priority Mail |
26–70 lbs. |
$3.00 |
$6.50 |
DHL eCommerce International Products
| Product |
Weight Break |
Surcharge (per package) |
| Packet International |
All |
$0.32 |
| Parcel International Direct |
All |
$0.32 |
| Parcel International Standard |
All |
$0.32 |
| Parcel International Direct & Standard – SMB |
All |
$0.32 |
DHL eCommerce (Canada-based customers → U.S.)
| Product |
Weight Break |
Zones 1–8 |
Zones 11–13 |
| Parcel International Direct Standard & Priority |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.62 |
$0.67 |
| Parcel International Direct Standard & Priority |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.77 |
$1.07 |
| Parcel International Direct Standard & Priority |
11–15 lbs. |
$1.07 |
$1.57 |
| Parcel International Direct Max |
0–3 lbs. |
$0.62 |
N/A |
| Parcel International Direct Max |
4–10 lbs. |
$0.77 |
N/A |
| Parcel International Direct Max |
11–15 lbs. |
$1.07 |
N/A |
For additional details, check out the DHL 2025 holiday surcharges one-pager.
EU carrier 2025 holiday surcharges
| Carrier |
Surcharge amount |
Effective dates |
| Colissimo B2C |
No peak surcharge |
— |
| Correos |
No peak surcharge |
— |
| DPD DE |
€0.35 per parcel |
Nov. 1–Dec. 23 |
| Evri |
£0.05 per parcel |
Nov. 15–Dec. 31 |
| La Poste / Colissimo C2C |
No peak surcharge |
— |
| Mondial Relay |
No peak surcharge |
— |
| Poste Italiane |
No peak surcharge |
— |
| Royal Mail |
No peak surcharge |
— |
Don't overspend on shipping this peak season
While these temporary rate adjustments are part of every holiday season, you don’t have to let them cut into your profits.
With Shippo, you can easily compare carrier rates side by side, access discounted pricing, and choose the most cost-effective option for every shipment—all from one simple platform. From getting clear delivery estimates to automating label creation and tracking, Shippo helps you ship smarter and faster all year long.
Pro tip: With Shippo Estimate, you can see AI-powered delivery date predictions before you buy a label—so you can pick the right balance of speed and cost with confidence.
👉 Ready to save on shipping? Join Shippo today and start shipping smarter—or contact an API expert to see how Shippo can power your shipping at scale.
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