Everything you need to know about USPS®, FedEx® and UPS® for the Holiday Shipping Season
It’s time for Peak Shipping Season, the busiest period of the year for mailing and shipping. Package volumes begin to ramp up as early as August, eventually reaching billions of mail pieces and shipments sent by the USPS, FedEx, UPS and other major carriers between October through December. The U.S. Postal Service alone accounts for almost 12 billion mail pieces and packages sent during the holiday season.
To meet the increased demand, all major carriers boost their workforce and announce new postal rates and surcharges that can last into the new year.
But this year has a few surprises…
There will be additional costs and more complex schedules to manage. Keep reading for a summary of each peak period and changes to specific services, postage rates and fees. You may also watch our latest webinar on demand to get an overview of the changes.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
Postage rate prices will be increased to cover extra handling costs. USPS pricing applies to all domestic mail and packages, regardless of weight or destination.
Peak period: October 5 - January 18, 2026
Services affected: Ground Advantage™, Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express®
Average rate increases:
- Ground Advantage: +5.2%
- Priority Mail: +5.6%
- Priority Mail Express: +5.6%
USPS Peak Season Pricing Charts:
Commercial Pricing
(With Quadient shipping software)
| USPS Service |
Price Increase, Zones 1-4 |
Price Increase, Zones 5-9 |
| Priority Mail |
+$0.30, 0-3 lbs.
+$0.45, 4-10 lbs.
+$0.75, 11-25 lbs.
+$2.25, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.70, 0-3 lbs.
+$1.25, 4-10 lbs.
+$2.75, 11-25 lbs.
+$6.50, 26-70 lbs. |
| USPS Ground Advantage |
+$0.30, 0-3 lbs.
+$0.45, 4-10 lbs.
+$0.75, 11-25 lbs.
+$2.25, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.35, 0-3 lbs.
+$0.75, 4-10 lbs.
+$1.25, 11-25 lbs.
+$5.50, 26-70 lbs. |
| Priority Mail Express |
+$1.00, 0-3 lbs.
+$1.50, 4-10 lbs.
+$3.50, 11-25 lbs.
+$8.95, 26-70 lbs. |
+$1.75, 0-3 lbs.
+$3.95, 4-10 lbs.
+$7.50, 11-25 lbs.
+$13.00, 26-70 lbs. |
Retail Pricing
(At the Post Office, no discounts!)
| USPS Service |
Price increase, Zones 1-4 |
Price increase, Zones 5-9 |
| Priority Mail |
+$0.40, 0-3 lbs.
+$0.60, 4-10 lbs.
+$0.95, 11-25 lbs.
+$3.00, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.90, 0-3 lbs.
+$1.45, 4-10 lbs.
+$3.25, 11-25 lbs.
+$7.00, 26-70 lbs. |
| USPS Ground Advantage |
+$0.40, 0-3 lbs.
+$0.60, 4-10 lbs.
+$0.95, 11-25 lbs.
+$3.00, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.50, 0-3 lbs.
+$1.00, 4-10 lbs.
+$2.00, 11-25 lbs.
+$5.75, 26-70 lbs. |
| Priority Mail Express |
+$1.10, 0-3 lbs.
+$2.00, 4-10 lbs.
+$3.90, 11-25 lbs.
+$9.75, 26-70 lbs. |
+$2.00, 0-3 lbs.
+$4.85, 4-10 lbs.
+$9.00, 11-25 lbs.
+$16.00, 26-70 lbs. |
- Reminder: USPS Zones range from 1 through 9, covering 50 to 1,800+ miles from the point of origin or mailing.
FedEx Peak Season Surcharges
Surcharges are applied to meet the increased demand, additional handling, oversize charges, and packages sent ground that do not meet length, width, and depth requirements, so be on high alert!
When: September 29, 2025 - January 18, 2026
Services affected: FedEx Ground®, Ground Economy®, Home Delivery®, U.S. Package Services®, International Ground Shipments®, First Overnight®, Priority Overnight®, Standard Overnight®, 2Day®, Express Saver®
Peak periods: There are three!
- Sept 29 - Nov 23, 2025
- Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
- Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026
Breakdown of FedEx Surcharges:
| Surcharge |
FedEx® Service |
Pricing |
Peak Period |
| Additional Handling Surcharge |
U.S. Package Services, International
Ground shipments |
$8.25 per package
$10.90 per package
$8.25 per package |
Sept 29 - Nov 23, 2025
Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026 |
| Oversize Charge |
U.S. Package Services, International
Ground shipments |
$90 per package
$108.50 per package
$90 per package |
Sept 29 - Nov 23, 2025
Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026 |
| Ground Unauthorized Package Charge |
Ground, Home Delivery and International
Ground shipments |
$490 per package
$545 per package
$490 per package |
Sept 29 - Nov 23, 2025
Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026 |
| Demand Surcharge |
First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, 2Day, 2Day A.M., Express Saver* |
$1.05 per package
$2.10 per package
$1.05 per package |
Oct 27 - Nov 23, 2025
Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026 |
| Demand Surcharge |
Ground residential, Home Delivery residential |
$0.40 per package
$0.65 per package
$0.40 per package |
Oct 27 - Nov 23, 2025
Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026 |
| Demand Surcharge |
Ground Economy Package Services |
$2.20 per package
$3.55 per package
$2.20 per package |
Oct 27 - Nov 23, 2025
Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2025
Dec 29, 2025 - Jan 18, 2026 |
| Demand, Residential Delivery Charge** |
Ground, Home Delivery, First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, 2Day, 2Day A.M., Express Saver* |
$1.55 to $8.75 |
Oct 27 - Jan 18, 2026 |
* Does not include One Rate packages ** For enterprise-level customers
- Reminder: Enterprise-level customers who ship more than 20,000 residential and Ground Economy packages will have surcharges based on their shipping volume and “peaking factor” during designated calculation week.
