Summary

FedEx has released its 2026 U.S. domestic peak-season demand surcharges, and this year brings a structural change and broad increases. Express fees are now tiered by speed of service, core per-package surcharges rose by double digits, and the dynamic weekly Residential surcharge climbed across every peaking-factor tier. Reviewing your FedEx agreement now is the surest way to keep these fees in check.

The Breakdown

FedEx published its 2026 U.S. domestic peak-season demand surcharges on July 22, and this year brings a structural change on top of higher numbers. Peak rates run Nov. 23 through Dec. 27, with shoulder-season rates bracketing that window on either side.

Speed now sets the Express fee

The biggest change is the disappearance of the single "All Express Parcel" line from 2025. FedEx now charges Express demand fees by speed of service, and the faster the commitment, the higher the fee:

• First, Priority, and Standard Overnight: $2.55 per package at peak
• 2Day A.M., 2Day, and Express Saver: $2.35 per package at peak

If your peak-season mix depends on overnight service, budget for the higher tier.

Rates climbed across the board

Core per-package surcharges rose roughly 12–23% year over year. Ground Residential and Home Delivery saw the steepest jump, climbing from $0.65 to $0.80 at peak. Accessorial demand charges — Additional Handling, Oversize, and Unauthorized Package — increased 8–9%.

The weekly Residential charge remains

The dynamic Demand Residential Delivery Surcharge is not new, and its mechanics are unchanged. It applies to enterprises shipping over 20,000 packages per week, calculated on a two-week-lag peaking factor, and it stacks on the base Residential charge. Every tier moved up 7–10% for 2026. If your holiday volume spikes well above your normal baseline, this is the line that will be the most expensive.

What to do before peak hits

Open your FedEx agreement now and confirm your surcharge discounts are still in force. Most are time-bound and lapse without warning, so a discount that covered you during last year’s peak season may already have expired.

The businesses that come out ahead read the contract before renewal, while there is still room to negotiate.

Download our Pricing Breakdown for more details.