Peak Shipping Season Postage Rates and Surcharges
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. Here’s a summary of each peak period and changes to specific services, postage rates and fees.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
Peak period: October 6 - December 31, 2024
Services affected: Ground Advantage™, Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express®
Average rate increases:
- Ground Advantage: +6.4%
- Priority Mail: +5.5%
- Priority Mail Express: +4.9%
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. +$3.00, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.70, 0-3 lbs. +$1.25, 4-10 lbs. +$2.75, 11-25 lbs. +$7.00, 26-70 lbs. |
| USPS Ground Advantage | +$0.30, 0-3 lbs. +$0.45, 4-10 lbs. +$0.75, 11-25 lbs. +$3.00, 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. +$0.55, 4-10 lbs. +$0.95, 11-25 lbs. +$4.00, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.90, 0-3 lbs. +$1.45, 4-10 lbs. +$3.25, 11-25 lbs. +$8.50, 26-70 lbs. |
| USPS Ground Advantage | +$0.40, 0-3 lbs. +$0.55, 4-10 lbs. +$0.95, 11-25 lbs. +$4.00, 26-70 lbs. |
+$0.50, 0-3 lbs. +$1.00, 4-10 lbs. +$2.00, 11-25 lbs. +$5.85, 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 30, 2024 - January 19, 2025
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 30 - Nov 24, 2024
- Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024
- Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025
Breakdown of FedEx Surcharges:
| Surcharge | FedEx® Service | Pricing | Peak Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Handling Surcharge | U.S. Package Services, International Ground shipments |
$7.75 per package $10 per package $7.75 per package |
Sept 30 - Nov 24, 2024 Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025 |
| Oversize Charge | U.S. Package Services, International Ground shipments |
$84.50 per package $100 per package $84.50 per package |
Sept 30 - Nov 24, 2024 Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025 |
| Ground Unauthorized Package Charge | Ground, Home Delivery and International Ground shipments |
$450 per package $500 per package $450 per package |
Sept 30 - Nov 24, 2024 Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025 |
| Demand Surcharge | First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, 2Day, 2Day A.M., Express Saver* | $1 per package $2 per package $1 per package |
Oct 28 - Nov 24, 2024 Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025 |
| Demand Surcharge | Ground residential, Home Delivery residential | $0.30 per package $0.55 per package $0.30 per package |
Oct 28 - Nov 24, 2024 Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025 |
| Demand Surcharge | Ground Economy Package Services | $1.90 per package $3.15 per package $1.90 per package |
Oct 28 - Nov 24, 2024 Nov 25 - Dec 29, 2024 Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025 |
| Demand, Residential Delivery Charge** | Ground, Home Delivery, First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, 2Day, 2Day A.M., Express Saver* | $1.45 to $8.25 | Oct 28 - Jan 19, 2025 |
* 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.
UPS Peak Season Surcharges
Surcharges are applied to the most in-demand, high-volume services as well as large packages that require additional handling or exceed maximum limits.
When: October 27, 2024 - January 18, 2025
Services affected: UPS® Air, Ground Residential, SurePost Packages
Peak periods: There are three!
- Sept 29 - Nov 23, 2024
- Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2024
- Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 18, 2025
Breakdown of UPS Surcharges:
| Service | Oct 27 - Nov 23, 2024 | Nov 24 – Dec 28, 2024 | Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 18, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS SurePost | $0.25 Per package | $0.50 Per package | $0.25 Per package |
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.25 Per package | $0.50 Per package | $0.25 Per package |
| UPS Next Day Air | $1.00 Per package | $2.00 Per package | $1.00 Per package |
| All Other UPS Air | $1.00 Per package | $2.00 Per package | $1.00 Per package |
| Extra charges and fees | Sept 29 - Nov 23, 2024 | Nov 24 - Dec 28, 2024 | Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 18, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional handling | $7.75 per package | $9.95 per package | $7.75 per package |
| Surcharge for large packages | $84.75 per package | $99.00 per package | $84.75 per package |
| Over maximum limits | $445.00 per package | $495.00 per package | $445.00 per package |
- Reminder: You can always meet with a representative from UPS or any other carrier to discuss your shipping logistics! They can help you find the perfect packaging
Preparing for Peak Season
- Keep these dates handy. Don't get caught off guard or wait until your next shipping invoice.
- Share these charts with your office. Be sure that everyone has the seasonal rates and surcharges from all three major carriers as the holiday season approaches.
- Look for quick-wins and affordable ways to reduce mailings and shipment costs. Take full advantage of FREE USPS flat rate envelopes and boxes. You can order them online and schedule Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express pickup from your office or working from home.
Demand surcharges from UPS and FedEx can also add up quickly, especially for businesses that rely heavily on shipping services during the peak season. However, there are strategies that you can use to manage these surcharges and save money, including rate shopping with shipping software. Software can help you factor in any additional costs when planning your shipping strategy. By doing so, you can ensure that your packages arrive on time and within your budget.
Want to crush peak shipping season this year?
Compare postage rates and pricing across USPS, UPS and FedEx, all from a single platform. With Quadient S.M.A.R.T. Essential mailing and shipping software, you can rate shop to do comparison pricing and find ways to reduce the impact of peak season surcharges. Bonus: you’ll also have more time to tackle your own holiday shopping!
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