Published amounts
| Demand surcharge on Nov. 10, 2026 | UPS | FedEx |
|---|---|---|
| Demand — Additional Handling | $8.75Sept. 27, 2026 – Nov. 21, 2026 | $8.80Sept. 28, 2026 – Nov. 22, 2026 |
| Demand — Large Package / Oversize | $96.25Sept. 27, 2026 – Nov. 21, 2026 | $95.75Sept. 28, 2026 – Nov. 22, 2026 |
| Demand — Over Maximum / Unauthorized | $530.00Sept. 27, 2026 – Nov. 21, 2026 | $535.00Sept. 28, 2026 – Nov. 22, 2026 |
| Demand — Ground Residential | $0.50Oct. 25, 2026 – Nov. 21, 2026 | $0.50Oct. 26, 2026 – Nov. 22, 2026 |
Every demand period and tier →
Why carriers charge it
Carriers price capacity during the holiday peak.
Carrier names
- UPS: Demand Surcharge (by package type and by service), plus Higher Volume Shipper tables.
- FedEx: Demand surcharges (Demand — Additional Handling, Demand — Oversize, Demand — Unauthorized, Demand — Residential Delivery Charge and service demand charges).
What triggers it
See the peak calendar for every period, amount and tier, with a date checker and a weekly estimator.
Example
In the peak-of-peak window, a residential Additional Handling package pays the year-round AH, the demand AH and the residential demand charge.
Fuel
| UPS | Yes Listed as “Demand Surcharge: Commercial, Residential, Additional Handling, Large Package, Overmax” and “Surge Fee”. |
| FedEx | Yes Demand versions of Additional Handling, Oversize and Residential Delivery, plus the Express Demand Surcharge. |
How it stacks
Added on top of all other charges.
On the invoice
Published names you may see: Demand Surcharge, Demand — Additional Handling, Demand — Residential Delivery Charge. Billing formats abbreviate names differently. Decoder →
Contract considerations
- Ask whether demand charges are discountable in your agreement; FedEx says its residential demand charge is not.
General considerations, not benchmarks or a promise of any discount.
Operational levers
- Shift non-urgent volume out of the peak-of-peak weeks where customers allow it.
Change history
- Aug. 26, 2026 · UPS: UPS publishes 2026–27 demand surcharges
- Sept. 21, 2026 · FedEx: FedEx renames Demand — Unauthorized and extends non-standard demand fees internationally
- Sept. 27, 2026 · UPS: UPS size-based demand surcharges begin
- Sept. 28, 2026 · FedEx: FedEx size-based demand surcharges begin
- Oct. 25, 2026 · UPS: UPS service-level demand surcharges begin
- Oct. 26, 2026 · FedEx: FedEx service-level demand surcharges begin
- Nov. 22, 2026 · UPS: UPS peak-of-peak demand period
- Nov. 23, 2026 · FedEx: FedEx peak-of-peak demand period
- Jan. 16, 2027 · UPS: UPS demand surcharges end (as scheduled)
- Jan. 17, 2027 · FedEx: FedEx demand surcharges end (as scheduled)
Caveats.
- List amounts before discounts; your agreement governs what you pay.
- Pending amounts are labeled and are not presented as verified.