Published amounts
| Carrier and charge | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Residential Surcharge — Ground | $6.10 | $6.50 | $7.10 Pending verification |
| FedEx Residential Delivery Charge — FedEx Ground / Home Delivery | $5.95 | $6.45 | $6.90 |
| UPS Residential Surcharge — Air | $6.55 | $7.00 | $7.60 Pending verification |
| FedEx Residential Delivery Charge — U.S. Package Services (Express) | $6.55 | $6.95 | $7.35 |
UPS periods: 2025 (in effect through Dec. 21, 2025) — UPS source
2026 (Dec. 22, 2025 – Dec. 20, 2026) — UPS source
2027 (from Dec. 21, 2026) — UPS source
FedEx periods: 2025 (in effect through Jan. 4, 2026) — FedEx source
2026 (Jan. 5, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027) — FedEx source
2027 (from Jan. 4, 2027) — FedEx source
Why it exists
Residential stops usually take one package each, so carriers charge more per stop.
Carrier terminology
- UPS: Residential Surcharge — Ground and Air.
- FedEx: Residential Delivery Charge — FedEx Ground, Home Delivery and International Ground; separate amount for U.S. Package Services (Express).
The charges are compared side by side but are not assumed to be identical. Definitions and services differ.
Qualification rules
The carrier decides whether an address is residential. The charge applies per package, in addition to DAS where the ZIP is on the delivery area list.
Fuel surcharge treatment
| UPS | Yes Listed as “Residential Surcharge: Ground, Air”. |
| FedEx | Yes |
Demand surcharge treatment
Ground residential demand: UPS $0.50 / $0.75 / $0.50 from Oct. 25, 2026; FedEx $0.50 / $0.80 / $0.50 from Oct. 26, 2026. Shippers over 20,000 residential packages a week face higher tiered amounts at both carriers.
How it stacks with other charges
Adds to DAS, size charges and demand charges. FedEx’s Demand — Residential Delivery Charge is billed in addition to the Residential Delivery Charge and is not discounted or capped by contract.
Negotiation considerations
- Ask whether your residential discount extends to demand residential charges.
- At high volumes, the weekly baseline rules can matter more than the base residential amount.
General considerations only, not benchmarks or a promise of any discount.
Operational ways to reduce exposure
- Keep weekly peak volume close to your June baseline where possible; both carriers price higher tiers by ratio to baseline.
Change history
- Dec. 22, 2025 · UPS: UPS 2026 surcharge increases take effect
- Jan. 5, 2026 · FedEx: FedEx 2026 surcharge increases take effect
- Oct. 25, 2026 · UPS: UPS service-level demand surcharges begin
- Oct. 26, 2026 · FedEx: FedEx service-level demand surcharges begin
- Dec. 21, 2026 · UPS: UPS 2027 surcharge amounts take effect Pending verification
- Jan. 4, 2027 · FedEx: FedEx 2027 surcharge changes and DAS ZIP list update
Frequently asked
What is the 2026 residential surcharge at UPS and FedEx?
UPS: $6.50 Ground and $7.00 Air. FedEx: $6.45 for Ground and Home Delivery and $6.95 for Express. In 2027 UPS Ground rises to $7.10 (pending verification) and FedEx Ground to $6.90.