UPS and FedEx publish similar lists of accessorial charges, but the amounts, names, rules and effective dates differ in ways that matter on an invoice. This guide covers the charges that affect most shippers and links each figure to the carrier document it came from.
The calendars are different
UPS’s 2026 rates took effect on Dec. 22, 2025; FedEx’s on Jan. 5, 2026. For 2027, UPS moves first again on Dec. 21, 2026, with FedEx on Jan. 4, 2027. For two weeks each winter, a comparison of “this year’s” rates is really one carrier’s new year against the other’s old year. The comparison table handles this by pricing both carriers on the date you choose.
Residential and delivery area charges
For 2026, UPS charges $6.50 residential on Ground and $7.00 on Air; FedEx charges $6.45 on Ground and Home Delivery and $6.95 on Express. Delivery area charges are within a few cents of each other: residential DAS is $6.55 at UPS and $6.60 at FedEx; extended residential is $8.85 and $8.80. The bigger difference is which ZIP codes are on each list, which a rate comparison cannot show. Check your own destinations with the DAS ZIP lookup.
Additional Handling: almost identical amounts, a new cube rule
Both carriers price Additional Handling by zone and by reason. In zone 2, weight-based Additional Handling is $46.50 at UPS and $46.00 at FedEx. In 2026 both added a cubic-volume trigger at 10,368 in³, FedEx from Jan. 12 and UPS from Jan. 26. A 36 × 24 × 12 in carton is exactly 10,368 in³ and does not trigger the cube rule; it already qualifies on length + girth (108 in).
Large Package vs. Oversize: the biggest gap
The commercial UPS Large Package Surcharge starts at $219.50 in zone 2, while the FedEx Oversize Charge starts at $255. For residential deliveries UPS charges $254.50, much closer to FedEx. Both added a 17,280 in³ cube trigger and a 110 lb weight trigger in January 2026, and both bill at a 90 lb minimum.
Demand surcharges
Size-based demand charges started on Sept. 27 (UPS) and Sept. 28 (FedEx), 2026. At the holiday peak, UPS adds $11.90 for Additional Handling and $117.50 for Large Package; FedEx adds $11.85 and $117.25. See the peak-season dashboard.
What changes next
FedEx’s 2027 amounts, effective Jan. 4, 2027, are published by FedEx and shown here as verified. UPS’s 2027 amounts, effective Dec. 21, 2026, come from two independent summaries of UPS’s preview and are marked pending verification until checked against the UPS PDF. UPS also raises its Additional Handling minimum billable weight from 40 lb to 50 lb on that date.
How to use this
A lower accessorial amount does not by itself make a carrier cheaper. Transportation rates, discounts, zones and your package mix decide the total. Use the package calculator for one carton and the annual simulator for your mix.
Frequently asked
Which is cheaper for accessorials, UPS or FedEx?
It depends on the charge and your package mix. In 2026 the amounts are close for residential, DAS and Additional Handling, while the UPS commercial Large Package Surcharge is lower than the FedEx Oversize Charge in every zone.
When do 2027 rates start?
UPS on Dec. 21, 2026 and FedEx on Jan. 4, 2027.
Sources
- UPS source: UPS Revised Rates for Value-Added Services and Other Charges (effective Dec. 22, 2025)
- FedEx source: 2026 changes to FedEx surcharges & fees
- FedEx source: 2027 changes to FedEx surcharges & fees (effective Jan. 4, 2027)
- UPS source: UPS Demand Surcharges (Aug. 26, 2026 update)
- FedEx source: FedEx Demand Surcharges
- FedEx source: FedEx Shipping Rate Changes, FedEx international rate-changes page (cubic volume and 110 lb criteria, effective Jan. 12, 2026)
- UPS source: UPS: How to Avoid Shipping Charge Corrections (package size and weight criteria)
- UPS source: UPS 2027 preview of value-added services and other charges (effective Dec. 21, 2026), as reported by D’Arrigo Consulting and PARCEL Industry