2027 Shipping Rate Increases: UPS, FedEx and USPS Compared

2027 shipping rates: UPS Daily Rates rise an average net 5.9% on December 21, 2026, FedEx standard list rates rise an average of 5.9% on January 4, 2027, and USPS has not filed a January 2027 shipping price increase; its temporary 6.0% holiday prices are scheduled to roll back on January 17, 2027.

Estimate your own increase: use our free 2027 shipping cost calculator to see what the FedEx and UPS changes add to your monthly bill.

Quick answer: UPS and FedEx announced the same 5.9% average on different dates. FedEx has posted its 2027 list rates and surcharge amounts; UPS has not published its 2027 rate guide or surcharge amounts. USPS has announced no 2027 shipping increase. We will update this page as carriers publish more.

Sources: UPS Shipping Zones and Rates, Important Updates; FedEx Shipping Rate Changes (updated Oct. 23, 2026) and 2027 changes to FedEx surcharges & fees; USPS Postal Explorer price change page and PRC Order No. 9703, Docket CP2026-10. All checked October 29, 2026.

2027 Rate Increases at a Glance

UPS: 5.9% on December 21, 2026

UPS says its Daily Rates for UPS Ground, UPS Air and International services "will increase an average net 5.9%" effective December 21, 2026, and that "more detailed rate previews will be available at a later date" (UPS Important Updates). Published Small Business Rates also increase on the same date, with no percentage given.

Other UPS changes already announced:

• December 21, 2026: the minimum billable weight for Additional Handling packages rises from 40 lbs. to 50 lbs.
• December 21, 2026: the list of ZIP codes that get Area Surcharges changes, and some ZIP codes move to different zones. The current list is in the UPS Delivery and Remote Area Surcharge Listing.
• On or after December 21, 2026: domestic Ground and Ground Saver shipments from certain origin ZIP codes for "Qualified customers" get an additional per-package surcharge. UPS says amounts and ZIP codes will be posted in early November on its surge fee notice.
• January 4, 2027: Air Shipping Documents are discontinued, with a $5.00 per package surcharge if one is used. UPS 3 Day Select and Ground Shipping Documents are discontinued, with a $10.00 per package surcharge.

The UPS Daily Rates page still lists only the 2026 Daily Rate and Service Guide. Full detail and what to watch: UPS 2027 Rate Increase.

FedEx: 5.9% on January 4, 2027

FedEx says package standard list rates for U.S., U.S. export and U.S. import services "will increase an average of 5.9%" on January 4, 2027. Ground Economy, Ground Multiweight, International Premium and International Priority DirectDistribution rates and minimum rates also increase (FedEx rate changes). The 2027 FedEx Standard List Rates are already posted.

FedEx has also published its 2027 surcharge and fee changes. A few U.S. package examples:

Later FedEx dates:

• January 18, 2027: a $25 per shipment Paper Document Fee when trade documents are provided in non-electronic form, and a $5 per shipment Paper Air Waybill Fee for U.S. domestic and export shipments started with manual paper airbills. The Residential Delivery Charge also extends to qualifying international shipments to the U.S. and Canada.
• February 1, 2027: zone changes for select U.S. domestic origin-destination ZIP code pairs.

Every surcharge, with dollar and percent changes: FedEx 2027 Rate Increase.

USPS: No January 2027 Shipping Increase Filed Yet

As of October 29, 2026, the Postal Explorer price change page lists only the "Time-Limited 2026 Price Change," running October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027, with final price files dated September 18, 2026. A check of the Federal Register found no USPS shipping price filing for after January 17, 2027.

The holiday change raised Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select by an average of 6.0%, retail and commercial. Per the PRC, the changes "will roll back to current levels on January 17, 2027" (PRC Order No. 9703). In March 2026 USPS also announced a separate transportation-related, time-limited 8% increase on base postage for the same four products, scheduled from April 26, 2026 until January 17, 2027.

So the scheduled change for January 2027 is a rollback, not an increase. We are not stating post-January 17 prices until USPS publishes them. More on the holiday prices: USPS Peak Season Price Increase 2026-27.

What's Still Unknown

• UPS 2027 surcharge amounts. Residential, Delivery Area, Additional Handling, Large Package, address correction and other accessorial amounts for 2027 have not been published. Do not assume they rise 5.9%.
• The UPS 2027 Daily Rate and Service Guide. UPS has not given a date.
• UPS Ground and Ground Saver origin surge fee. Amounts and origin ZIP codes are due in early November.
• The 2027 FedEx Service Guide. FedEx has not posted a 2027 Service Guide on its rate changes page, so items not in the 2027 change table (such as Saturday Delivery and the dimensional divisor) are not confirmed for 2027.
• FedEx international residential destinations. FedEx says the list of countries for the January 18 Residential Delivery Charge change "will be available at a later date."
• USPS prices after January 17, 2027. No new Notice 123 or price filing has been posted.

How to Prepare Before the Increases

Review your contract

Your actual increase depends on service mix, zones, weights and agreement terms; UPS says the impact "will vary according to your shipping characteristics and the terms of your UPS agreement." Check how your discounts and minimum charge adjustments apply to the new rates, and which surcharges your agreement discounts at all. Our guide on how to read a carrier contract covers the clauses that matter.

Ask about surcharge caps and discounts

Base-rate discounts don't automatically cover accessorials, and FedEx's table shows several 2027 surcharges rising more than 5.9%. If residential, delivery area or Additional Handling charges are a large share of your spend, ask your rep about discounts or caps before the new year.

Check the rule changes, not just the prices

The UPS Additional Handling minimum billable weight moving to 50 lbs. affects packages that trigger Additional Handling by dimensions (under the 2026 rate guide, packages that trigger it by weight or packaging have no minimum billable weight), and new area surcharge ZIP lists and zone changes can move destinations into higher-cost tiers. If you still use paper shipping documents or airbills, switch to electronic before January 4 (UPS) and January 18 (FedEx).

Audit your invoices

Pull your last few months of invoices now as a baseline, then check your first 2027 bills for discounts not carried over, surcharges in the wrong tier, or software still on old tables.

Last updated October 29, 2026. We will update this page when UPS publishes its 2027 surcharge amounts and when USPS files any 2027 price change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are shipping rates going up in 2027?

UPS Daily Rates rise an average net 5.9% on December 21, 2026, and FedEx standard list rates rise an average of 5.9% on January 4, 2027. As of October 29, 2026, USPS has not filed a shipping price increase for January 2027.

When does the UPS 2027 rate increase take effect?

December 21, 2026. UPS's paper shipping document surcharges of $5.00 and $10.00 per package start later, on January 4, 2027.

When does the FedEx 2027 rate increase take effect?

January 4, 2027 for list rates and most surcharges. The $25 Paper Document Fee and $5 Paper Air Waybill Fee start January 18, 2027, and zone changes for select ZIP pairs start February 1, 2027.

Is USPS raising prices in January 2027?

Not as of October 29, 2026. The temporary 6.0% holiday increase on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select is scheduled to roll back on January 17, 2027, and no new shipping price filing has been published.

Do surcharges go up by the same 5.9%?

No. The 5.9% is an average for base rates. FedEx's published 2027 surcharge table shows, for example, the Ground residential charge going from $6.45 to $6.90 (about 7.0%). UPS has not published its 2027 surcharge amounts yet.

Related Reading

• FedEx 2027 Rate Increase: 5.9% GRI and Every Surcharge Change (Jan 4, 2027)
• UPS 2027 Rate Increase: 5.9% Average GRI Effective December 21, 2026
• USPS Peak Season Price Increase 2026-27: Dates, Amounts vs UPS
• How to Read a Carrier Contract: The Clauses That Actually Determine What You Pay
• Shipping Contract Negotiation: What's Negotiable & How to Build Leverage
• Parcel Audit Services: How They Work & What They Recover in 2026

Get a free shipping invoice audit

Before the 2027 increases hit, D’arrigo Consulting can audit your UPS and FedEx invoices line by line to find billing errors and set a baseline for the new rates. Request a free invoice audit.

This article is for informational purposes only. Carrier rates, surcharges, and policies change frequently — always verify current terms directly with the carrier for your specific situation. Have questions? Reach out to us — we're happy to help.