How Much Does It Cost to Ship a TV? 2026 UPS, FedEx and USPS Rates

2026 cost to ship a TV: a 32-inch TV in its retail box (about 32 x 5 x 20 in, 12 lb) costs $35.16 to $74.86 to a home by FedEx Home Delivery with fuel and the residential charge included, the cheapest published option for that box. A 55-inch TV box (54 x 7 x 33 in) is over 130 inches in length plus girth, so it pays the FedEx Oversize Charge or UPS Large Package Surcharge and costs $420.02 to $589.35 to a home on the same basis, and a 65-inch TV $488.38 to $661.76. Zones 2, 5 and 8.

Quick answer: TV boxes are big and light, so every carrier bills them on dimensional weight. A 32-inch TV ships like any medium box, and UPS Ground and FedEx Home Delivery come within 33 cents of each other, well under USPS retail. The example 55-inch box crosses 130 inches in length plus girth. USPS will not take it, and UPS and FedEx add a $219.50-plus surcharge and bill at least 90 lb. To a home, FedEx edges out UPS on the large boxes; to a business address, UPS is cheaper. These are published 2026 rates; contract and shipping-software rates are usually lower.

Sources: USPS retail prices from USPS Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026 (temporary holiday prices that USPS has scheduled to end January 17, 2027), and DMM 133 and DMM 101; UPS Ground daily rates and surcharges from the 2026 UPS Rate and Service Guide (Daily Rates), updated September 7, 2026; FedEx Ground list rates and surcharges from the FedEx Service Guide, effective January 5, 2026 (updated September 11, 2026). Fuel: UPS fuel surcharges and FedEx fuel surcharges, checked November 3, 2026.

2027 update: UPS Daily Rates rise an average net 5.9% on December 21, 2026. In the UPS 2027 daily rate preview, UPS Ground for the 32-inch TV box (24 lb) goes to $21.98–$54.26 (Zones 2–8), for the 55-inch box (90 lb) to $66.58–$123.54 and for the 65-inch box (142 lb) to $121.03–$181.87. The residential Large Package Surcharge rises to $276.25–$359.25, the commercial one to $250.00–$330.00 and the Ground residential surcharge to $7.10. FedEx list rates rise an average 5.9% on January 4, 2027, when its Oversize Charge becomes $270–$355 and its Ground residential charge $6.90. Sources: UPS 2027 daily rates preview; UPS 2027 value-added services preview; FedEx 2027 surcharge changes. See 2027 Shipping Rate Increases: UPS, FedEx and USPS Compared.

TV box sizes and billable weight

The boxes below are example retail TV boxes, not carrier sizes. Real boxes vary by brand and model, so measure yours and check it in our dimensional weight calculator.

UPS and FedEx round each side up to the next inch, divide length x width x height by 139, round up to the next pound and bill the greater of actual and dimensional weight. USPS uses the same 139 divisor for parcels over 1 cubic foot (see USPS Dimensional Weight 2026: The New 139 Divisor Explained and FedEx Dimensional Weight 2026: The 139 Divisor and How to Calculate It). Length plus girth is the longest side plus twice the width plus twice the height: for the 55-inch box, 54 + 2 x (7 + 33) = 134 in.

Size limits and surcharges that decide the price

• UPS and FedEx Additional Handling – Dimensions: longest side over 48 in, second-longest side over 30 in, length plus girth over 105 in, or more than 10,368 cubic inches. $30.00–$40.50 at UPS and $29.50–$40.75 at FedEx by zone, with a 40 lb minimum billable weight. See What Does UPS Additional Handling – Dimension Charge Mean?.
• UPS Large Package Surcharge / FedEx Oversize Charge: length plus girth over 130 in, longest side over 96 in, more than 17,280 cubic inches or over 110 lb. UPS charges $219.50–$286.00 to a business and $254.50–$331.00 to a home; FedEx charges $255–$330. Both bill at least 90 lb, and UPS does not add Additional Handling on top. See UPS Large Package Surcharge 2026: $219.50+ Per Package & Threshold Rules and FedEx Oversize Charge 2026: $255–$330 Per Package and the 90-lb Minimum.
• UPS and FedEx maximums: 150 lb, 108 in long and 165 in length plus girth. Over that, UPS charges $1,875 Over Maximum Limits and FedEx a $1,875 Ground Unauthorized Package Charge, if they accept the package at all.
• USPS: 70 lb maximum. Ground Advantage retail takes parcels up to 130 in length plus girth (over 108 in pays a flat oversized price); Priority Mail and other retail mail stop at 108 in (DMM 101.3.2). Retail parcels longer than 30 in add $10.00 (Ground Advantage) or $21.00 (Priority Mail), and over 2 cubic feet add $21.00 or $35.00 (see USPS Nonstandard Fees 2026: Over 22 in, Over 30 in and 2 Cubic Feet).

Cost to ship a 32-inch TV (32 x 5 x 20 in, 12 lb, billed as 24 lb)

Once residential and fuel are added, FedEx Home Delivery ($35.16, $47.94 and $74.86) and UPS Ground ($35.49, $48.18 and $75.19) are both well under USPS Ground Advantage retail ($44.90 to $105.50), which includes fuel and home delivery but adds the over-30-inch fee. Through shipping software, USPS commercial prices are lower than retail, so compare there too. A 32-inch box is under every UPS and FedEx size surcharge trigger, and it can go to a UPS Access Point, which accepts up to 44 lb, 38 in long and 130 in length plus girth.

Cost to ship a 55-inch TV (54 x 7 x 33 in, 40 lb, billed as 90 lb)

Cost to ship a 65-inch TV (63 x 8 x 39 in, 55 lb, billed as 142 lb)

Estimated all-in cost to ship a TV to a home

This adds the residential surcharge and applies the current fuel percentage (UPS Ground 30.25% effective November 2, 2026; FedEx Ground and Home Delivery 29.25% for November 2–8, 2026) to the whole UPS or FedEx charge. UPS lists Large Package and Residential surcharges among the charges fuel applies to (UPS accessorial fuel list). Fuel changes weekly. Demand and delivery area surcharges are left out.

To a home, FedEx Home Delivery comes in $2.20 to $2.91 under UPS Ground for the 55-inch box, mainly because the UPS Ground fuel surcharge (30.25%) is a point above FedEx’s (29.25%) and applies to the whole charge; for the 32-inch box the two are within 33 cents. Going from a 32-inch to a 55-inch TV adds $384.86 to $514.49 to the cheapest home-delivery price, most of it the Oversize Charge and the fuel charged on it. To a business address the order flips: the 55-inch box costs $368.16 to $525.18 by UPS (commercial Large Package Surcharge, fuel included) against $411.69 to $581.02 by FedEx Ground, and the 65-inch box $435.45 to $597.26 by UPS.

Peak season adds more. UPS adds a Large Package demand surcharge of $96.25 per package through November 21, 2026 and $117.50 from November 22 to December 26, 2026; FedEx adds $95.75 or $117.25 to packages that get the Oversize Charge (see UPS Peak Surcharge 2026: What It Means on Your Invoice and FedEx Demand Surcharges 2026: Peak Season Fees, Dates and Amounts).

How to pack a TV for shipping

• Use the original box and foam if you have them. They are sized to the set, and every extra inch raises both the dimensional weight and the length plus girth.
• Measure the packed box at its widest points. Carriers round each side up to the next whole inch. A box that measures 130.5 in length plus girth is billed as over 130.
• Use a corrugated box. A TV wrapped only in foam, plastic or a padded bag is not fully encased in corrugated cardboard and can draw the Additional Handling – Packaging charge at UPS and FedEx (see UPS Additional Handling – Packaging 2026: $26.75+ Fee).
• Protect the screen and corners. Fill empty space so the set cannot shift, and do not place anything against the screen side.
• Drop off large boxes at a carrier location, not a locker or partner store. UPS Access Point locations take packages up to 44 lb, 38 in long and 130 in length plus girth, which excludes the 55- and 65-inch boxes.

Declared value and insurance for a TV

UPS and FedEx cover $100 per package unless you declare a higher value. At 2026 rates, declaring an $800 TV costs $13.60 at UPS and $13.20 at FedEx, and a $1,500 TV $25.50 and $24.75. UPS charges $5.10 for $100.01–$300 and $1.70 per $100 of total value above $300; FedEx $4.95 for $100.01–$300 and $1.65 per $100 of total value above $300. USPS Ground Advantage includes $100 of insurance; extra coverage on an $800 TV is $12.05 under the Notice 123 fee table. Declared value does not change how carriers handle a claim for poor packing, so read the terms: What Does UPS Declared Value Mean? Cost per $100 & Limits (2026), FedEx Declared Value Fee 2026: Cost per $100, Limits and What It Covers and USPS Shipping Insurance 2026: Included Coverage, Fees and Claims.

When freight or white-glove delivery makes more sense

Parcel carriers handle a TV like any other box: no inside delivery, unpacking or setup. For very large or expensive sets, or several TVs going to one address, a freight carrier or a white-glove delivery service may be the better choice. Those are quoted per shipment, so get a quote and compare it with the all-in parcel estimate above, including the Large Package Surcharge and fuel, and check who is liable for screen damage. A TV box over 150 lb, 108 in long or 165 in length plus girth cannot go by UPS or FedEx parcel service at all.

Cheapest way to ship a TV: summary

• 32-inch and smaller: FedEx Home Delivery at $35.16 to $74.86 to a home for the example box, fuel and residential included, with UPS Ground within 33 cents in each zone.
• 55-inch: FedEx Home Delivery at $420.02 to $589.35 to a home, or UPS Ground at $368.16 to $525.18 to a business, including the oversize surcharge and fuel. USPS does not accept the box.
• 65-inch: FedEx Home Delivery at $488.38 to $661.76 to a home on the same basis, UPS Ground at $435.45 to $597.26 to a business, or get a freight quote.
• Before you ship: measure the box, run it through the dimensional weight calculator and compare with your account rates; see UPS vs USPS vs FedEx 2026: When to Use Each Carrier.

UPS rates here are Daily Rates, the published rates for account holders. The UPS Store and other retail locations charge UPS Retail Rates instead, and UPS says the Ground fuel surcharge does not apply to UPS Ground packages from the 48 states billed at Retail rates (UPS fuel surcharge page). FedEx Ground rates are FedEx list rates. USPS commercial prices through shipping software are lower than the retail prices shown; see USPS Ground Advantage Pricing for Businesses: 2026 Commercial Rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship a TV in 2026?

For the example boxes at published 2026 rates, shipped to a home with residential and fuel surcharges included: a 32-inch TV costs $35.16 to $74.86, a 55-inch TV $420.02 to $589.35 and a 65-inch TV $488.38 to $661.76 by FedEx Home Delivery, across Zones 2, 5 and 8. UPS Ground is within a few dollars.

What is the cheapest way to ship a TV?

For the example boxes, FedEx Home Delivery was the cheapest published option to a home in Zones 2, 5 and 8, with UPS Ground close behind and USPS Ground Advantage retail higher for the 32-inch TV. To a business address, UPS Ground was cheaper than FedEx for the 55- and 65-inch TVs. Contract or shipping-software rates can change the order.

Why is it so expensive to ship a large TV?

Large TV boxes are billed on dimensional weight, and the example 55-inch box exceeds 130 inches in length plus girth. That triggers the UPS Large Package Surcharge or FedEx Oversize Charge ($219.50 to $331.00 in 2026) and a 90 lb minimum billable weight, and fuel is charged on top.

Can you ship a TV with USPS?

Yes, if the box is no more than 70 lb and 130 inches in length plus girth. Ground Advantage retail takes boxes up to 130 inches (over 108 inches pays the oversized price) and Priority Mail up to 108 inches. The example 55- and 65-inch boxes are over 130 inches, so USPS will not accept them.

How much does it cost to ship a TV with UPS?

At 2026 UPS Ground daily rates, the example 32-inch box costs $20.75 to $51.23 before residential and fuel. The 55-inch box costs $317.66 to $448.21 to a home including the residential Large Package Surcharge, plus $6.50 residential and 30.25% fuel.

How much does it cost to ship a TV with FedEx?

At 2026 FedEx list rates, the 32-inch example box costs $20.75 to $51.47 and the 55-inch box $318.52 to $449.53 including the Oversize Charge, before the $6.45 residential charge and 29.25% fuel.

What size TV box avoids the Large Package Surcharge?

Keep length plus girth (longest side + 2 x width + 2 x height) at or under 130 inches, the longest side at or under 96 inches, the volume at or under 17,280 cubic inches and the weight at or under 110 lb. The example 55-inch box, 54 x 7 x 33 inches, measures 134 inches.

Related Reading

• UPS Large Package Surcharge 2026: $219.50+ Per Package & Threshold Rules
• FedEx Oversize Charge 2026: $255–$330 Per Package and the 90-lb Minimum
• USPS Dimensional Weight 2026: The New 139 Divisor Explained
• How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Laptop, PC or Monitor in 2026?
• Cheapest Way to Ship Heavy Boxes in 2026: 20 to 100 lb Rates Compared
• UPS vs USPS vs FedEx 2026: When to Use Each Carrier

Get a free shipping invoice audit

If you ship TVs or other large boxes, D’Arrigo Consulting checks UPS and FedEx invoices for Large Package, Oversize and dimensional weight charges billed on the wrong measurements. 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.