UPS Enhanced Maximum Declared Value 2026: The $70,000 Limit Explained

2026 UPS rule: Enhanced Maximum Declared Value lets an eligible package be declared at up to $70,000 instead of the normal $50,000 maximum. There is no separate EMDV fee. You pay the standard declared value charge of $1.70 per $100 of total value, so a $70,000 declaration costs $1,190.

Quick answer: UPS will not accept a package worth more than $50,000 unless it qualifies for Enhanced Maximum Declared Value. To qualify, the package must ship domestic UPS Next Day Air, be handed to your Scheduled Pickup driver, be processed in a UPS shipping system (not on paper), and contain no hazardous materials or perishables. Anything that misses one of those rules is capped at $50,000.

Source: UPS 2026 Rate and Service Guide (Daily Rates), "Maximum Declared Values" and "Declared Value for Carriage", and the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service – United States.

What Enhanced Maximum Declared Value means

Without a declaration of value, UPS's liability for a lost or damaged domestic package is limited to $100. Declaring a higher value raises that limit, for a fee, up to $50,000 per package. UPS also prohibits shipping packages worth more than $50,000 at all, with one exception: a package that meets the Enhanced Maximum Declared Value rules can be declared, and shipped, at up to $70,000.

So EMDV is not an add-on product or a separate program you enroll in. It is a higher ceiling on ordinary declared value that applies only to a narrow set of shipments.

Which packages are eligible

UPS's 2026 Rate and Service Guide says a package is eligible only if it meets all of these conditions:

• Domestic UPS Next Day Air. Ground, 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air and international shipments don't qualify.
• Tendered on your Scheduled Pickup. Packages dropped off at a UPS Store or Access Point, or given to an On-Call Pickup driver, don't qualify.
• Processed in a UPS shipping system. The label must come from a UPS shipping system. Declarations of value written on paper source documents are not eligible.
• No hazardous materials.
• No perishable commodities.

The UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service sets out further limits, and some commodities have lower value caps. Jewelry, for example, has its own restrictions. Check the terms for your product before relying on the $70,000 limit.

What it costs

There is no EMDV surcharge. The charge is the normal Declared Value for Carriage rate: $1.70 for each $100 (or part of $100) of the total value declared, counted from the first dollar.

• $50,000 declared: 500 × $1.70 = $850
• $60,000 declared: 600 × $1.70 = $1,020
• $70,000 declared: 700 × $1.70 = $1,190

These are UPS daily (list) rates. Many contracts discount declared value, so check your agreement. Next Day Air transportation charges, and any other options such as a delivery signature, are billed separately.

How it appears on your UPS invoice

EMDV does not have its own invoice line. The charge appears as "Declared Value" (charge code EVS in UPS billing data files), the same line used for any declared value. A package declared at $60,000 on an eligible Next Day Air shipment simply shows a larger Declared Value charge.

The paperwork for high-value packages

For any package handed to a UPS driver with a declared value over $1,000, the shipper must keep a high-value shipment summary signed by the driver. UPS shipping systems produce this form when you request the label. Every EMDV package is over that threshold, so make sure the driver signs the summary at pickup and that you keep it. It is part of your evidence if you ever need to file a claim.

Declared value is not insurance

A declaration of value raises UPS's maximum liability, but it does not guarantee that UPS pays the declared amount. Claims are settled under the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, which limit what UPS pays and exclude some losses. You will need proof of the item's actual value, such as a sales invoice, to support a claim. Shippers who move high-value goods regularly often compare declared value with third-party shipping insurance, which can have different coverage, exclusions and pricing.

What to do with packages worth more than $70,000

UPS does not accept small packages worth more than the maximum declared value. A package worth more than $50,000 that doesn't meet the EMDV rules, or any package worth more than $70,000, should not go out as a UPS package. Options include splitting the goods into separate packages that each stay under the limit, using a specialty high-value carrier, or moving the goods as freight.

What to check on your invoices

• Declared value on packages you didn't mean to declare. Shipping software rules that fill in the order value automatically can add a declared value charge to every package. Low-value packages don't need it, because the first $100 of liability is included.
• The math. Above $300, the charge should be $1.70 for each $100 or part of $100 of the total value, less any contract discount. A charge that doesn't match is worth disputing.
• High values on ineligible services. A Ground or 2nd Day Air package declared above $50,000 doesn't get the higher limit. Fix the shipping rule so that high-value packages go Next Day Air on your Scheduled Pickup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UPS maximum declared value?

$50,000 per package. Packages that meet the Enhanced Maximum Declared Value rules can be declared at up to $70,000.

Does UPS charge extra for Enhanced Maximum Declared Value?

Not a separate fee. You pay the standard declared value charge of $1.70 per $100 of total value, at UPS daily rates. A $70,000 declaration costs $1,190 before any contract discount.

Which UPS services qualify for the $70,000 limit?

Only domestic UPS Next Day Air, tendered on the shipper's Scheduled Pickup and processed in a UPS shipping system, with no hazardous materials or perishables.

Can I use Enhanced Maximum Declared Value for international shipments?

No. EMDV applies only to domestic Next Day Air packages.

Can I drop an EMDV package off at a UPS Store?

No. The package must be handed to the driver on your Scheduled Pickup. A drop-off or On-Call Pickup package is limited to $50,000.

Does declaring $70,000 mean UPS will pay $70,000 if the package is lost?

Not automatically. Declared value sets UPS's maximum liability. Claims are paid under the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service and must be supported by proof of the item's actual value.

Related Articles

• UPS Declared Value Charge 2026: How It Works
• UPS Over Maximum Limits 2026: When You Exceed Package Size Thresholds
• Cheapest Overnight Shipping 2026: USPS vs UPS vs FedEx Rates Compared
• FedEx Declared Value Fee 2026: Cost per $100, Limits and What It Covers

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D’arrigo Consulting audits UPS invoices line by line, including declared value charges added by shipping software rules. Request a free invoice audit to see what you can recover.

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.