UPS Fuel Surcharge 2026: What It Applies To & Who Pays

The UPS fuel surcharge is a percentage added to the transportation charge and most other charges on every package. It changes every week, so the only reliable number is the one on UPS’s fuel surcharge page, which shows the rate in effect now and the last 90 days.

Quick answer: UPS sets the Ground fuel surcharge from the U.S. average diesel price and the Domestic Air fuel surcharge from the U.S. Gulf Coast jet fuel price, both published weekly by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The new percentage takes effect each Monday. In late October 2026 the Ground rate was around 29.5%, according to Reuters, far above the single-digit levels of a few years ago. UPS is changing its Ground and Domestic Air fuel tables effective November 2, 2026.

Fuel is often one of the largest charges on a UPS invoice, and because it is a percentage of other charges, any overcharge elsewhere is inflated by fuel too. A UPS invoice audit checks both.

How It Appears on Your UPS Invoice

On a UPS invoice the charge appears as “Fuel Surcharge” under each package. Because fuel applies to most other charges, it also shows up in versions tied to them: “Address Correction Fuel Surcharge,” “Returns Fuel Surcharge,” “Shipping Charge Correction Fuel Surcharge” and “Fuel Surcharge Adjustment.” A voided shipment shows a matching “Void Fuel Surcharge” credit.

Where to Check the Current UPS Fuel Surcharge

UPS’s fuel surcharge page lists the percentages in effect this week and a 90-day history for five categories: Domestic Ground, Domestic Air, International Air Export, International Air Import, and International Ground (Canada and Mexico). UPS states that the percentage posted for the ship date is what applies, regardless of the underlying fuel price. For FedEx, see our FedEx fuel surcharge guide.

How UPS Calculates the Fuel Surcharge

• Ground (including UPS Ground Saver): based on the National U.S. Average On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price, as most recently released by the EIA, rounded to the nearest cent.
• Domestic Air and International Air: based on the U.S. Gulf Coast price for kerosene-type jet fuel, as most recently released by the EIA.
• International Ground (UPS Standard to and from Canada and Mexico): based on the same diesel price as domestic Ground, with its own table.
• Timing: the surcharge changes each Monday, using the fuel price released the previous week. If the EIA release is delayed, UPS may use an earlier week’s price.
• Tables: each fuel price band maps to a percentage, and each step moves the surcharge by 0.25%. UPS can change the tables without prior notice.

The EIA prices are public: weekly diesel and Gulf Coast jet fuel.

The November 2, 2026 Table Change

UPS announced that its Ground, Ground Saver and Domestic Air fuel surcharge tables change effective November 2, 2026, with the new tables shown on its fuel surcharge page from October 29. The indexes stay the same. Reveel Group reports the change adds about half a point to both surcharges at current fuel prices. Check UPS’s posted tables for the exact figures.

Which UPS Services Pay Which Fuel Surcharge

One published exception: the Ground fuel surcharge does not apply to UPS Ground packages from the 48 contiguous states billed at Retail rates. UPS air freight services have a separate air freight fuel surcharge.

Which Accessorial Charges Also Pay Fuel

UPS applies the fuel surcharge to transportation charges and to the accessorial and value-added charges on its list of charges subject to fuel. That list includes:

• Residential Surcharge, Delivery Area Surcharges and Remote Area Surcharges
• Additional Handling and the Large Package Surcharge
• Demand (peak) surcharges
• Address Correction
• Signature Required and Adult Signature Required
• Declared Value and C.O.D.
• Pickup charges and Saturday charges

What It Adds to a Shipment

Because fuel is a percentage, it scales with everything else on the package. At a 29.5% Ground fuel surcharge:

• A $15.00 Ground transportation charge adds $4.43 in fuel.
• A $6.50 Residential Surcharge adds another $1.92.
• A $25.25 address correction adds $7.45.

At these levels, fuel is no longer a rounding error. Every dollar of avoidable surcharge carries roughly 30 cents of fuel on top.

How to Reduce UPS Fuel Surcharge Costs

1. Negotiate it. Fuel surcharge discounts are a standard part of UPS contract negotiations, usually as a reduction off the published percentage. With surcharges near 30%, a few points off can be worth more than a bigger base-rate discount. See our shipping contract negotiation guide.
2. Cut the charges fuel is applied to. Residential, delivery area, additional handling and address correction fees all carry fuel. Avoiding them saves the fee plus the fuel on it.
3. Use Ground where transit time allows. Ground and Air use different indexes and tables, and Air transportation charges are higher to begin with, so the fuel dollars are larger.
4. Audit the invoice. Check that the percentage matches UPS’s posted rate for the ship date, that Ground packages weren’t billed the Air rate, that fuel wasn’t charged on items not on UPS’s list, and that any contract discount was applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UPS fuel surcharge this week?

Check UPS’s fuel surcharge page, which shows the current percentages and a 90-day history. In late October 2026 the Ground rate was around 29.5%.

How often does the UPS fuel surcharge change?

Weekly. New percentages take effect each Monday, based on the EIA fuel price released the week before.

Why does my UPS invoice show “Shipping Charge Correction Fuel Surcharge”?

When UPS corrects a package’s weight, size or service, the fuel surcharge is recalculated on the new charges and billed as a separate correction line.

Does the UPS fuel surcharge apply to every package?

Almost every one. It applies to domestic and international transportation charges and most accessorial charges. The published exception is UPS Ground from the 48 contiguous states at Retail rates.

Can you negotiate the UPS fuel surcharge?

Yes. Shippers with a UPS contract can negotiate a discount off the published fuel percentage. It is rarely offered unless you ask.

Is the UPS fuel surcharge the same as FedEx’s?

The approach is similar: both are weekly, index-based percentages. The tables and the resulting percentages differ, so compare the current rates on each carrier’s page. See our FedEx fuel surcharge guide.

Related Reading

• FedEx Fuel Surcharge 2026
• Cheapest Overnight Shipping 2026: USPS vs UPS vs FedEx Rates Compared
• UPS Residential Surcharge
• UPS Address Correction Fee
• UPS 2026 Rate Increase: Complete Guide to Every Service and Surcharge Change
• Parcel Audit Services: How They Work & What They Recover in 2026

Get a free UPS invoice audit

D’arrigo Consulting audits UPS invoices line by line, including fuel billed at the wrong rate or on charges that shouldn’t carry it. 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.