Overview of the 2025 peak season surcharge announcement

Amazon Shipping has confirmed it will impose peak season surcharges for the 2025 holiday period. The company provided a schedule of demand and package-specific fees that will affect shipments during the late-2025 and early-2026 busy season.

Effective dates for the surcharges

The surcharge period runs from Oct. 26 through Jan. 17, 2026. Amazon identified a concentrated peak window when fees will be at their highest, beginning Nov. 23 and continuing through Dec. 27.

Demand surcharge timetable and amounts

Amazon will apply a per-package demand surcharge that changes by timeframe. The company set the following rates for the 2025 season:

• $0.40 per package before Thanksgiving
• $0.60 per package from Nov. 23 through the end of December
• $0.40 per package again in January

Additional surcharges for size, weight, and handling

Beyond the per-package demand fee, Amazon listed higher charges for parcels that are large, heavy, or require extra handling. The announced maximum amounts include:

• Extra handling charges up to $10.80
• Large package surcharge of $107
• Extra-heavy package surcharge up to $540

How these changes compare with 2024

Amazon indicated that the 2025 surcharges are higher than those in the prior year. Unlike 2024, the company did not publish a volume-based surcharge in its announcement for 2025.

Implications for shippers and retailers

Businesses that ship during the holiday season should expect increased per-package costs and potentially sizable fees for oversized or heavy parcels. Shippers that saw a volume-based surcharge in 2024 should note its absence in the 2025 disclosure, but still plan for higher overall surcharges.

Preparing for the 2025 peak season and where to find details

Companies should review their shipping strategies, pricing, and packaging practices to limit exposure to extra handling, large-package, and extra-heavy surcharges. Amazon provided the schedule publicly as part of its carrier guidance for the season.