Effective date for 2026 pricing changes

FedEx, the Memphis-based global freight and logistics company, announced a set of rate increases that will take effect on January 5, 2026. The company released changes across package and freight lines as part of its annual published rate update.

Headline published rate increase across U.S. services

FedEx said its package standard list rates for U.S., U.S. export and U.S. import services will rise by an average of 5.9%. The carrier also indicated increases for services including FedEx Ground Economy, FedEx Ground Multiweight, FedEx International Premium and FedEx International Priority Direct Distribution.

Concrete package price example

FedEx provided specific examples on the package side. For instance, the cost to ship a 1-pound Zone 2 package via FedEx First Overnight will increase from $73.31 to $76.22 under the new published rates.

New and higher surcharges for many services

In addition to the published general rate increase, FedEx is rolling out new surcharges and raising existing additional handling fees effective January 5, 2026. These surcharges will apply to a range of package and freight services and in many cases exceed the 5.9% general rate increase.

Services called out for additional handling or related surcharges include

• U.S. Package Services
• International Package Services
• FedEx International Priority Freight
• FedEx International Economy Freight
• FedEx International Deferred Freight
• U.S. Express Freight Services

FedEx Freight rate adjustments and category breakdowns

FedEx also disclosed increases for its less-than-truckload unit, FedEx Freight. Average rates for FXF PZONE, FXF EZONE, Offshore (which includes FXF 300, FXF 303, FXF 352 and FXF 370 series), FXFC 1100 (Intra-Canada) and Commodity rates (covering pallet, volume or truckload) are set to rise by an average of 5.9%.

Separately, the carrier said FXF 1000, FXF 501, FXFM DD (Mexico Door-to-Door) and FXFM IMS (Intra-Mexico Shipment) rates will increase by an average of 6.9%.

Industry reaction from Shipware founder Rob Martinez

Rob Martinez, founder of the San Diego parcel consultancy Shipware, told LM that while the published U.S. rate increase averages 5.9%, shippers must factor in amplifiers such as higher surcharges. He said oversize fees, residential delivery charges, extra handling and delivery area surcharges are also rising and, together with fuel surcharges, now represent about one-third of a package’s total cost on average.

Martinez also emphasized that larger and heavier parcels will see disproportionately higher fees because additional handling and large package surcharges are again slated to increase, so the headline average does not reflect many shippers’ real experience.

He added that cost pressures on carriers are real—labor, fuel, maintenance, real estate and last-mile delivery costs have climbed—but noted that inflation as measured in August 2025 was roughly 2.9% year-over-year, making the 2026 increase roughly double CPI. Martinez questioned how FedEx can repeatedly set price adjustments that significantly outpace broader inflation, pointing to limited national alternatives and concerns among shippers about switching costs and reliability.

Practical steps shippers can take to limit the impact

Martinez and industry advisers recommend multiple tactics shippers can pursue to reduce the effect of the increases:

• Review contracts and test the market; consider putting your program out to bid and use consulting firms (for example, Shipware) for rate assessments.
• Audit your shipping profile to identify which shipments trigger large surcharges (oversize, remote zip codes, dimensional weight, residential delivery) and eliminate or repackage where possible.
• Shift more volume to lower-cost services when timing allows, such as slower ground multiweight or deferred services instead of air/express.
• Explore alternative or regional carriers that may offer deeper discounts, fewer surcharges and preferred terms.
• Improve routing management: consolidate shipments, induct into hubs or partner with last-mile networks to reduce costs.
• Invest in shipping software to calculate total landed costs including all surcharges.
• Consider passing through or embedding shipping cost increases into product pricing or customer charges where feasible.

Market analysis and specific impacts on lightweight and residential shipments

An analysis published by Loop highlighted that the gap between the published general rate increase and inflation signals a carrier strategy to boost yield and profitability amid sustained e-commerce demand and operational complexity.

Loop warned that the 5.9% average masks much larger increases for particular weights and long-distance zones. For example, the FedEx Ground minimum charge will rise to $11.99, a 5.9% increase that reduces or eliminates discounts for many lightweight shipments. Loop also noted the Residential Surcharge for Ground and Home Delivery will increase by 8.4%, a change that will significantly affect e-commerce shippers who rely heavily on residential delivery.

What shippers should consider for 2026 planning

Industry analysts advise shippers to look beyond the headline percentage and evaluate their individual shipping profiles—service types used, package dimensions, weights and destination zones will determine the actual cost impact. The net effect for any company will vary based on the mix of services and the degree to which surcharges and special fees apply.