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UPS peak surcharges for the 2025 holiday season

UPS is temporarily imposing holiday surcharges on domestic and international shipments starting 10/26/2025, and is increasing three additional surcharge amounts starting 9/28

Updated over a week ago

Starting October 26th, UPS is imposing surcharges on all domestic and international shipments. The surcharges will last until January 17th, 2026, and will vary depending on when you buy your label and the UPS service you use.

Peak surcharges for domestic UPS services

Service Level

Oct 26 - Nov 22

Nov 23 - Dec 27

Dec 28 - Jan 17

UPS Ground Saver®

$0.40 per package

$0.60 per package

$0.40 per package

UPS® Ground

$0.40 per package

$0.60 per package

$0.40 per package

UPS Air* services

$1.10 per package

$2.05 per package

$1.10 per package

*Note: UPS Air services include UPS 3 Day Select®, UPS 2nd Day Air®, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.®, and UPS Next Day Air®.

Peak surcharges for international UPS services

  • Surcharges for international Express/Expedited & Air services: There will be a surcharge of $0.20 per pound for all international Express/Expedited, and Air services.

  • Surcharges for UPS Standard® to Canada and Mexico: There will be a surcharge of $0.20 per pound for all UPS Standard shipments to Canada or Mexico.

UPS is also temporarily increasing three existing surcharges starting September 28th

  • Temporary increase to Additional Handling, Large Package, and Over Maximum Limits surcharge amounts: In addition to imposing the above surcharges on domestic shipments, UPS is also temporarily increasing the amount for the following existing surcharges:

    • Additional Handling

    • Large Package Surcharge

    • Over Maximum Limits

  • The temporary increases to these three surcharges take effect starting September 28th and will end on January 17th, 2026.

Here's a table displaying the increases to the total amounts of those surcharges:

UPS Surcharges

Sep 28 - Nov 22

Nov 23 - Dec 27

Dec 28 - Jan 17

Additional Handling

$8.25 per package

$10.80 per package

$8.25 per package

Large Package Surcharge

$90.50

per package

$107.00

per package

$90.50

per package

Over Maximum Limits

$485.00

per package

$540.00

per package

$485.00

per package

Our software automatically applies these temporary increases when you buy labels

  • No action needed on your part: You don't need to remember all the details of these increases! Our software applies these UPS surcharges automatically at checkout to qualifying packages, and will display them on the "Buy Label" page when you're ready to make your purchase.

You'll still get deep discounts on Pirate Ship with the holiday surcharge increases

  • These temporary UPS surcharges are not unique to Pirate Ship: Temporary surcharge increases for UPS shipments aren't just happening on Pirate Ship. UPS imposes them everywhere, but you're still getting some of the deepest discounts on the Seven Seas by shipping with us!

    • To see how much you'll save, plug your package's information into our Rates Calculator 💰

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