By Clara Albornoz
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Updated September 30, 2026
2026 holiday shipping costs are changing, but USPS and UPS are handling their seasonal increases differently.
USPS temporary holiday pricing begins October 4, 2026. Some UPS Demand Surcharges begin earlier, on September 27, 2026, with additional UPS Ground and Air surcharges beginning October 25.
Here are the dates and price changes online resellers should watch.
2026 Holiday Shipping Dates at a Glance
| Carrier | Begins | Ends | What changes |
| UPS Additional Handling, Large Package and Over Maximum Limits | Sept. 27, 2026 | Jan. 16, 2027 | Temporary Demand Surcharges |
| USPS | Oct. 4, 2026 | Jan. 17, 2027 | Temporary price increases on Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select |
| UPS Ground Residential, Ground Saver and Air | Oct. 25, 2026 | Jan. 16, 2027 | Per-package Demand Surcharges |
USPS now lists its 2026 time-limited holiday price files as Final, revised September 18, 2026. Postal Explorer
USPS Time-Limited 2026 Price Change
USPS Holiday Price Changes for 2026
USPS temporary holiday pricing applies to both retail and commercial domestic packages using:
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Priority Mail
- Priority Mail Express
- Parcel Select
USPS says no other products or services are affected by this particular holiday price change. Media Mail and USPS international services are not included in this temporary holiday increase. USPS
Important: USPS also has a separate temporary 8% transportation-related increase already in effect. The amounts in the tables below are the additional holiday increases beginning October 4.
That separate 8% increase applies to base postage prices for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select from April 26, 2026 through January 17, 2027. USPS
USPS Ground Advantage — Weight-Based
For commercial USPS Ground Advantage packages, the temporary holiday increase is:
| Weight | Zones 1–4 | Zones 5–9 |
| 0–3 lbs. | +$0.40 | +$0.55 |
| 4–10 lbs. | +$0.65 | +$1.05 |
| 11–25 lbs. | +$1.05 | +$1.75 |
| 26–70 lbs. and oversized | +$3.15 | +$7.70 |
Packages traveling farther can see larger increases. A commercial Ground Advantage package in the 26–70 lb. range or oversized category can increase by as much as $7.70 in Zones 5–9. USPS
USPS Ground Advantage Cubic
Ground Advantage Cubic packages also receive temporary increases:
| Cubic tier | Zones 1–4 | Zones 5–9 |
| 0.1–0.3 | +$0.40 | +$0.55 |
| 0.4–0.9 | +$0.65 | +$1.05 |
| 1.0 | +$1.05 | +$1.75 |
Priority Mail — Weight-Based
For commercial Priority Mail packages:
| Weight | Zones 1–4 | Zones 5–9 |
| 0–3 lbs. | +$0.40 | +$0.85 |
| 4–10 lbs. | +$0.65 | +$1.75 |
| 11–25 lbs. | +$1.05 | +$3.85 |
| 26–70 lbs. | +$3.15 | +$9.10 |
A commercial Priority Mail package in the 26–70 lb. range going to Zones 5–9 can increase by $9.10 during the holiday period. USPS
Priority Mail Cubic
| Cubic tier | Zones 1–4 | Zones 5–9 |
| 0.1–0.3 | +$0.40 | +$0.85 |
| 0.4–0.5 | +$0.65 | +$1.75 |
Priority Mail Flat Rate
For commercial Priority Mail Flat Rate products:
- Large Flat Rate Box: +$1.75
- All other Flat Rate products: +$0.85
The $0.85 increase includes Flat Rate envelopes, Legal and Padded Flat Rate Envelopes, Small Flat Rate Boxes and Medium Flat Rate Boxes. USPS
Priority Mail Express
Priority Mail Express commercial increases are:
| Weight | Zones 1–4 | Zones 5–9 |
| 0–3 lbs. | +$1.40 | +$2.35 |
| 4–10 lbs. | +$2.10 | +$5.55 |
| 11–25 lbs. | +$4.90 | +$10.50 |
| 26–70 lbs. | +$12.55 | +$18.20 |
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes increase by $2.35 at commercial rates.
At retail rates, the increase on a 26–70 lb. Priority Mail Express package going to Zones 5–9 can reach $20.80. USPS
Parcel Select
Commercial Parcel Select holiday increases are:
| Weight | Holiday increase |
| 0–3 lbs. | +$0.40 |
| 4–10 lbs. | +$0.50 |
| 11–25 lbs. | +$0.80 |
| 26–70 lbs. and oversized | +$2.35 |
See the official USPS 2026 holiday shipping price announcement.
Your USPS Label Price May Be Different
The USPS numbers above are temporary holiday increases, not the total cost of the shipping label.
They do not necessarily tell you exactly what you will pay through eBay, Pirate Ship or another shipping provider.
Marketplaces and third-party shipping services can have negotiated carrier rates.
That difference already matters in 2026. Our Reseller Shipping Changes in 2026: Fees, Weight Rules and What We Know guide explains why the same USPS package can show different prices depending on where the label is purchased.
Before changing shipping prices across your listings, check the actual rate available through the marketplace or shipping service you use.
UPS Holiday Demand Surcharges for 2026
UPS calls its seasonal charges Demand Surcharges, and there are two important starting dates.
UPS confirms that certain domestic Demand Surcharges begin September 27, 2026. UPS Assets
UPS Large and Oversized Packages: Starting September 27
For U.S. domestic packages subject to Additional Handling, Large Package or Over Maximum Limits charges, UPS adds these temporary Demand Surcharges:
| UPS charge | Sept. 27–Nov. 21 | Nov. 22–Dec. 26 | Dec. 27–Jan. 16 |
| Additional Handling | $8.75 | $11.90 | $8.75 |
| Large Package Surcharge | $96.25 | $117.50 | $96.25 |
| Over Maximum Limits | $530 | $590 | $530 |
These are additional surcharges, not the total shipping price. UPS states that Demand Surcharges apply in addition to other applicable charges. UPS Assets
For resellers selling furniture, large home goods, oversized collectibles, equipment or other bulky inventory, checking the packed dimensions and weight before an item sells becomes especially important during this period.
UPS Ground and Air: Starting October 25
UPS holiday Demand Surcharges also apply to UPS Ground Residential, UPS Ground Saver and UPS Air packages beginning October 25.
| UPS service | Oct. 25–Nov. 21 | Nov. 22–Dec. 26 | Dec. 27–Jan. 16 |
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| UPS Ground Saver | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| UPS Air | $1.35 | $2.50 | $1.35 |
For these UPS services, the highest standard holiday Demand Surcharges apply from November 22 through December 26.
UPS defines “All Other UPS Air” here to include:
- UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.
- UPS 2nd Day Air
- UPS 3 Day Select
UPS Next Day Air is listed separately in the official schedule. UPS Assets
UPS notes that Demand Surcharges and Demand Periods are subject to change, so sellers shipping during the holiday season should check the current UPS information before purchasing a label.
UPS also has separate Demand Surcharge schedules for certain higher-volume shippers. UPS Assets
UPS fuel surcharges may also apply and are updated regularly. Check the current UPS fuel surcharge when comparing your actual shipping cost.
See the official UPS 2026 Demand Surcharge schedule.
Pirate Ship also breaks down the 2026 UPS holiday charges and says qualifying UPS surcharges are automatically applied and displayed when purchasing labels through Pirate Ship.
Read Pirate Ship’s 2026 UPS Holiday Demand Surcharges guide.
What Resellers Should Check Before Holiday Shipping
A holiday rate increase does not necessarily mean you need to change shipping prices on every listing.
Instead:
- Check your actual label price. Marketplace and third-party rates may differ from published carrier rates.
- Review larger and heavier inventory. UPS holiday charges can become significant when Additional Handling, Large Package or Over Maximum Limits rules apply.
- Use accurate packed weight and dimensions. Measure the package you will actually ship, not just the item.
- Compare carriers when you have a choice. The best option can change based on the package, destination and rates available to you.
- Watch the dates. USPS temporary pricing starts October 4, while UPS has different start dates depending on the surcharge.
For a broader look at carrier selection, packaging and marketplace shipping rules, see our Shipping Strategy for Resellers: Carriers, Packaging, and Marketplace Rules Explained guide.
Holiday shipping costs are only one part of your final label price. Your package, destination, carrier, service and available negotiated rates can all change what you actually pay.
Checking those numbers before an item sells can help protect your profit during the busiest shipping months of the year.
FAQ: 2026 Holiday Shipping Costs
When do USPS 2026 holiday shipping increases begin?
USPS temporary holiday pricing begins October 4, 2026 and remains in place through January 17, 2027. Postal Explorer
Is Media Mail included in the USPS holiday increase?
No. Media Mail is not included in this temporary holiday increase. USPS international services are also excluded from this particular adjustment. Pirate Ship Support
How much can USPS Ground Advantage increase?
For commercial Ground Advantage packages, the temporary holiday increase ranges from $0.40 for lighter Zones 1–4 shipments to $7.70 for 26–70 lb. or oversized shipments going to Zones 5–9. USPS
How much can Priority Mail increase?
Commercial Priority Mail holiday increases range from $0.40 to $9.10, depending on package weight and destination zone. USPS
When do UPS holiday Demand Surcharges begin?
UPS Additional Handling, Large Package and Over Maximum Limits Demand Surcharges begin September 27, 2026. UPS Ground Residential, Ground Saver and Air Demand Surcharges begin October 25, 2026. UPS Assets
Do resellers need to change shipping prices on every listing?
Not necessarily. Check the actual label price available through the marketplace or shipping service you use before changing shipping prices across your listings.
