Overview
↑ Back to topCarriers add temporary peak surcharges from late September through mid-January. The last days to ship for Christmas delivery fall between Dec. 9 and Dec. 23, depending on carrier and service. This page covers USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL Express for stores shipping from the U.S.
UPS send-by dates are not out yet. We’ll add them to this page as soon as UPS publishes them.
Key dates at a glance
↑ Back to top| Carrier and service | Last day to ship for holiday delivery |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage (lower 48) | Thu, Dec. 17 |
| USPS Priority Mail | Fri, Dec. 18 |
| USPS international | Wed, Dec. 9 |
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery (5-day transit) | Thu, Dec. 17 |
| FedEx 2Day | Tue, Dec. 22 |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Wed, Dec. 23 |
| UPS Ground | Coming soon |
USPS dates are for delivery before Dec. 25. FedEx dates are for delivery by Dec. 24. Hanukkah begins the evening of Dec. 4, so gifts for the first night need to ship well before these deadlines.
Peak surcharges at a glance
↑ Back to top| Carrier | Surcharges run | Highest rates |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | Oct. 4, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 (pending approval) | Flat increase per package, by weight and zone |
| UPS | Sept. 27, 2026 – Jan. 16, 2027 | Nov. 22 – Dec. 26 |
| FedEx | Sept. 28, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 | Nov. 23 – Dec. 27 |
| DHL Express | Oct. 1, 2026 – Feb. 5, 2027 | Varies by destination |
The surcharges are already included in the rates you see when you buy a label with WooCommerce Shipping. You don’t need to change anything. You may want to check that your checkout shipping prices still cover your label costs.
USPS
↑ Back to topFor delivery before Dec. 25 within the lower 48 states, ship USPS Ground Advantage by Thursday, Dec. 17 and Priority Mail by Friday, Dec. 18. See the USPS Holiday Shipping Dates page for the full list.
| Service | Lower 48 states | Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thu, Dec. 17 | Wed, Dec. 16 |
| USPS Priority Mail | Fri, Dec. 18 | Fri, Dec. 18 |
For international orders, ship First-Class Package International and Priority Mail International by Wednesday, Dec. 9. That is about a week before the domestic deadlines. Military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) have earlier dates, so check the USPS page above. Actual delivery depends on origin, destination and drop-off time.
USPS peak season pricing
↑ Back to topUSPS announced a temporary holiday price increase on Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage from Oct. 4, 2026 through Jan. 17, 2027. It is pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission (USPS announcement). Labels bought through WooCommerce Shipping use commercial pricing, so these are the increases per package:
| Weight | Ground Advantage, zones 1–4 | Ground Advantage, zones 5–9 | Priority Mail, zones 1–4 | Priority Mail, zones 5–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 lb | +$0.40 | +$0.55 | +$0.40 | +$0.85 |
| 4–10 lb | +$0.65 | +$1.05 | +$0.65 | +$1.75 |
| 11–25 lb | +$1.05 | +$1.75 | +$1.05 | +$3.85 |
| 26–70 lb and oversized | +$3.15 | +$7.70 | +$3.15 | +$9.10 |
A 2 lb Ground Advantage package sent within zones 1–4 costs $0.40 more. Rates return to normal on Jan. 17, 2027. See the full price tables.
UPS
↑ Back to topUPS has not published its 2026 send-by dates. We’ll add them here as soon as they’re live. Check back Oct. 14. In the meantime, check the transit estimate on the label screen for each order, since UPS Ground transit time depends on distance.
UPS peak season surcharges
↑ Back to topUPS surcharges run from Sept. 27, 2026 through Jan. 16, 2027, with the highest rates from Nov. 22 through Dec. 26 (UPS demand surcharges). The Ground and Ground Saver surcharges start Oct. 25. The size and handling surcharges start Sept. 27.
| Surcharge (per package) | Starts | Through Nov. 21 | Nov. 22 – Dec. 26 | Dec. 27 – Jan. 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Ground (residential) and Ground Saver | Oct. 25 | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| Additional Handling | Sept. 27 | $8.75 | $11.90 | $8.75 |
| Large Package | Sept. 27 | $96.25 | $117.50 | $96.25 |
| Over Maximum Limits | Sept. 27 | $530.00 | $590.00 | $530.00 |
Shippers who bill more than 20,000 packages a week can see higher rates, up to $9.35 per package. This does not apply to most stores.
FedEx
↑ Back to topFor delivery by Dec. 24, ship FedEx Ground and Home Delivery packages with a 5-day transit by Thursday, Dec. 17 (FedEx 2026 holiday deadlines).
| Service | Last day to ship for delivery by Dec. 24 |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery, 5-day transit | Thu, Dec. 17 |
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery, 4-day transit | Fri, Dec. 18 |
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery, 3-day transit | Mon, Dec. 21 |
| FedEx Express Saver | Mon, Dec. 21 |
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery, 2-day transit | Tue, Dec. 22 |
| FedEx 2Day | Tue, Dec. 22 |
| FedEx Ground / Home Delivery, 1-day transit | Wed, Dec. 23 |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Wed, Dec. 23 |
International: To Canada, ship FedEx International Priority by Wed, Dec. 23 or International Economy by Mon, Dec. 21. To Mexico, ship International Priority by Tue, Dec. 22 or International Economy by Mon, Dec. 21. These dates do not include customs clearance time.
FedEx Ground transit takes 1–5 business days in the lower 48 and 3–7 days to or from Alaska and Hawaii. Use the FedEx Ground transit map to find the transit time from your ZIP code.
FedEx peak season surcharges
↑ Back to topFedEx surcharges run from Sept. 28, 2026 through Jan. 17, 2027, with the highest rates from Nov. 23 through Dec. 27 (FedEx demand surcharges). The Ground and Express surcharges start Oct. 26. The size and handling surcharges start Sept. 28.
| Surcharge (per package) | Starts | Through Nov. 22 | Nov. 23 – Dec. 27 | Dec. 28 – Jan. 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Residential and Home Delivery | Oct. 26 | $0.50 | $0.80 | $0.50 |
| 2Day and Express Saver | Oct. 26 | $1.20 | $2.35 | $1.20 |
| Standard Overnight | Oct. 26 | $1.30 | $2.55 | $1.30 |
| Additional Handling | Sept. 28 | $8.80 | $11.85 | $8.80 |
| Oversize | Sept. 28 | $95.75 | $117.25 | $95.75 |
FedEx also adjusts its residential delivery charge weekly based on volume, so that amount can change during the season.
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery discounts
↑ Back to topFedEx has increased the discounts on FedEx Ground (commercial) and FedEx Home Delivery ahead of peak season. FedEx Ground Economy is not included. The new discounts are already in effect, and FedEx hasn’t set an end date. They’re included in the FedEx rates you see when you buy a label with WooCommerce Shipping. Peak surcharges still apply on top, so compare FedEx Ground and Home Delivery with USPS and UPS on each order.
DHL Express
↑ Back to topWooCommerce Shipping offers DHL Express for international shipments only. DHL does not publish one U.S. holiday send-by date, because delivery time depends on the destination country and customs. Check the transit estimate for each order before you buy the label.
DHL is adding a demand surcharge from Oct. 1, 2026 through Feb. 5, 2027. It is charged per pound of billable weight, varies by destination, and fuel surcharge applies on top. See DHL’s demand surcharge page for current amounts.
Plan your holiday shipping
↑ Back to top- Show your cutoff dates to shoppers. Add a banner or store notice with the last day to order for holiday delivery. Leave a day or two of buffer before the carrier deadline.
- Compare carriers on each order. Surcharges hit carriers and services differently. WooCommerce Shipping shows USPS, UPS and FedEx rates side by side, so you can pick the best price and speed for each package.
- Watch package size. The largest peak fees apply to Additional Handling, Large Package and Oversize. Large Package costs up to $117.50 at UPS and Oversize up to $117.25 at FedEx. A smaller box can avoid them.
- Check your checkout shipping rates. If you charge flat-rate shipping or offer free shipping, confirm it still covers your label costs through mid-January.
- Ship international orders early. USPS international deadlines are Dec. 9. Customs can add days with any carrier.
To create labels, open WooCommerce > Orders, select your orders and choose to create shipping labels. New to WooCommerce Shipping? Get started here.
Frequently asked questions
↑ Back to topAre peak surcharges included in the label rates I see?
↑ Back to topYes. WooCommerce Shipping rates already include each carrier’s peak surcharges. You don’t need to add them.
Does WooCommerce Shipping use commercial USPS pricing?
↑ Back to topYes. The USPS increases in the table above are the commercial increases, not the retail ones.
Can I ship domestically with DHL Express?
↑ Back to topNo. DHL Express in WooCommerce Shipping is for international shipments only.
Where are the UPS holiday dates?
↑ Back to topUPS has not published them yet. This page will be updated when it does.