UPS Shipping Rates 2026: Our Guide to Find the Best Rates

United Parcel Service (UPS) is a household name in the shipping industry and one of the most valuable logistics companies in the world. They are widely used by consumers and businesses on a daily basis for the fast and reliable delivery of packages.

UPS prices tend to be more expensive than the post office, depending on the service, with their shipping rates subject to change depending on changes in the marketplace.

As of 2025, shipping costs are influenced heavily by holiday surcharges, global supply chain disruptions, and increased demand during peak seasons. Below we break down UPS international rates, domestic rates, and the latest surcharges so you know what to expect.

UPS Shipping Rates: Domestic vs International

UPS provides domestic and international courier services, allowing eCommerce businesses access to a global customer base. However, UPS shipping cost varies significantly depending on the package's weight, UPS shipping option, destination, and size/nature of the package.

UPS International Rates

UPS ships internationally to numerous countries, with naturally higher prices than domestic rates due to the distance covered and unique restrictions per country.

UPS has guaranteed time/day-definite delivery globally based on the intended destination, and you can choose between UPS air services and freight services, depending on the urgency of your shipment.

Below is an updated sample for a 5 lb package (8 x 5 x 2 in) shipped from New York City using UPS Worldwide Expedited®.

*These estimates are based on 2025 UPS daily rates (pre-discount). Actual prices vary by zone and service level.

UPS Domestic Shipping Rates

UPS domestic shipping rates are comparably affordable due to the short distances involved. However, there is a wide range of delivery options with various costs. UPS domestic ground and UPS air network can deliver your shipment affordably to any U.S. state faster than other couriers.

Domestic rates remain competitive, especially for UPS Ground® services. Below are sample prices for a 5 lb package (8 x 5 x 2 in) shipped from New York City.

UPS Ground is often the cheapest option, but Next Day Air ensures guaranteed overnight delivery.

UPS Surcharges

Like other couriers, UPS shipping prices are affected by shipping surcharges, which apply to urgent, express, and international shipments. Surcharges can change due to various factors, and you should check the UPS shipping rates chart regularly for the current information. Some of the UPS surcharges include;

• Fuel surcharges: UPS shipping rates can change based on the prevailing fuel surcharges. However, note that UPS urgent and express freight fuel surcharges vary from North American fuel surcharges and international airfreight fuel surcharges. Nonetheless, fuel surcharges apply to ground pickup and delivery, and are updated monthly.
• Residential surcharge: UPS offers on-call pickup and delivery service to residential and business addresses. For such services, residential surcharges apply.
• Extended area surcharge: These charges apply to UPS deliveries in areas with difficult reach. They can also be quoted as remote area surcharges.
• Security surcharge: UPS security surcharge rates are determined by the shipments' origin and destination.
• Peak season surcharge: Peak season surcharges apply to specific international airfreight.
• Capacity surcharge: These surcharges are applied to select air freight lanes.

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UPS 2025 Surcharge Rates

UPS applies surcharges year-round, with additional demand/holiday surcharges between Sept 28, 2025 – Jan 17, 2026.

UPS also applies monthly fuel surcharges, residential surcharges, and extended area fees, which vary by zone.

How Does UPS Calculate Shipping Costs?

If you plan to send your packages with UPS, using the UPS rate calculator will help you find an accurate quote. As mentioned, you should avoid unpleasant surprises by considering several factors, including the customs duties and package weight. That said, below are some factors that determine UPS shipping costs.

1. Transit time – The speed of shipment to the destination is one of the main factors to consider when estimating UPS shipping prices. Essentially, faster shipments equals higher cost.
2. Weight and dimensions – This reflects the package density or the amount of space that the package will occupy. Dimensional weight applies for bulky  or oversized items.
3. Delivery surcharges – Delivery surcharges apply to packages that need to be delivered or picked up from remote areas. These charges cover the high cost of providing shipping services in hard-to-reach areas.‍
4. Customs, taxes, and duties – All international shipments are subject to additional charges in the form of customs duties depending on the importing and exporting country.

What about UPS shipping insurance?

Shipping packages often exposes them to the possibility of damage. However, you can take away the liability by purchasing UPS insurance cover. Insurance for goods in transit is available from UPS's licensed insurance affiliate, UPS Capital Insurance Agency. UPS capital provides customizable insurance policies based on the nature of your shipments.

Some of the benefits of UPS insurance include reimbursement of the sale prices of goods shipped, cover for risks including those from acts of God, and customizable policies that cover in-transit goods and those in a warehouse.

However, UPS can only be liable for damage or loss of goods up to $100 for domestic packages with UPS Worldwide Express® Freight with no declared value. However, if your goods cost more than this amount, you can declare a maximum of $50,000 per package or $100,000 per pallet.

Apart from UPS insurance coverage, you can opt for Easyship Added Shipping Insurance. This cover provides compensation for goods up to $10,000.

Get a UPS Quote with Easyship

UPS is one of the most established domestic and international shipping couriers widely used by small businesses and eCommerce merchants. Consumers appreciate them because of their reliable service and tracking.

It's important to give your customers shipping options so they can decide the tradeoffs between the cheapest, fastest, and best value shipping options at the checkout.

Using the Easyship shipping rate calculator  is a great way to estimate your shipping costs. Similarly, you can combine the reliable UPS shipping protocols with Easyship shipping solutions for seamless label generation, accurate shipping costs, and shipment automation.

Sign up for Easyship now to supercharge your shipping.

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FAQs on UPS Shipping Rates

How does UPS calculate shipping costs?

UPS shipping costs depend on transit time, package weight and dimensions, delivery surcharges, and applicable taxes or customs duties for international shipments.

What surcharges does UPS apply? 

UPS adds fees for factors like fuel, residential delivery, extended/remote areas, large or heavy packages, and peak-season demand. These surcharges can vary by service type and time of year.

Is UPS cheaper than USPS or FedEx? 

UPS is often more expensive than USPS for smaller, lightweight packages, but it can offer better value for heavier, larger, or time-sensitive shipments compared to USPS or FedEx.

Does UPS offer flat rate shipping?

Yes. UPS Simple Rate (flat rate shipping) allows you to ship packages at a fixed rate based on size, regardless of weight or distance within the U.S.

Does UPS provide shipping insurance? 

Yes. UPS includes liability coverage up to $100 by default. For higher-value items, you can purchase additional coverage through UPS Capital or Easyship’s added insurance.

How fast can UPS deliver packages? 

UPS offers a wide range of services: UPS Ground (1–5 days), UPS Next Day Air® (overnight), and UPS Worldwide Expedited® (2–5 days internationally), among others.