Every year, and even multiple times per year now, the major shipping carriers make adjustments to their rates. Here is an overview of the 2026 general rate increases across all major shipping carriers.
Please find the following information for each major carrier below:
effective start dates
average increases across all services
highlights and high-impact changes
Please note these are general rates, your individual shipping mix and negotiated rates may vary. All DCL customers can find updated 2026 rates in eFactory by early February 2, 2026. Here's how to find your freight rates in eFactory.
General Rate Increase Overview
This includes general rate increases from major US carriers. Some are not DCL strategic carriers.
Carrier | Effective Date | Average Rate Increase |
DHL Express | 1/1/2026 | 5.9% |
DHL eCommerce | 1/1/2026 | 5.9% |
FedEx | 1/5/2026 | 5.9% |
Landmark | 1/1/2026 | 5.9% |
Passport | 1/5/2026 | 5.9% |
UPS | 12/22/2025 | 5.9% |
USPS/Pitney Bowes | 1/18/2026 | Ground Advantage 7.8% Priority Mail 6.6% |
Increase Highlights for Each Carrier
DHL eCommerce and DHL Express
Effective January 1, 2026
The average rate increase across all DHL services: 5.9%
FedEx
Effective January 1, 2026
The average rate increase across all FedEx services: 5.9%
Highlights:
Overall rate increases will become effective 1/5/2026 see full list of rates here.
Additional increases will also become effective 1/12/2026 including:
Additional Handling Surcharge: Dimension will apply to any package with a cubic volume greater than 10,368 cubic inches (cubic volume = length x width x height)
Oversize Charge will apply to any package with a cubic volume greater than 17,280 cubic inches (cubic volume = length x width x height)
Oversize Charge will apply to any package that has an actual weight greater than 110 lbs.
Landmark
Effective January 1, 2026
The average rate increase across all Landmark services: 5.9%
Passport
Effective January 5, 2026
The average rate increase across all Passport services: 5.9%
UPS
Effective December 22, 2025
The average rate increase across all UPS services: 5.9%
Highlights:
Increases to multiple UPS surcharges, including residential delivery, delivery area, and additional handling fees.
Changes to the ZIP codes affected by area surcharges, altering which locations are subject to extra fees.
Adjustments to ZIP code–to–shipping-zone alignments, which can alter billed shipping distances and costs for many shippers.
USPS/Pitney Bowes
Effective January 18, 2026
The average rate increase for the following USPS/Pitney Bowes services:
Price adjustments will occur across major shipping services, specific increases include:
Ground Advantage: 7.8%
Priority Mail: 6.6%
Priority Mail Express: 5.1%
Parcel Select: 6.0%
USPS will not raise prices for Mailing Services, meaning products like the First-Class Mail stamp will remain unchanged.