The holiday season will be here before we know it, and with it comes peak season surcharges from UPS and FedEx. The carriers have implemented practices to ensure as many shippers as possible pay the surcharges, but we’ll let you in on a little secret: not everyone is paying the same holiday surcharges.

Today, we’re sharing four ways you can save money this holiday season and— if you’re a planner— start getting ready for the 2027 season.

1. Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate

While it’s possible to negotiate at all times of the year, it’s essential to consider peak season surcharges in your negotiations. In direct negotiations with the carriers, you can secure peak season discounts or waivers to reduce your burden. ShipRx has a 100% success rate in helping our customers save money through negotiations. Sign up for a free contract evaluation today to discover how you can save— during peak season and beyond.

2. Shipping Math

Peak season surcharges are levied based on a shipper’s baseline volume. That baseline is calculated during a specific timeframe. For FedEx, those dates are June 2 to 29, 2025. For UPS, the dates are June 1 to 28, 2025, or August 31 to September 27, 2025, if the latter is less than 80% of the former’s average weekly volume. If you have flexibility in your shipping calendar, it’s in your best interest to maintain a high parcel volume during the baseline calculation period.

Another way to use shipping math in your favor is to, where possible, avoid the highest peak season dates. For FedEx, surcharges are highest from November 24 to December 28, 2025. For UPS, those dates span from November 23 to December 27, 2025. Consider offering sales or incentives for holiday shopping before Black Friday to send out parcels before the demand surcharge spikes.

3. Consider Alternate Carriers

UPS and FedEx are no longer the only players in the game. Consider shipping with smaller carriers or USPS (although they also assess surcharges) during the holiday season. You may choose to use an alternative for all your parcels, or simply to avoid exceeding your baseline values.

Shop around now and take advantage of incentives offered by smaller carriers to sign on before the holidays. The greatest gift you can give your business (and its bottom line) is reliable shipping at the lowest possible rate.

4. Parcel Audits: Savings for the Rest of the Year

When performed regularly, parcel audits can reveal significant savings resulting from carrier errors. While UPS and FedEx pause their service guarantees during peak season, they can account for 2-3% or more of your annual shipping costs for the rest of the year. Sign up for parcel audits with ShipRx and start recouping costs even before the holiday surcharges go into effect.

Don’t just accept peak pricing from UPS and FedEx. Sign up for a free savings analysis with ShipRx, and let the parcel experts uncover shipping savings for you this holiday season. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!