Purpose: learn how to avoid unwanted UPS surcharges when your package does not meet the carrier shipping conditions.
The carrier may change the shipping prices and/or surcharges mentioned below without notice, therefore these prices may be subject to change. Even though we aim to inform you to the best of our abilities, no rights can be derived from the information provided below.
Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee
Starting September 30, 2024, UPS will introduce a new Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee to address weight differences in shipping charges. The details are as follows:
- The fee will be €1.70 per shipment or 8% of the shipping charge correction, whichever is greater.
- This fee applies only if the correction exceeds 25% of the original net shipping cost, based solely on transportation fees, excluding fuel and other additional charges.
- The fee is applicable to domestic, export, and import shipments.
- The charge correction will be based on the Billable Weight, determined by comparing the parcel's actual weight and its dimensional weight. The greater weight will be used as the billable weight to set the shipping rate.
For more information, see the Shipment Size and Weight and Zone and Rates pages on the UPS website.
Volumetric weight surcharge
It's extremely important that you take the volumetric weight (dimensional weight) of your parcels into consideration when choosing from one of the above three shipping methods.
To choose the right shipping method you need to take the following calculations into account:
- Volume weight KG: LxBxH/5000
- Exact weight in KG
- Girth in cm: L+B+B+H+H
Examples
- The parcel weighs 2kg, but has a volumetric weight of 34kg
- A shipping method for a parcel size of 34kg must be chosen
- The parcel weighs 27kg, but has a volumetric weight of 8kg
- A shipping method for a parcel size of 27kg must be chosen
How do I determine the dimensional weight of my parcel Source UPS:
Dimensional weight reflects parcel density, which is the amount of space a parcel occupies compared to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international parcel services.
Determine the parcel measurement in centimeters. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.
Multiply the parcel length (longest side of the parcel) by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in centimeters.
Divide the cubic size in centimeters by 5,000. Increase any fraction to the next half kilogram.
Compare the parcel's actual weight to its dimensional weight. The greater of the two is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate.
Surcharge for residential addresses - EUR 4.45
UPS provides delivery service to residential addresses as well as business addresses. A residential delivery is one made to a home, including a business operating out of a home. For each residential delivery, an additional charge per shipment applies.
Additional handling costs - EUR 13.25
Additional handling fees are charged at a rate of €12.05 for the following:
- All items packed in a metal or wood outer container
- All cylindrical items, such as barrels, drums, buckets, or tires that are not fully packaged in a corrugated cardboard shipping container
- All packages with the longest dimension exceeding 100cm or the second-longest dimension exceeding 76cm (30 inches).
- All packages with a real weight of more than 32kg
Surcharge for large packaging - EUR 24.20
- This surcharge will be applied for each parcel in which the length + size [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] exceeds 300 cm, but is not more than the maximum allowed UPS size of 400 cm.
- For large packages, a minimum weight of 40kg will be charged, in addition to the large package fee.
- No additional handling fee will be charged if the bulk package fee applies.
Surcharge remote area
Parcels to areas that are deemed remote or difficult to reach can receive a surcharge. The surcharge for this is €0.75 per kg with a minimum of €28.52.
An overview of these areas can be found here.
Surcharge above the maximum limits - EUR 106.20
Packages with:
- An actual weight of more than 70kg; or
- With a length of more than 274cm; or
- With a total length + size [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] of more than 400 cm
...are not accepted for transportation. If they are found in the UPS system for small packages, additional costs will be charged to the amount of €426.20.
Parcels with a belt circumference (length + 2 x width + 2 x height), more than 400cm will also receive a large package surcharge.
Surcharge package return to sender
When a parcel can't be delivered, it'll be returned to the sender. Parcels can (in some cases) also be returned on request. When a package gets returned a surcharge (in the amount of the shipping costs) will be charged. See the section Import fees for more information on international shipments that are being returned to sender.
Surcharge Return shipments - Print label - €1.97
If your customer has the return label printed at a service point, you will receive a fee of €1.97.
Import fees
UPS charges the following fees when a parcel is imported. Sendcloud will forward these costs to you (the merchant):
- Import duties: The Import duties are determined based on the HS Code and their corresponding import duty rate x (times) value of the goods.
- Import VAT: It's calculated as follows: tax rate of the importing country x (times) the value of the goods. The import VAT charged can be deducted as input tax in your regular VAT return for the relevant period. As a result, the import VAT doesn't constitute an additional cost for you.
- Provision costs: In the event that UPS pays import duties, VAT, and other government charges on behalf of the paying party in advance, then the carrier will charge you some a provision fee based on the intrinsic value of the shipped goods and the advanced amount. These are the costs: €8.10 per shipment with an intrinsic value less than or equal to €22, with a minimum of €16.60, or 2.75% of the advanced amount when the intrinsic value of the goods exceeds €22.
Prohibited item fee - EUR 280.20
There are certain prohibited items that UPS will not ship due to laws or regulations. It is the shipper's responsibility to comply with current government regulations or laws applicable in each country.
The carrier applies a surcharge of €280.20 for shipping a prohibited item.
For more detailed information, see the list of prohibited and restricted items prepared by UPS.
Special Handling of Undeliverable Shipments - €7.50
When UPS has taken measures to try to deliver any Worldwide shipments, but has been unsuccessful, we will process your shipment acting on your instructions. The transportation cost and a surcharge will be charged to the shipper for the processing of each undeliverable shipment.
For all shipments within the EU and your country, we will automatically return your shipment by UPS Standard service (where available). Transportation and fuel charges will apply for the return.
Receiver or Third Party Refuses to Pay - € 14.05
If the receiver or a third party is selected to pay the transportation charges and the bill-to-account is incorrect or missing, UPS searches its records for the correct account number. Whether or not the account number is found, a processing fee per shipment is billed back to the shipper.
Weekly service charge - € 12.40
Without special arrangements for collection, a UPS driver will visit you once a day to collect any shipments. A weekly service charge will apply. Please see the table for pricing information.
On-call collection (requested by the end customer) - €3.20
You can have the shipment picked up from your home or office by scheduling a collection service online at ups.com.
UPS will pick up all packages with a single collection service request. A collection service may be scheduled for the same day or a future day.
On-call collection service charge applies for Electronic Return Labels, Print Return Label, and regular or alternate address pickup.
Cash payments are available for on-call collection service.
Charges differ based on the collection service request type:
- Same Day by Phone
- Same Day on the Web
- Future Day by Phone
- Future Day on the Web
This charge does not apply to:
- A daily customer's established collection hours (see daily collection)
- Return package collections included in the UPS 1 Attempt and UPS 3 Attempts Returns Plus services. If a UPS 1 Attempt Returns Plus collection is unsuccessful, all subsequent collections will incur the fee.
- Collections containing international shipments to destinations outside the European Union within the pickup stop.
Additional handling service - €5.20
Additional handling fees are charged at a rate of €5.20 for the following:
- Any article that is encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood
- Any cylindrical item, such as a barrel, drum, pail, or tire, that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container.
- Any package with the longest side exceeding 100 cm or its second-longest side exceeding 30 inches (76 cm).
- Any import, export, or domestic package with an actual weight greater than 25 kg.
- Each import, export, or domestic package in a shipment where the average weight per package is greater than 25 kg and the weight for each package is not specified on the source document or the UPS automated shipping system used.
UPS also reserves the right to assess the Additional Handling Charge for any package that, in UPS's sole discretion, requires special handling. In consideration of the additional handling required on our part, and subsequent potential delays in processing these shipments, UPS does not provide a money-back guarantee for them. UPS does, therefore, not refund the shipping charges if shipments requiring additional handling are not delivered by the time normally scheduled for such shipments.
Entry Preparation Fee - EUR 7.15
UPS will charge a fee for every Import shipment requiring a customs formal entry.
UPS Import Control
This service offers seamless management of import shipments from over 120 countries. Using advanced technology, you can efficiently handle key aspects of importing, including customs documentation, delivery speed, and billing preferences. The pricing details for various options are as follows:
- Print Return Label: €2.05 per package (or per pallet for WW Express Freight)
- Electronic Label: €2.50 per package (or per pallet for WW Express Freight)
- 1 UPS Collection Attempt: €7.50 per package (or per pallet for WW Express Freight)
- 3 UPS Collection Attempts: €10.05 per package
- Commercial Invoice Removal: €20.40 per shipment
For additional information about the fees, please visit the UPS website. Always read the terms and conditions of the carrier carefully before you ship with them.