Purpose: discover how how to avoid unwanted UPS surcharges when your package does not meet the carrier shipping conditions.
Note: As of 11-01-2022, fuel costs will be charged for shipments which receive a surcharge. This means that if you receive a surcharge for a parcel, you'll also be charged for a certain percentage of the fuel costs. You can find the latest percentage here. Fuel costs might vary based on the current fuel price.
Peak season surcharges
This is a flat fee that applies to all parcels during a certain time of the year, in which UPS expands its delivery network to accommodate increased shipping volume.
Effective 2 October until 14 January, we will implement a temporary peak/demand surcharge on parcels that meet specifications for the large package, over maximum limits or additional handling surcharge. This will be a flat fee per parcel in addition to existing rates, surcharges and/or fees. You can find the peak/demand surcharge rate, as well as the parcel specifications that are impacted by this surcharge, by downloading the latest Peak/Demand Surcharge information.
How can I prevent this surcharge?
- Plan your promotional campaigns before the end of the year rush.
- Postpone non-seasonal campaigns until after the peak season
More Resources
For more information about shipping with UPS over the peak season, you can consult the following resources on UPS.com:
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Our holiday schedule outlines the latest collection, drop-off and delivery times during the final two weeks of the year
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Our days of operation page displays adjustments to our service due to national holidays
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Service alerts on ups.com homepage notify you of disruptions that may impact your shipments, such as adverse weather conditions.
| Special Handling Charges | Peak Surcharge |
| Additional Handling | €6.20 |
| Large Package | €62.50 |
| Over Maximum Limits | €282.00 |
How to avoid weight surcharges
Which shipping method should I choose?
The package weighs 2kg, but has a volume weight of 34kg, then the shipping method of 34kg must be chosen.
The package weighs a pack of 27kg, but is the volume weight 8kg then the shipping method of 27kg must be chosen.
In addition to being aware of the volume weight, good packaging is also essential.
How do I calculate the volumetric weight?
UPS uses the following formula:
L= length in cm
W= Width in cm
H = Height in cm
(L x W x H) / 5000
Surcharge for residential addresses
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.
This "residential fee" surcharge also applies to shipments to companies that are managed from a residential address. This surcharge is in addition to the base rate when sending to residential addresses.
The surcharge amount is 2,10€ per shipment delivered at a residential address.
Address Correction fee
If a mistake has been made in the address, we will make every reasonable effort to find the correct address and deliver the shipment if it is within the same destination country. An additional charge for this service will be billed to the sender.
Address correction surcharge: 7,90€
UK border surcharge
Due to Brexit starting January 1st, 2021 all shipment to the UK will be applied the following of surcharge 3,35€-5,25€. This surcharge will be applied the moment the parcel has been handled by UPS.
Additional handling costs
Additional Handling surcharge of 5,60€ applies to 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 package with an actual weight greater than 70 pounds (32 kg)
- Each package in a shipment where the average weight per package is greater than 70 pounds (32 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 shipment.
Large Package Surcharge
A large package surcharge of 46,60€ or 56,00€ (peak season) will be applied for each UPS package when its length plus size [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] exceeds 300 cm, but not more than the maximum UPS size of 400 cm.
For Large Packages are subject to a minimum billable weight of 40 kg will be charged, in addition to the Large Package surcharge.
An Additional Handling charge will not be assessed when a Large Package Surcharge is applied.
Extended Area and Remote Area Surcharges
Extended Area Surcharge
UPS provides a collection or delivery service in extended, as well as urban, areas. An additional charge applies for each shipment that is collected or delivered in an extended area.
0,15€ per kilo, with a minimum of 4,65€ per national shipment, the bigger of both amounts will be charged.
0,46€ per kilo with a minimum of 24,05€ per international shipment, the bigger of both amounts will be charged.
Remote Area Surcharge
This surcharge is applied for delivery to or collection from an area beyond UPS extended areas, which are less accessible for collections and deliveries (domestic and international services). For remote area national services a surcharge of 0,46€ per kilo will be added with a minimum of 24,05€ per shipment, the bigger amount of both amounts will be charged.
As with all other carriers, UPS can also prevent the package from reaching a difficult to reach location. If you would like to know more about this, please click on the link found at the end of this article.
The price of this surcharge for international deliveries depends on the location.
Un-deliverable Shipments
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 sender for the processing of each such un-deliverable shipment.
For all shipments within the EU and within your Spain, we will automatically return your shipment by UPS Standard service (where available). Transportation and fuel charges will apply for the return.
The surcharge for un-deliverable shipments is the same as the outbound shipping costs.
Surcharge over the maximum limits
Packages with an actual weight of more than 70 kg, or that exceed 274 cm in length or a total of 400 cm [L + (2x Width +2x Height)] in length and girth combined, as measured to determine their billable weight, are not accepted for transportation. These packages are subject to an Over Maximum Limits surcharge, in addition to all other applicable charges, if found in the UPS small package system. Packages exceeding 400 cm in length and girth combined are also subject to the Large Package Surcharge.
Surcharge over the maximum limits is 90,00€.
Duty and Tax Forwarding Charge
This charge is for shipments outside the EU, when the payer of duties and taxes is not located in the destination country. The customs fees + a surcharge of 11,85€ are billed to the sender.
Goods in Transit
Member nations of the EU have a single market, which allows the movement of goods in free circulation between its member states. Goods in free circulation no longer require any documentation for customs clearance when moving from one member state to another.
If the goods are not in free circulation, such as goods which have been placed in bond without clearance through customs into the EU, they will require valid transit documentation, including an invoice (Goods in Transit). The shipper must supply a valid transit document for movement of the goods from the collection address to the UPS export site. UPS will undertake to perform transit formalities required for the movement of the goods from their first export site in the origin country, until their arrival at the UPS import site in the destination country. An additional charge per transit shipment will apply for Express and Express Saver shipments within the EU.
Other fees
Report fee
UPS will charge a report fee for every report or data set sent to the customer upon customer's request.
Admin fee
UPS will charge an admin fee for every extraordinary brokerage task performed upon customer's request.
Posting SAD Fee
UPS will charge a fee for every SAD document sent to the customer upon customer's request.
Always Contact On Customer Request Fee
Upon importer's request, UPS will contact the importer for every clearance.
Disbursements
UPS customs brokers are experienced with complex commercial shipments. Electronic transmissions of shipment data helps speed customs clearance. UPS may prepay duties, taxes and other government charges on behalf of the payer.
For additional information about the fees, please visit the UPS page below. Always read these carefully before you ship with this carrier.