Short answer: Every courier adds a fuel surcharge, a percentage on top of the shipping charge that follows the price of jet fuel. All three of our main couriers now update it every week, which is why a quote you got two weeks ago may not match today's. It's always included in the price you see at checkout. What is a fuel surcharge? A percentage the courier adds to the shipping charge to track the cost of fuel. It isn't our fee and we don't set it or add to it: it's part of what the courier charges us, and it's included in the price we show you. Which fuel price sets it? For international air shipments, all three couriers use the same index: the US Gulf Coast spot price for kerosene-type jet fuel, published by the US Department of Energy. Each courier has its own table that turns a fuel price into a percentage, which is why their percentages differ. How often does it change? Weekly, at all three. | Courier | Update | Details | |---|---|---| | DHL Express | Weekly | Moved from monthly to weekly in April 2026, based on a rolling 20-working-day average | | FedEx | Weekly | Each rate runs Monday to Sunday | | UPS | Weekly | Changes take effect on Monday | Why doesn't it follow the fuel price immediately? Because each courier uses a fuel price from a week or two earlier. UPS states the lag plainly: the price the Energy Department publishes in one week sets the surcharge for the following week. FedEx prints, next to each rate, the exact date of the fuel price it used. DHL averages about 20 working days of prices and applies the result later. So when fuel prices move, your shipping price follows a couple of weeks behind. How big is it? Large — it's usually the biggest single surcharge on an international shipment. In the week of 21–27 September 2026: | Courier | International export fuel surcharge | |---|---| | DHL Express | 34.00% | | FedEx | 44.50% | UPS publishes its percentage on its own page, in a table it updates weekly. These are percentages of the shipping charge, not of your whole order. They change every week, so check the carrier pages below for today's figure. Does it apply to the other surcharges too? At DHL and UPS, yes. The fuel percentage is applied to charges like remote-area delivery, residential delivery and oversize pieces as well as to the shipping charge itself. So a $50 remote-area fee at a 34% fuel surcharge is about $67 in the end. See "Carrier surcharges: the extra charges couriers add, and how to avoid them". Is it included in the price I see? Yes. The price at checkout includes the fuel surcharge that applies to your courier and service that day. It's not added later. Where can I check today's rate? - DHL Express: dhl.com surcharges - FedEx: fedex.com fuel surcharge - UPS: ups.com fuel surcharges Common questions I got a quote last week and the price went up. Why? Most often the fuel surcharge. It changes weekly, so the same box to the same address can cost a little more or less from one week to the next. Why is DHL's percentage lower than FedEx's? Each courier has its own table converting the fuel price into a percentage, and each starts from a different base rate. A lower fuel percentage doesn't mean a lower total — compare the final prices at checkout. Can I avoid the fuel surcharge? No. Every courier applies it to every shipment. What you can change is the billable weight and the courier you choose. See "Why your shipping quote is higher than expected, and how to lower it". Does the fuel surcharge apply to duties and taxes? No. It applies to shipping charges and to many courier surcharges, not to duties, taxes or customs fees. Still need help? Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].

🚚 Shipping Rates & Options

Carrier surcharges: the extra charges couriers add, and how to avoid them

Short answer: A courier's price is a base rate plus surcharges: fuel, remote areas, oversized or heavy boxes, residential delivery and a few others. They're all included in the price you see at checkout, so nothing new appears afterwards. The ones our customers run into most are the fuel surcharge, remote-area fees, oversize and overweight charges, and the fee the courier charges at delivery for handling your duties. What a surcharge is Couriers publish a base rate per weight and zone, then add separate charges for things that cost them more: flying fuel, driving to a remote village, handling a box that doesn't fit the sorting belt, ringing a doorbell at a house instead of an office. You don't pay these separately. When you choose a courier at checkout, the price already has them in it. Prices below were checked in September 2026. Couriers change them, usually every January, so treat them as a guide and use the carrier links at the end for today's list. The ones that come up most often Fuel surcharge A percentage added to the shipping charge, changed every week by all three couriers. It's the single biggest surcharge on most shipments. See "Fuel surcharges: why your price changes from week to week". Remote-area delivery Charged when your address is a place the courier reaches rarely: islands, mountain villages, and postal codes far from a hub. | Courier | What they publish (Sept 2026) | |---|---| | DHL | $50 per shipment, or $0.50 per lb if that's higher | | FedEx | Tier A $4.45 · Tier B $49 or $0.52 per lb · Tier C $68 or $0.68 per lb | | UPS | $61 per shipment, or $0.61 per lb if that's higher | What you can do: check your address before you ship. The "Check remote area" button in our shipping calculator tells you, and a different courier may not class the same address as remote. Oversize, overweight and awkward boxes Every courier charges extra when a box is long, bulky, very heavy, or not a plain rectangular cardboard carton. | Courier | What they publish (Sept 2026) | |---|---| | DHL | Oversize piece $30 · Overweight piece $100 (over 150 lb) · Non-conveyable piece $30 | | FedEx | Additional handling $29.50 (size) · $40 (over 55 lb) · $29.50 (packaging) · Oversize $208 | | UPS | Additional handling $36.35 · Large package $235 · Over maximum limits $1,875 | What you can do: ask us to repack a big box with a lot of air in it, and split a very heavy one. See "Why your shipping quote is higher than expected, and how to lower it" and "When a package is split into several shipments". Residential delivery Some couriers charge a few dollars more to deliver to a home rather than a business. DHL and UPS both publish $6.95 per shipment for their air services. Address correction If the address is incomplete or wrong and the courier has to find the right one, they charge for it: $25.50 at DHL and FedEx, $25.25 at UPS. Keep your Address Book accurate, including a phone number. See "Your Address Book: adding and checking delivery addresses". Elevated-risk and restricted destinations DHL charges $30 per shipment for destinations it classes as elevated risk, and another $30 for destinations under trade restrictions. DHL's published elevated-risk list includes Israel, Lebanon and Ukraine, and on our own invoices we've also seen it applied to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman. It's in the price you see at checkout. Peak or demand surcharges Couriers add a per-pound surcharge on busy lanes, usually announced for a season and then extended. In September 2026, FedEx charges $0.30 per lb on US exports to Europe (Turkey included), $0.50 per lb to Israel and $0.75 per lb to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. DHL has a demand surcharge running 1 October 2026 to 5 February 2027, which is $0.00 per lb for Europe and higher for other regions. These change often — the carrier pages have the current ones. Duty and tax handling at delivery When the courier pays your duties and taxes to customs so your package can clear, it charges a fee for doing it. The fee is usually a minimum amount or a percentage of the duty, whichever is higher, and each country's courier office sets its own. Expect a minimum in the $15–$18 range. This fee is charged by the courier at delivery, not by us, and it's separate from the duty itself. If you'd rather settle everything in advance, choose DDP where it's available — see "DDP vs DDU: who pays duties, where DDP is available, and what to do if you're asked to pay again". More than five kinds of item in one box DHL charges a multiline entry fee when a customs declaration has more than five lines: $5 per extra line, minimum $10. Consolidated boxes with many different products can reach that. Two things worth knowing - Fuel is charged on top of other surcharges. At DHL and UPS, the fuel percentage applies to charges like remote area, residential and oversize as well as to the shipping charge. A $50 remote-area fee at a 34% fuel surcharge is about $67. - We don't add anything to these. They're the courier's charges, passed through in your price. Our own fees — storage, consolidation, add-ons — are listed separately in your account. Where the couriers publish their lists - DHL Express: dhl.com surcharges - FedEx: fedex.com surcharges and fees - UPS: ups.com shipping costs and rates Common questions Will a surcharge be added after I've paid? No. The price at checkout includes the surcharges that apply to your shipment. The one charge that can come later is duties and taxes on a DDU shipment, plus the courier's fee for handling them. Why is the same package cheaper with another courier? Because each courier has its own surcharges and its own view of your address. One may class it as remote while another doesn't, and their fuel percentages differ. Compare the options at checkout. My address isn't remote. Why was a remote-area fee charged? Couriers decide this by postal code, not by how the area looks. Check the address with the "Check remote area" button, and contact our support team if the result looks wrong. Can you waive a carrier surcharge? No. These are charged to us by the courier, so we can't remove them. What we can often do is help you avoid one, by repacking a bulky box or suggesting a courier that prices your address differently. Still need help? Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].

🚚 Shipping Rates & Options

When a package is split into several shipments

Short answer: Sometimes one package has to go out as several shipments. We always split a package that contains more than 2 products with a built-in battery, and we generally recommend splitting a package that weighs more than 70 lb, so an overweight surcharge doesn't apply. Each shipment is sent separately, and FedEx may add a surcharge to shipments that were split. When we split a package | Reason | What happens | |---|---| | More than 2 products with a built-in battery | Required. A single package can contain up to 2 of them, so we split it into separate shipments. | | Package over 70 lb | Recommended. Splitting it can avoid the courier's overweight surcharge. | | Package over 150 lb | Required. 150 lb is the maximum for one shipment. | Devices with built-in batteries Laptops, phones, cameras and other devices with a lithium-ion battery inside ship under UN3481. A single package can contain up to 2 of these products. If your package has more, we split it into separate shipments, with no more than 2 in each. This applies to consolidated packages too, so if you consolidate several devices, expect the result to go out in more than one shipment. See "Restricted and prohibited items: what we can ship and what happens if a package is flagged". Heavy packages Couriers charge an overweight surcharge on especially heavy packages. Above 70 lb, splitting the package into smaller shipments usually avoids that charge, so we generally recommend it. Whether it saves money depends on the courier and the destination, so compare the options at checkout. The maximum for any single shipment is 150 lb. See "Weight and size limits for shipments". What splitting means for your cost - Each shipment is sent on its own, so each one has its own shipping cost. - FedEx may add a surcharge to shipments that were split from one package. If you ship a split package with FedEx, compare its total with the other couriers. - Import duties and taxes still apply. Splitting on purpose to stay under a duty-free threshold isn't allowed in most countries. See "How import duties and taxes are calculated". Common questions I bought 3 laptops. Can they go in one box? No. A single package can contain up to 2 products with a built-in battery, so 3 laptops go out as at least two shipments. My package weighs 80 lb. Do I have to split it? No, but we generally recommend it. Above 70 lb, splitting it can avoid an overweight surcharge. Why did FedEx cost more after my package was split? FedEx may apply a surcharge to shipments that were split from one package. Other couriers may be cheaper for the same shipments. How do I ask for my package to be split? Contact our support team before you pay for the shipment, and tell us which package you want split. Still need help? Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].

🚀 Getting Started

Your personal data: what we collect, who we share it with and your rights

Short answer: We collect the details we need to receive and ship your packages and to take payment: your name, contact details, addresses and what's in your shipments. We share them only with the companies that help us do that, such as couriers, customs authorities and payment providers. You can ask to see, correct or delete your data at any time by emailing [email protected]. What we collect - Account details: your name, email address, phone number, and your billing and delivery addresses. - Payment details: card payments are processed by Stripe and PayPal payments by PayPal. - Package and shipment details: tracking numbers, weights and sizes, the photos we take of arriving packages, and the contents and values declared for customs. - Verification details: if we ask you to verify your account after unusual payment activity, the information you send us for that check. - Warehouse recordings: our warehouses are under CCTV, and packages may be photographed or recorded when they're opened. - Website usage data: cookies and similar technologies that help us run and improve the website and measure our advertising. Who we share it with We share your data only with the companies and authorities that make the service work: | Who | What they receive | Why | |---|---|---| | Couriers, such as UPS, FedEx, DHL and USPS | Your name, delivery address, phone number and shipment details | To deliver your shipment | | Customs authorities | The customs declaration and commercial invoice we prepare for your shipment | To clear your shipment through customs | | Our insurer, EasyPost | The details of an insured shipment and your claim | To review a claim, if you buy insurance and file one | | Payment providers, Stripe and PayPal | Your payment details | To take payment | | Technical providers, such as our hosting and security services | The data stored in and passing through our systems | To run the website and your account | | Analytics and advertising services, such as Google and Meta | Website usage data collected by cookies | To measure and improve the website and our advertising | Where the law requires it, we may also share information, including warehouse recordings, with law enforcement. How long we keep it We keep personal data for as long as we need it for the purpose we collected it for, and longer where the law requires us to. Your rights You can ask us to: - see the personal data we hold about you and get a copy of it - correct anything that's wrong - delete your data - send your data to you, or to another service, in a common machine-readable format - stop or limit how we use it, or withdraw a consent you gave earlier You can also complain to your local data protection authority. Requests are free. For users covered by the EU's GDPR, we answer within one month. To make a request, email [email protected]. Deleting your account also deletes your personal data. See "Cancelling your membership or deleting your account". Cookies You can change your cookie and advertising preferences on our website at any time. For the full details of every service we use on the website, see our Privacy Policy. Common questions Who can see the photos of my packages? You can see them on the package's detail page in your account. Our team uses them to check packages when they arrive. Can I turn off personalised advertising? Yes. You can opt out of interest-based advertising in your cookie preferences on our website. Our Privacy Policy also explains how to opt out with each advertising service. Where is my data stored? Our service providers process it mainly in the United States. How do I delete my data? Delete your account in your account settings, or email [email protected]. See "Cancelling your membership or deleting your account". Still need help? Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].

🚚 Shipping Rates & Options

Dimensional weight: how box size affects your shipping price

Short answer: Couriers charge for the space a box takes up, not only for what it weighs. They work out a dimensional weight from the box's length, width and height, compare it with the actual weight, and bill the higher of the two. Each courier uses its own divisor, so the same box can have a different dimensional weight with each one. What dimensional weight is A plane or truck fills up by space as well as by weight. A large box of pillows weighs little but takes the room of a much heavier parcel, so couriers price it as if it were heavier. That's why every shipment has two weights: - Actual weight: what the package weighs on a scale. - Dimensional weight: a weight worked out from the box's size. The courier bills whichever is higher. We call that the billable weight. How it's calculated Multiply the box's three sides in inches, then divide by the courier's divisor: Length × Width × Height ÷ divisor = dimensional weight in pounds We measure every package when it arrives at our warehouse, so you don't need to measure anything yourself. The billable weight is then rounded up to the next whole pound for every courier except APC. Divisors by courier The divisor is what makes the difference between couriers. A higher divisor gives a lower dimensional weight, which is better for you. | Courier and service | Divisor | What it means for a bulky box | |---|---|---| | UPS | 200 | Lowest dimensional weight, so the best of our couriers for a light, bulky box | | FedEx International Priority and Economy | 200 | Same as UPS | | DHL Express | 166 | Higher dimensional weight than the 200 couriers | | FedEx International Connect Plus | 166 | Same as DHL | | Aramex | 166 | Same as DHL | | Asendia | 139 | Highest dimensional weight, so a bulky box costs the most here. Asendia carries light parcels only, up to 4.4 lb. | These divisors come from our agreements with each courier, so they can differ from the numbers on a courier's own website, and they can differ between services from the same courier. For our other couriers, compare the price shown at checkout. A worked example Take a box that measures 20 × 16 × 12 inches and weighs 6 lb on the scale. Its volume is 3,840 cubic inches. | Divisor | Dimensional weight | Billable weight | |---|---|---| | ÷ 200 (UPS, FedEx Priority and Economy) | 19.2 lb | 20 lb | | ÷ 166 (DHL, FedEx Connect Plus, Aramex) | 23.1 lb | 24 lb | The box weighs 6 lb, but with every courier it's billed on its size: 20 lb on a divisor of 200 and 24 lb on 166. That's why comparing couriers matters most for light, bulky shipments. This box is too heavy for Asendia, which carries parcels up to 4.4 lb. On a small parcel that does fit, Asendia's divisor of 139 gives the highest dimensional weight of all our couriers. How to lower your dimensional weight - Ask us to repack. Stores often ship small items in large boxes full of filler. A better-fitting box can cut the dimensional weight sharply. See "Repacking and removing items". - Be careful when combining bulky items. Consolidating usually saves money, but one large item can push the whole box into a higher dimensional weight. See "Consolidating packages: how to request it, how long it takes and what it costs". - Compare couriers at checkout. For a light, bulky box, the courier with the highest divisor often gives the lowest price. See "Carriers and shipping services we use". - Check before you buy. If a product page lists the box size, you can estimate the dimensional weight before you order. See "Estimating your shipping cost and delivery time". Common questions My item is light. Why am I paying for so much weight? Because the box is big. When the dimensional weight is higher than the actual weight, the courier bills the dimensional weight. Asking us to repack into a smaller box is usually the quickest fix. Why does the same package have a different weight with each courier? Each courier divides the box's volume by a different number. A higher divisor gives a lower dimensional weight, so the billable weight can change from one courier to the next. Do I need to measure my package? No. We measure and weigh every package when it arrives at our warehouse, and your quote uses those measurements. Is the billable weight rounded? Yes. It's rounded up to the next whole pound for every courier except APC. See "Weight and size limits for shipments". Still need help? Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].

📍 Tracking & Delivery

Shipping insurance: what it costs and what it covers

Short answer: Shipping insurance is optional and costs $3 for every $100 of declared value, up to $5,000 per shipment. It's provided by a third-party insurer, EasyPost, Inc. Without insurance, major carriers cover up to $100, excluding the shipping cost. What it costs and what it covers How insurance works You can add insurance at checkout when you create your shipment. The coverage comes from EasyPost, Inc., a third-party insurer. ForwardMe acts as the intermediary: we help you file a claim and coordinate it with the insurer, but the insurer reviews the claim and decides the outcome. The full conditions are in Article VIII of our terms: https://www.forwardme.com/terms#article-8 What it costs | Declared value | Insurance cost | |---|---| | $100 | $3 | | $500 | $15 | | $1,000 | $30 | | $5,000 (maximum) | $150 | The price is $3 for every $100 of the total declared value of your shipment. There's no free first $100, and the maximum coverage is $5,000 per shipment. Pack it well. Poor packing is an exclusion, so make sure items can't move inside the box, pad them properly and avoid reusing an old shipping box. Tip: declare the real value of your items. Insurance is based on the declared value, and misdeclaration is one of the reasons a claim can be refused. What isn't covered Some items can't be insured, and some situations aren't covered even when the item is. | Items that aren't covered | Situations that aren't covered | |---|---| | Coins, bullion, jewelry and precious stones | Insufficient or incorrect packing by the sender | | Currency, negotiable instruments and securities | Cosmetic damage to the packaging when the merchandise is undamaged | | Perishables | Packages signed for by the recipient | | Shipments to OFAC-sanctioned countries | Seizure or destruction by customs | | Lottery and event tickets | Delay or deterioration | | Consignment goods | Misdeclaration | | Loose diamonds, stones and rock slabs | Parcels with no carrier acceptance scan | | | A package that's refused or abandoned because duties weren't paid or customs paperwork wasn't provided | What insurance covers Insurance covers a shipment that is lost, damaged or stolen after it enters the carrier's network: - Lost: the package started tracking but never got a delivery scan. - Damaged: it was delivered, but the contents are damaged. - Stolen: there is a delivery scan, but the recipient never received the package. A claim of this kind needs proof of theft, such as a police report. Each kind has its own filing deadline and evidence. See "Lost or damaged shipment: how to file a claim". If you don't add insurance Without insurance, major carriers (FedEx, UPS and DHL) cover loss or damage up to $100, excluding the shipping cost. Any case is reported through the carrier. Our own liability for an uninsured shipment is limited too — see our Terms. So if your items are worth more than the carrier's limit, insurance is the way to protect their full value. If something goes wrong If an insured shipment arrives damaged or goes missing, you need to act quickly and provide detailed evidence. See "Lost or damaged shipment: how to file a claim" for the steps and the documents you'll need. Common questions Is the first $100 covered for free? Not by insurance. Insurance costs $3 for every $100 of declared value, starting from the first dollar. Without insurance, major carriers cover up to $100, excluding shipping. Who pays out my claim, ForwardMe or the insurer? The insurer, EasyPost, Inc., reviews and decides claims. We coordinate the claim for you as the intermediary. Can I insure jewelry? No. Jewelry, precious stones, coins and bullion are excluded from coverage. Is the packaging covered if it's dented but the items are fine? No. Cosmetic damage to the packaging is not covered when the merchandise itself is undamaged. Can I add insurance after I've paid? No. Insurance is added at checkout, together with the declared value it's based on. To add or change it afterwards, the shipment has to be cancelled and created again. What's the most I can insure? Up to $5,000 per shipment. Still need help? Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].