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].