International Surcharges
International Surcharges

International Surcharges

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This document shares detailed around international services. Domestic shipments have separate rate calculations and surcharges listed separately.

How It's Billed (Total Landed Cost)

The total landed cost refers to the total cost you will pay for the shipment to reach your end customer. Shipping carriers combine your (base shipping rate x fuel) + surcharges + taxes + fees + duties. Taxes and duties vary by country, by product type, and by product value.

Airhouse does not estimate the total landed cost of international shipments at this time due to high variability per order, but rather we recommend using an external tool called Zonos to understand your total international landed cost.

Base Rate with Billable Weight

When calculating the base rate, shipping carriers will charge based on what is known as billable weight. The billable weight is determined by comparing the shipment's dimensional weight (a carrier-specific formula based on the shipment's packaged dimensions) and the actual weight (i.e. if you were to put the shipment on a scale) and charging based on which is greater.

  • Dimensional weight formulas can vary. For FedEx and UPS shipments, plug the dimensions of a packaged shipment, as measured in inches, into the following formula and round up to the nearest pound: (Length x Width x Height) / 139. For DHL use the formula (Length x Width x Height) / 166. As an example, a shipment measuring 10" x 10" x 10" with an actual weight of 2 lbs will have a dimensional weight of 8 lbs and will be billed at the heavier weight of 8 lbs (in this case, the dimensional weight). The dimensional weight will be calculated as follows for FedEx and UPS: (10 x 10 x 10)/139 = 7.19, which rounds to 8 lbs
  • Read more about billable weight from FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

Surcharges

Surcharges depend on a given shipment's weight, dimensions, destination, and other details, you may be charged surcharges on top of your base Airhouse rate. Surcharges are not unique to Airhouse and are determined by the shipping carriers. Some surcharges always apply, and others are less common. Surcharges vary by shipping carrier and shipment and will be added to your invoice at cost. Common international surcharges include services related to international paperwork and processing for appropriate clearance through a country, given their specific customs and border protection protocols.

Due to the nature of how surcharges work, we will not be able to give advanced notice for some surcharges until the shipment is created and in the shipping carrier's network. Some surcharges apply late in the delivery process. Surcharges are subject to change at any time without warning by the carrier. As such, the below rates are estimates and not a guarantee of what the invoiced rates will be due to such carrier practices.

We will always endeavor to be transparent when we notice surcharges applying to your shipments that were not anticipated during the quoting process, but we will not issue credits on this basis and recommend customers read through the below list to understand when and where your shipments may have extra fees.

Fuel surcharges are a variable % of total shipping costs and not a set dollar amount. This means that fuel will apply to the sum of your base rate and other surcharges. Unlike other surcharges, you can expect for fuel to always apply to every shipment.

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Please note that the below list is abbreviated for your convenience and is intended to show the most common international surcharges.

Duties and Taxes

Duties, taxes, and other clearance charges will add to an international shipment's landed cost. The end destination, shipment content, product value, country of manufacture, product's Harmonized System code, and country-specific regulations will determine these costs. Customs officials assess duties and taxes based on shipping labels and any relevant paperwork.

Duties and taxes are imposed by the importing country's government and can be charged on top of your Airhouse rate.

Glossary

General Order: General Order is the status of any imported goods that do not have the proper documentation to be cleared through customs. (Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

In-Bond: The in-bond process allows imported merchandise to be entered at one U.S. port of entry without appraisement or payment of duties and transported by a bonded carrier to another U.S. port of entry or other authorized destination provided all statutory and regulatory conditions are met. (Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Non-document or Product Shipment: Your company's shipments will fall under this category, but international shipping vernacular clarifies. This defines all other shipments and printed materials of value. Examples include clothing, automobile parts, sports equipment, books, etc. All non-document international shipments require a commercial invoice. (Source: FedEx Help)

Duties

Duties and taxes are always tacked on to international sales. Whether your business or your customer pays for the associated costs, depends on the destination and the choice between shipping Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) or Delivery Duty Paid (DDP).

  • Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): Receiver pays for duties, taxes, and any additional clearance fees.
  • Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): Shipper/seller (your business) pays for duties, taxes, and any additional clearance fees.

FedEx Surcharges

NameWhat is itCommercial rateWill it apply to my shipment?
Applies to shipment with a declared value of $100 or more
$1.15 per $100 of value in excess of $100 or $9.07 per lb., whichever is greater
FedEx International Economy
A fee applies when FedEx files Electronic Export Information (EEI) to the U.S. government’s Automated Export System (AES) via FedEx Export AgentFile® on your behalf.
$10
FedEx International Economy
A charge applies if at your request we take remedial action to protect the integrity of a shipment’s contents in transit. Remedial actions available include dry ice replenishment and gel pack reconditioning. To be eligible for FedEx On Demand Care you must be a FedEx account holder, and first sign and return a one-time authorization form. The shipper must call 1.800.463.3339 after the shipment has been tendered to us — FedEx On Demand Care cannot be requested before tendering the shipment. FedEx does not guarantee availability of this service option, or guarantee the content integrity of yourshipment if at your request we provide FedEx On Demand Care.
Greater of $132.50 per shipment or $2.65 per lb.
FedEx International Economy
Applies to any package that has an actual weight greater than 70 lbs.
$25.50
FedEx International Economy
Applies to any package that - measures greater than 48 inches along its longest side; - measures greater than 30 inches along its second-longest side; - measures greater than 105 inches in length and girth — the length and girth is length plus (two times the height) plus (two times the width)
$16
FedEx International Economy
Applies to packages that is in non-standard packaging, including any package that - is not fully encased in an outer shipping container; - is encased in an outer shipping container not made of corrugated fiberboard (cardboard) materials, including but not limited to metal, wood, canvas, leather, hard plastic, soft plastic (e.g., plastic bags) or expanded polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam); - is encased in an outer shipping container covered in shrink wrap or stretch wrap; - is encased in a soft-sided pack (e.g., courier packs, poly bags and bubble mailers) that exceeds 18 inches along its longest side or 13 inches along its second-longest side or 5 inches in height; - is cylindrical, including (without limitation) mailing tubes, cans, buckets, barrels, drums or pails; - is bound with metal, plastic or cloth banding, or has wheels, casters, handles, or straps (including packages where the outer surface area is loosely wrapped, or where the contents protrude outside the surface area); or - could become entangled in or cause damage to other packages or the FedEx sortation system
$14
FedEx International Economy
During specified times of the year, the Peak — Additional Handling Surcharge will apply to packages meeting the criteria and characteristics of the Additional Handling Surcharge (see above)
Variable. Go to fedex.com/peak-surcharge for information on peak surcharges in effect, including applicable services, surcharge amounts and effective dates.
FedEx International Economy
If the shipper provides an incomplete or incorrect recipient address, FedEx may attempt to find the correct address and complete delivery. FedEx may use the address included in the shipper’s electronic shipment information to determine whether an address correction is necessary.
$18
FedEx International Economy
FedEx will apply a fee to provide clearance of shipments containing multiple commodities; however, an Additional Line Item Fee is applied to assign multiple tariff classifications. A shipment may incur this charge if: 1) It includes multiple tariff classifications above the stated "Free Lines" listed in the charges section; or 2) An identical commodity was manufactured in more than one country; or 3) Multiple Commercial Invoices tendered to customs require an individual Tariff classification for each invoice; or 4) You request a separate line entry for each item in the shipment.
$3.00 per line over five (5) lines of tariff classification
FedEx International Economy
In the event we disburse duties and taxes on any given shipment to a customs agency, the payer will be assessed an ancillary clearance service fee based on a flat rate or on a percentage of the total amount disbursed. (May be identified as Advancement Fee or Duty Handling Fee in certain countries.)
Greater of $11 or 2% of duty, tax and merchandise processing fee charges
FedEx International Economy
When a customer chooses to use a Brokerage company other than FedEx Trade Networks to clear an inbound shipment, FedEx will charge a service fee to ensure all paperwork is provided to your selected broker.
$35
FedEx International Economy
At your request FedEx can prepare the necessary documents to move inbound shipments from their point of arrival to another location for customs clearance. FedEx will obtain the approval from Customs that will allow the goods to move between the two locations prior to clearance. FedEx will charge a fee for the document preparation. The consignee will be responsible for any additional freight charges.
$75
FedEx International Economy
FedEx will apply a fee to provide additional copies of the clearance documentation for all undocumented shipments via compact disc (CD) or electronic data interchange (EDI). You'll receive a CD or an EDI transmission once per month with all entries compiled for the previous month. You must have Customized Processing Account (an account that incurs the Other Special Brokerage Handling fee) to utilize this service.
$1 per entry
FedEx International Economy
The fee that FedEx will charge to provide Special Clearance Processing for clearing textiles and apparel subject to quota restraints or any commodity imported within a calendar year for which the local government has assigned a quota through customs. The fee for the service includes additional handling expenses and payment of the Duties and Taxes assessed on the shipment.
$20
FedEx International Economy
Additional brokerage processing services requested by you or your importer, vary in price.
$7–$62.50
FedEx International Economy
FedEx will apply a fee to provide Prior Notice to the country Food and Drug Administration for food and drug products imported into or moving through the country. For import shipments, the Prior Notice fee is in addition to the existing country Food and Drug Administration Clearance fee for regulated food and drug products.
$10
FedEx International Economy
FedEx may assess a storage charge if your shipment remains uncleared in the FedEx facility within the time limit published in the charges.
$20 minimum • $0.04 per lb. per day for the first week, after 48 hours • $0.08 per lb. per day for the second week and beyond
FedEx International Economy
FedEx will apply a fee for required information to be filed, and approval obtained to import certain commercial goods, such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, computer monitors, laser CD players, cosmetics, eyeglasses, and food products or other controlled products.
$20
FedEx International Economy
FedEx International Broker Select shipments may be routed to the FedEx in-bond location that serves your customs broker. When this occurs and you choose to have us deliver the shipment to a recipient who is served by a different FedEx location than your customs broker (such as in a different metropolitan area), a fee may apply.
Greater of $10 per shipment or $0.50 per lb
FedEx International Economy
Duties and taxes, including goods and services tax (GST) and value-added tax (VAT), may be assessed on the contents of the shipment. Any such charges will be billed to the recipient, unless you instruct us otherwise. In the event we disburse duties and taxes on any given shipment to a customs agency, the payer will be assessed an ancillary clearance service fee based on a flat rate or on a percentage of the total amount disbursed (see the Disbursement Fee [may be identified as Advancement Fee or Duty Handling Fee in certain countries]).
Variable
FedEx International Economy
For FedEx Express (excluding U.S. Express Freight Services), the fuel surcharge percentage will be subject to adjustment using the U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC) spot price for a gallon of kerosene-type jet fuel, as published by the U.S. Department of Energy.
FedEx International Economy
International shipments delivered to remote and less-accessible locations are assessed an out-of-delivery-area surcharge. Go to fedex.com/rates-surcharges for a list of ZIP codes, postal codes or cities by destination country where this surcharge applies.
Greater of $42 per shipment or $0.42 per lb.
FedEx International Economy
An oversize charge applies to packages that exceed 96 inches in length or 130 inches in length and girth. Rating will be based on the greater of the package’s actual rounded weight or dimensional weight, subject to a 90-lb. minimum billable weight. FedEx Express international shipments will not be subject to a 90-lb. minimum billable weight
$105
FedEx International Economy
During specified times of the year, the Peak —Oversize Charge will apply to packages meeting the criteria and characteristics of the Oversize Charge
Variable. Go to fedex.com/peak-surcharge for information on peak surcharges in effect, including applicable services, surcharge amounts and effective dates.
FedEx International Economy
For every request to change the billing instructions for a shipment, we will assess a fee to the payer in addition to shipping charges.
$18
FedEx International Economy
A residential delivery charge applies to shipments addressed to a home or private residence, including locations where a business is operated from a home, or to any shipment in which the shipper has designated the delivery address as a residence
$4.95
FedEx International Economy

DHL Express Surcharges

NameWhat is itCommercial rateWill it apply to my shipment?
The service covers any import of a non-document shipment for which DHL has paid or used its customs credit line advancing customs duties, taxes or regulatory charges on behalf of those importers with whom DHL has no contract. The charge is based on the credit advanced or guaranteed and is subject to a standard minimum.
2% of duties $17.00 minimum
DHL Express Worldwide
Any shipment registered into bond and subsequently held for more than three calendar days after awaiting documentation from the Receiver or Importer - or after clearance has been assigned to a third-party broker - will be assessed a daily storage charge beginning on the fourth day.
$31 per shipment per day after 3 calendar days
DHL Express Worldwide
The in-bond entry (CF7512) allows non-document foreign-origin goods to travel bonded through the U.S. to final destination for clearance by the importer’s broker or into a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). An in-bond entry may also be used to withdraw goods from an FTZ for export. DHL charges for this service.
$85
DHL Express Worldwide
The DHL Broker Notification or Document Transfer service is used to transfer Customs clearance documents to another broker to handle clearance on the customer’s behalf. DHL will assess a service charge to complete the transfer. DHL is not responsible for the timeliness of the submission of the entry to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or for the release of the shipment. DHL will deliver the shipment once a release is received from the CBP and/or the Office of the Attorney General.
$50
DHL Express Worldwide
A surcharge applies in case the customs declared value of a shipment requires modification either before or during the customs clearance process.
$56
DHL Express Worldwide
A Commercial Invoice is also known as a Pro Forma Invoice and is required by Customs when non-document goods are shipped internationally. Upon request, or when it is missing, DHL will attach the documentation on behalf of the customer, for a service charge.
$20
DHL Express Worldwide
A processing service charge is applied to any imported non-document shipment for which DHL advances payment of U.S. Customs duties, charges and taxes, and then re-bills an account- holding U.S. receiver. This service charge will be a percentage of the amount advanced, subject to a minimum, and will appear as a separate line item on the DHL duty invoice.
2% of duties $17.00 minimum
DHL Express Worldwide
U.S. Customs requires a declaration to be filed for shipments that are over a certain value or going to specific destinations. DHL may file on behalf of the shipper, for a service charge. Shippers filing directly through https://ace.cbp.dhs.gov will not incur the charge.
$15
DHL Express Worldwide
Any shipment that has been in the DHL warehouse for 20 calendar days without entry must be reported to CBP as eligible for General Order. The General Order Warehouse operator may retrieve the shipment and retain until final disposition. Charges assessed by the warehouse operator for transportation and storage will be passed to the importer.
Government charges may vary
DHL Express Worldwide
Duty is applied by U.S. Customs at the time of initial entry and varies depending on contents and origin of shipment. Additional duties may be applied by U.S. Customs after the initial Customs entry, when estimated duties were paid, or when an entry is audited, causing a change in the duty owed. These charges will appear on the DHL Express duty invoice. Taxes are applied by U.S. Customs, based on the value of the goods being imported.
Government charges may vary
DHL Express Worldwide
DHL will provide copies of import documentation previously supplied to the importer/ultimate receiver, at an additional cost. When available, an electronic copy may be provided, for a service charge. Additional copies of import documentation will be supplied by the importing gateway when requested by the receiver. Copies of files for express manifested clearances are not available.
$25.00 per packet or $1.00 for soft copy
DHL Express Worldwide
Merchandise Processing is a Customs-imposed service charge paid by all Brokers on formal entries. The rate is a percentage of the net entered value of the goods. Minimums and maximums apply.
Charges vary as follows: 0.3464% of the net entered value with a minimum of $27.23 and a maximum of $528.33
DHL Express Worldwide
A service charge will be assessed for multiline item entries with more than five lines. An example would be one shipment with multiple products or multiple invoices. All products require
Import: $5.00 per line after 5 lines
DHL Express Worldwide
If requested by Customs authorities or the Importer/Exporter, DHL may add or modify data declared to Customs authorities for clearance purposes. This includes data such as declared values, classification of the goods and importer details, based on documentary evidence gathered from or confirmed by the Importer or Exporter.
$90
DHL Express Worldwide
To accelerate import of select controlled commodities — such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, computer monitors, laser CD players, cosmetics, eyeglasses, food and food products — DHL is required to file specific information with Customs in order to obtain the required import permits or licenses. DHL will apply a service charge for the preparation and submission of such filings. The charge will be applied to whoever pays duty and taxes.
$25
DHL Express Worldwide
Some destinations require certification for certain commodities, to authenticate the country of origin of the merchandise/goods being shipped. Upon request, or when this documentation is missing at origin, DHL will attach it on behalf of the customer for a service charge. When exporting from the U.S., this service is available only for goods made in the United States.
$10
DHL Express Worldwide
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bioterrorism regulations require that a Prior Notice (PN) for all shipments containing food or food products be filed electronically with the FDA prior to shipment arrival. DHL Express will prepare and submit a PN for all imported food shipments for a service charge. Customers may file directly with the FDA to avoid the PN service charge. Customers who wish to self-process to avoid PN charges must provide a detailed shipment description and the FDA PN confirmation number (10 digits) on the Commercial Invoice, and also on the shipment waybill in the description section. A printed copy of the PN confirmation should also be included with the waybill and invoice. Note: Prior Notice does not include Obtaining Permits & Licenses for FDA Entry Preparation.
$10
DHL Express Worldwide
At a customer’s request or when the document is missing from the shipment at origin, DHL will prepare an international Customs document, e.g. ATA Carnet, to simplify Customs procedures for the temporary import/export of various goods. Photographic proof, written details or original receipts are often required to identify the goods. An importer can also import certain classes of goods into the U.S. duty-free by posting a bond, according to 19 CFR Part 10. The importer must complete and sign the DHL Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB) contract and processing procedures prior to preparing a TIB entry. A service charge will be assessed for any Temporary Import/Export services.
$90
DHL Express Worldwide
This fixed surcharge is applied to any shipment that has an incorrect delivery address at the time of pickup and the delivery cannot be fulfilled after making efforts at the destination to determine the correct address.
$18
DHL Express Worldwide
A surcharge is applied for shipments containing consumer goods (such as perfumes, aftershaves, aerosols, nail varnishes and prescription medicines as covered by the IATA ID8000 section) that are packed in a form intended for retail sale and shipped to private individuals.
$23
DHL Express Worldwide
This fixed surcharge applies for each shipment consigned with non-electronic, paper-based manual waybills. Electronic shipping documentation incurs no additional charges.
$6.50
DHL Express Worldwide
A charge will apply when shipping to a destination country where DHL is operating at elevated risk due to a continuous state of war, civil unrest or continuous threats from terrorism. This charge applies to all shipments destined to Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Niger, Syria and Yemen. This charge may apply in addition to either Restricted Destination or Exporter Validation.
$20
DHL Express Worldwide
A charge will apply when shipping to a destination country that is subject to trade restrictions imposed by federal regulatory agencies such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This charge will apply to all non-document shipments destined to Afghanistan, Belarus, Lebanon, Myanmar and Zimbabwe. This charge may apply in addition to Elevated Risk.
$30
DHL Express Worldwide
Unlike other surcharges, fuel will always apply to every shipment.
DHL Express Worldwide
A fixed surcharge is applied to every piece, including a pallet, that exceeds the scale weight of 150 lbs. for shipments originating in the U.S. and U.S. Territories (70 kg. for shipments originating outside of the U.S. and U.S. Territories) or with a single dimension in excess of 48 inches for shipments originating in the U.S. and U.S. Territories (120 cm. for shipments originating outside of the U.S. and U.S. Territories).
$94
DHL Express Worldwide
This surcharge applies when a shipment is collected from or delivered to a location that is distant or difficult to serve. The Remote Area surcharge applies to domestic and international shipments.
$0.42 per lb. (or half kg) with a $42 minimum
DHL Express Worldwide
A charge will apply when shipping to a destination country that is subject to trade restrictions imposed by the UN Security Council. This charge will apply to all non-document shipments destined for the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. This charge may apply in addition to Elevated Risk.
$30
DHL Express Worldwide

Excluded Surcharges

DHL Express surcharges excluded:

  • Continuous Bond: Upon customer’s request and receipt of customer’s application, DHL will purchase a continuous bond on the customer’s behalf. The continuous bond would remain in effect for a year and would cover all entries for the importer of record, through any port, provided the broker has a valid Power of Attorney from the importer or principal. The continuous bond renews annually until terminated by importer, principal, Customs Broker or Surety. For example, the minimum bond amount required by CBP is $50,000 or 10% of the total duties, taxes and fees, plus all open increased duty bills and debit vouchers paid in the previous 12 months – whichever is greater. Higher bond values are also available at a tiered rate.
  • Other Government Agency (Border Controls): Government charges apply when DHL Express arranges the clearance of any items subject to bio, health, phyto-sanitary, veterinary, quarantine, CITES or similar controls required by any regulatory agency. This includes the preparation of any related paperwork, to facilitate the clearance of a shipment. This also includes, but is not limited to: licenses, permits and inspections required by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (F&WS) or other government agencies, for certain commodities imported into the U.S. This also includes any overtime charges from the F&WS for instances in which an importer requests clearance outside of the F&WS normal working schedule. Charges vary based on the government requirements.
  • Single Clearance: Under 19 CFR 128 Express Consignments regulations, non-restricted merchandise based on value and commodity can be cleared on a consolidated manifest for more cost- and time-efficient processing. DHL will assess a service charge for the following clearance processing that require individual handling: • When the importer requests a single formal entry if the shipment is qualified to be cleared informally on the manifest • If U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires Live Entry • If the commodity and country of origin require Antidumping/Countervailing Duties at time of import
  • Under Bond/Guarantee: A single-transaction bond is used in lieu of a continuous bond, in the event a customer is not bonded. A service charge will be assessed (minimum applies).
  • DG / HazMat

FedEx surcharges excluded:

  • International Out-of-Pickup Area Surcharge: International shipments picked up from remote and less-accessible locations are assessed an out-of-pickup-area surcharge.
  • Missing or Invalid Account Number: A fee applies if the shipper does not provide a valid or accurate FedEx account number or credit card number for the billing option selected. For FedEx Ground, this includes requests to bill accounts that do not have a U.S. or Canadian billing address.
  • Currency Conversion: FedEx Express customers who need their charges converted to a freely convertible currency (other than U.S. dollars) will be billed using a daily conversion rate. Our source for the daily information is OANDA, an internet exchange rate service.
  • DG / HazMat
  • Delivery Signature Options

Carrier Resources

FedEx Service Guide 2021.pdf15379.2KB
FedEx Surcharges and Fees 2021.pdf225.5KB
DHL Express International Service & Rate Guide.pdf4076.4KB

Additional Resources

For up-to-date, country-specific duty and tax rates, refer to Zonos country guides.