What Changes Each Year
Both UPS and FedEx update their Delivery Area Surcharge (DAS) zip code lists every January, aligned with their annual rate changes. These updates can:
- Add new zip codes to DAS tiers (increasing your exposure)
- Remove zip codes from DAS tiers (decreasing your exposure)
- Move zip codes between tiers (e.g., from Standard DAS to Extended)
In recent years, the trend has been toward net expansion — more zip codes added than removed each year.
2026 DAS Scope
The approximate scale of DAS-designated zip codes for 2026:
| Tier | Zip Codes | % of U.S. Deliverable Addresses |
|---|---|---|
| DAS Standard | ~10,000 | ~15% |
| DAS Extended | ~4,500 | ~5% |
| DAS Remote | ~1,200 | ~1% |
Combined, roughly 21% of U.S. addresses carry some form of DAS surcharge. Most of these are in rural areas, but some suburban fringe areas are included too.
Where to Find Current DAS Lists
UPS
- Search “UPS Delivery Area Surcharge” on ups.com
- Download the current zip code list (Excel/CSV)
- Lists are organized by surcharge tier
FedEx
- Search “FedEx Delivery Area Surcharge” on fedex.com
- Download the zip code list
- FedEx provides separate residential and commercial DAS lists
How to Check Your DAS Exposure
Step 1: Export Your Shipping Data
Pull your destination zip codes for the past 3–6 months from your shipping platform.
Step 2: Match Against DAS Lists
Cross-reference your destination zips against the carrier DAS zip code lists:
- How many shipments went to Standard DAS zips?
- How many went to Extended DAS zips?
- How many went to Remote DAS zips?
Step 3: Calculate the Cost Impact
| Tier | Your Packages | Per-Package Fee | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard DAS | 500 | $4.10 | $2,050 |
| Extended DAS | 120 | $5.25 | $630 |
| Remote DAS | 30 | $7.75 | $232 |
| Total DAS cost | $2,912/month |
Year-Over-Year Changes to Watch
When DAS lists update, check for:
- New additions affecting your top destinations — A zip that wasn’t DAS last year might be this year
- Tier escalations — Standard DAS zip moving to Extended means $1.25+ per package increase
- Geography concentration — If a cluster of your customers’ zips just got added, the cost impact is concentrated
Proactive Strategies
Integrate DAS Checking Into Your Workflow
Some shipping platforms flag DAS addresses at time of order. This lets you:
- Display accurate shipping cost estimates at checkout
- Decide whether to absorb or pass through DAS costs
- Route DAS shipments to alternative carriers (USPS, regional)
Maintain a DAS Monitoring Dashboard
Track DAS exposure monthly:
- % of packages going to DAS zips
- Total DAS surcharge spend
- Year-over-year trend
Engage Your Carrier Rep
When new DAS zip codes are announced in September/October each year:
- Review the additions against your customer base
- Negotiate caps or reductions on DAS surcharges
- Discuss USPS/regional alternatives for new DAS areas
The Bottom Line
DAS zip codes are a moving target. Annual list updates can silently increase your shipping costs without any change in your customer base. Monitoring the annual updates, checking your exposure, and building DAS awareness into your carrier negotiations protects your margins.
Want to map your DAS exposure instantly? Upload one invoice to ShipMint’s Instant Analysis — free.