You can change your FedEx delivery address before the package arrives, but the window is narrow and depends on which service you used

If you ordered something shipped FedEx and need it sent somewhere else, you have options — but they work differently depending on whether you're the sender, the recipient, or neither. The fastest route is to contact FedEx directly with your tracking number before the package reaches the delivery facility in your destination city. Once it's out for delivery that day, changing the address becomes much harder. If you're the person who paid for the shipment, you can also contact the sender and ask them to request the change on their end.

The real constraint is timing. FedEx processes packages through regional hubs, and once your package enters the final delivery facility (usually the morning of delivery day), the address is locked in. If you catch it before then, you have a real chance. If you wait until the driver is already on the route, you'll likely need to refuse the package and have it returned, then reshipped — which costs time and sometimes money.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact FedEx with your tracking number as soon as you know you need a change; the earlier you call, the more options you have.
  • If you are the recipient but not the sender, FedEx may require the sender's permission to change the address, depending on the service level.
  • Once a package is out for delivery on the day of arrival, you cannot change the address; your only option is to refuse it and have it reshipped.
  • FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, and FedEx Home Delivery have different rules about address changes, so confirm which service your package uses before calling.
  • If the sender paid for the shipment, contact them first — they can often make the change faster than you can.

How to change the address if you are the sender

If you shipped the package yourself using your own FedEx account, you have the most control. Log into your FedEx account online and find the shipment using the tracking number. Some shipments allow you to edit the delivery address directly in your account dashboard, though this only works if the package hasn't yet reached the destination delivery facility.

If the online dashboard doesn't show an edit option, or if the package is already in transit to the final facility, call FedEx Customer Service at 1-800-463-3339. Have your tracking number ready. Tell them the new address and ask them to confirm whether the change can be made before the package reaches the delivery facility. If it can, they'll update it in the system. If it cannot, they'll explain your options for refusing and reshipping.

How to change the address if you are the recipient

If someone else sent you the package, your options depend on the service level and the sender's preferences. Start by calling FedEx at 1-800-463-3339 with your tracking number. Explain that you need the delivery address changed and provide the new address. FedEx will check whether the sender has restricted address changes on this shipment.

Many senders do restrict changes to prevent theft or fraud, especially on high-value items. If the sender has locked the address, FedEx cannot change it without the sender's written permission. In that case, ask FedEx for the sender's contact information (they may provide it, or direct you to contact the retailer or business that sent it) and request the change directly from them. The sender can then contact FedEx or use their own account to authorize the change.

If the sender has not restricted changes, FedEx can usually update the address on the spot, as long as the package hasn't entered the final delivery facility yet. Confirm with the representative that the change has been processed and ask for a confirmation number.

What happens if the package is already out for delivery

Once a FedEx driver has the package on their truck for the day, the address cannot be changed. At this point, your only option is to refuse the delivery when the driver arrives. Tell the driver you refuse the package, and they will mark it as refused in the system. The package will be returned to the sender.

After it's returned, the sender can reshipped it to the correct address. This adds several days to the timeline and may incur additional shipping costs depending on the sender's policy. To avoid this, check your tracking number daily once the package is in transit, and make any address changes as soon as you realize you need one.

How to check if your package can still be changed

Go to FedEx.com and enter your tracking number in the tracking tool. Look at the status and location. If the status shows "In Transit" and the location is still at a regional hub or sorting facility (not the local delivery facility), you likely still have time to change the address. If the status shows "Out for Delivery" or "On FedEx Vehicle," the address is locked and cannot be changed.

The tracking page will also show an estimated delivery date and time window. If delivery is scheduled for later today or tomorrow, call FedEx when ready. If delivery is several days away, you have more flexibility and can make the change online or by phone without urgency.

Changing the address for FedEx Ground versus FedEx Express

FedEx Ground packages (typically slower, cheaper, for non-urgent items) can usually be redirected up until the morning they reach the local delivery facility. Call 1-800-463-3339 and have your tracking number ready. Ground packages move through more facilities, so you may have a longer window than Express.

FedEx Express packages (overnight, 2-day, priority) move faster and reach the final facility sooner. Address changes are possible but the window is tighter. Call as soon as you know you need a change. FedEx Home Delivery (residential delivery) follows similar rules to Ground but may have different restrictions depending on the sender's account settings.

When you call, tell the representative which service your package is using (you can see this on the tracking page). They will tell you whether a change is still possible and what the new delivery date will be if the address is changed.

What to do if FedEx cannot change the address

If the package is too close to delivery or the sender has locked the address and won't authorize a change, refuse the delivery. This sends the package back to the sender at no additional cost to you (the sender bears the return shipping). Once it's back with the sender, ask them to reshipped it to the correct address.

If you need the package urgently and refusing it will cause a problem, ask FedEx whether they can hold the package at a nearby FedEx location for you to pick up instead. Some locations offer this service, though it depends on the service level and the facility. This buys you time to coordinate with the sender if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the address after the package has been delivered to the wrong place?

No. Once a package is delivered, it belongs to whoever received it. Contact the sender and ask them to file a claim with FedEx for misdelivery. FedEx can investigate and may recover the package, but this takes time. The sender may also reshipped to the correct address at their cost.

Will changing the address delay my delivery?

Usually yes, but only by a day or two. If you change the address while the package is still in transit to the original destination, FedEx will reroute it, which may add one business day. If you refuse the package and have it reshipped, add three to five business days depending on the service level.

Do I have to pay a fee to change the address?

FedEx does not charge a fee to change the address before delivery. However, if you refuse the package and the sender reshipped it, the sender may charge you for the additional shipping cost, depending on their policy. Check with them first.

What if the sender won't authorize the address change?

If the sender refuses to change the address and you cannot receive it at the original location, refuse the delivery. The package will be returned to the sender. You may then need to arrange a different delivery method or address with the sender directly.

Can I change the address to a FedEx location instead of a home address?

Yes. You can change the delivery address to a FedEx Office or FedEx World Service Center, where you can pick it up during business hours. Call FedEx with your tracking number and ask to change the address to the nearest FedEx location. Confirm the location's hours before the package arrives.