Change your FedEx delivery address online or by phone before the package reaches your local facility
You can change where a FedEx package goes if you catch it before it enters the final delivery phase. The fastest way is through FedEx Delivery Manager, a free tool on the FedEx website that lets you redirect packages in real time. If you do not have a FedEx account or the package is already out for delivery, call FedEx directly at 1-800-463-3339 and speak to a representative who can attempt the change on your behalf.
The window to make changes is narrow — once a package arrives at your local FedEx facility and is loaded onto a delivery truck, redirection becomes much harder. The sooner you act after realizing the address is wrong, the better your chances of success. Some changes carry a fee, and some cannot be done at all depending on how close the package is to your door.
Key Takeaways
- FedEx Delivery Manager on the FedEx website is the fastest way to change an address, and it works only if the package has not yet left your local facility.
- You can call FedEx at 1-800-463-3339 to request a change, but a representative may tell you the package is too close to delivery to redirect.
- Some address changes are free, but FedEx may charge a fee depending on how far the package has traveled and where you want it sent.
- If redirection fails, you can refuse the package at your current address and have it returned to the sender, then request they ship it to the correct address.
Using FedEx Delivery Manager to change your address
Go to fedex.com and sign in to your FedEx account, or create one if you do not have one yet. Click on "Delivery Manager" in the top menu. You will see a list of packages headed to you; find the one with the wrong address and click on it to open the tracking details.
Once you open the package details, look for the option to "Change Delivery" or "Redirect Delivery." Click that button and enter the new address where you want the package sent. FedEx will show you whether the change is possible based on where the package currently is in the network. If the package is still in transit to your local facility, the change usually goes through when ready at no cost. If it has already arrived locally, FedEx may charge a fee or tell you the change cannot be made.
After you submit the new address, FedEx will send you a confirmation email with the updated delivery details. Check that email to make sure the address was entered correctly — typos at this stage can send the package to the wrong place a second time. The package will now be routed to your new address on the original delivery date or shortly after, depending on how far it has to travel.
Calling FedEx to request an address change
If you do not have a FedEx account or prefer to speak to someone directly, call 1-800-463-3339. Have your tracking number ready — you can find it in your shipping confirmation email or on the FedEx website. Tell the representative the current address on the package and the address where you want it sent instead.
The representative will check where your package is in the delivery network and tell you whether a change is possible. If the package is still moving through FedEx facilities, they can usually redirect it at no charge. If it has already reached your local delivery station and is scheduled to go out that day, they may not be able to change it, or they may charge a fee. Ask the representative what the fee is before you authorize the change.
After the call, FedEx will send you a confirmation email with the new delivery address and an updated tracking number if the address change required the package to be rerouted. Save this email and check your tracking regularly to confirm the package arrives at the correct location.
What to do if the address cannot be changed
If FedEx tells you the package is too close to delivery to redirect, you have two options: refuse the package when it arrives, or accept it and arrange to pick it up from the delivery location.
To refuse the package, tell the FedEx driver "I refuse this delivery" when they arrive. Do not sign for it. The driver will mark it as refused and send it back to the sender. Once it returns to the sender, contact them and ask them to ship it to the correct address. This process takes several days, so use it only if you have time to wait for a second shipment.
If you need the package urgently, accept the delivery at your current address and then arrange to pick it up or have someone else collect it. If the package was sent to a business address by mistake and you work there, ask a coworker to hold it for you. If it went to your old address, contact the person living there and ask them to keep it safe until you can retrieve it.
Understanding FedEx address change fees
FedEx does not charge a fee for most address changes made through Delivery Manager before the package reaches your local facility. However, if the package has already arrived at your local FedEx location and is scheduled for delivery that day, FedEx may charge between $5 and $15 to redirect it, depending on the distance to the new address.
International packages and packages headed to certain remote areas may have higher fees or may not be redirectable at all. Ask the FedEx representative for the exact fee before you authorize the change. Some shippers include address-change protection in their shipping insurance, which may cover the fee — check your shipping confirmation to see if that applies to your package.
Preventing address mistakes on future shipments
Update your address in your online shopping account before you place an order. Most retailers pull your address from your account automatically, so keeping it current reduces the chance of a mistake. If you are moving, update your address in every account where you shop — Amazon, eBay, your bank, your insurance company, and any subscription services.
When you receive a shipping confirmation email, open it when ready and check that the delivery address matches where you actually want the package to go. Catching the mistake in the confirmation email, before the package ships, is the easiest fix — you can often change it by contacting the retailer directly, and they can update it with FedEx before the package even leaves their warehouse.
If you are expecting a package and you know you will not be home, use FedEx Delivery Manager to set delivery instructions before the package arrives. You can ask the driver to leave it in a safe place, hold it for pickup at a FedEx location, or deliver it to a neighbor. These instructions prevent the package from going to the wrong address in the first place.
Tracking your package after an address change
After you change the address, go back to the FedEx tracking page and enter your tracking number to see the updated delivery details. The tracking page will show the new address and an estimated delivery date. Check it daily as the delivery date approaches to make sure the package is still on track.
If the tracking page shows the package is still headed to the old address even though you requested a change, call FedEx again when ready. There may have been a delay in the system updating, or the change may not have gone through. The sooner you catch this, the sooner FedEx can correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my FedEx address if the package is already out for delivery?
Once a package is on the delivery truck, FedEx cannot redirect it. Your only option is to refuse it when the driver arrives, which sends it back to the sender. If you need the package, accept it at the current address and arrange to retrieve it, or ask the driver if they can hold it at the FedEx location for you to pick up.
What if I change the address but the package still goes to the old one?
Call FedEx at 1-800-463-3339 with your tracking number and tell them the package arrived at the wrong address. If you still have access to that address, retrieve the package. If you do not, FedEx can attempt to intercept it and reroute it, though success depends on how far it has traveled. Contact the sender as well — they may be able to help recover the package.
Do I need a FedEx account to change my delivery address?
You do not need an account to call FedEx and request a change — just have your tracking number ready. However, creating a free FedEx account and using Delivery Manager is faster and gives you more control over your packages. You can set up an account in a few minutes on fedex.com.
Can I change the address to a FedEx location for pickup instead?
Yes. When you request the address change, you can ask FedEx to hold the package at a FedEx location near you for pickup. This works well if the original address is inconvenient or if you will not be home. FedEx will hold it for several days, and you can pick it up during their business hours with a photo ID.
How long does it take for a FedEx address change to take effect?
If you change the address through Delivery Manager before the package reaches your local facility, the change takes effect when ready and the package is rerouted that day. If you call FedEx, the change usually takes effect within a few hours. If the package is already at your local facility, the change may not take effect until the next business day, or it may not be possible at all.