FedEx Lost Package? What to Do and How to File a Claim

What "lost" means for FedEx specifically

A FedEx package can be "lost" in two meaningfully different ways. It may be genuinely lost in transit, never reaching your area at all, or it may be marked "delivered" while you never actually received it, which usually points to misdelivery or theft rather than a carrier-side loss. Each scenario has a different claims path, so it's worth confirming which one you're dealing with before filing anything.

How to check your package status first

Check FedEx tracking for the last scan. If it's marked delivered but missing, check with neighbors and around the property, and check for a FedEx Delivery Manager notification about a redirected drop location.

How to file a FedEx claim

File online at the FedEx Claims Center. Either the shipper or the recipient can file, though the shipper holds the shipping contract; if you're the recipient, you can file on your own or ask the seller to file on your behalf [source: FedEx, "File a Claim"].
Deadlines matter: claims for damaged or missing contents must be filed within 60 calendar days of the ship date for domestic shipments (21 days for international). Claims for a fully undelivered or lost shipment have a longer window: 9 months from the shipment date [source: FedEx, "File a Claim"]
FedEx will investigate, typically several weeks, reviewing tracking data and, where relevant, delivery footage.
Approved payments can be received via Electronic Funds Transfer for faster processing [source: FedEx, "File claims faster online"].

What compensation you can expect

FedEx's standard liability for a lost or damaged package is $100 for domestic shipments at no extra charge, unless you paid to declare a higher value [source: FedEx, "Declared Value & Limits of Liability"]. Importantly, FedEx's own page states that a declared value does not guarantee reimbursement; you must file a claim in writing and prove FedEx was actually at fault. Like UPS, this is a liability cap, not insurance, and it generally does not cover porch piracy: FedEx's liability effectively ends once a package is scanned "delivered." Higher-value shipments need additional declared-value coverage purchased at the time of shipping.

How to prevent it happening again

Use FedEx Delivery Manager to control delivery windows and redirect to a retail location, require a signature for valuable shipments, or redirect to a package receiving service for a secure, staffed pickup point. With Delivery Amigo's package acceptance locations, your packages are received and held by a real person until you collect them with a unique pickup PIN, no unattended doorstep. Plans start at $7.50/month for 5 packages, or $15/month for 15.

Delivery Amigo operates in cities including NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Jersey City, and Philadelphia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who files a FedEx lost-package claim, the sender or me?

Either can. FedEx lets the recipient file directly, or you can ask the seller (who holds the shipping contract) to file for you. Whoever files needs the tracking number and proof of value.

How long do I have to file a FedEx claim?

For damaged or missing contents, 60 calendar days from the ship date (21 days international). For a fully lost or undelivered shipment, you have up to 9 months from the shipment date.

How much will FedEx pay for a lost package?

FedEx's default liability is $100 for domestic shipments unless you declared a higher value at shipping. Declared value is a liability cap, not insurance, and you must prove FedEx was at fault; it generally won't cover theft after a "delivered" scan.

What if FedEx says delivered but I never got it?

That points to misdelivery or theft, not a carrier loss. Check around the property and with neighbors, look for a delivery photo, then pursue it as a theft issue (report to the seller and, for valuables, the police) rather than a standard FedEx claim.

FedEx Lost Packages: What to Do and How to File a Claim