USPS Rate Changes 2026
Shipping carriers periodically update their products, services, and rates—typically at the start and midpoint of the year. These updates may affect the rates you see when shipping through ShippingEasy.
This article provides an overview of USPS rate changes, available discounts, and a comparison of commercial rates across service classes.
USPS updated mailing and shipping rates and introduced changes to dimensional weight calculations and hazardous materials requirements.
Effective: July 12, 2026
What this means for you
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Mailing Services: Market-dominant mailing service prices increased by an average of 4.8%. For example:
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Letters (1 oz/Forever Stamp): $0.78 → $0.82
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Letters (metered 1 oz): $0.74 → $0.78
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Domestic Postcards: $0.61 → $0.65
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International Postcards: $1.70 → $1.75
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International Letters (1 oz): $1.70 → $1.75
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Dimensional Weight: USPS updated dimensional weight calculations for Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail®, USPS Ground Advantage™, and Parcel Select®.
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Updated Divisor: The dimensional weight divisor changed from 166 to 139, which may increase the billable weight for some packages.
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Rounding Requirements: Package dimensions must now be rounded up to the nearest whole inch before calculating dimensional weight.
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Noncompliance Fees: USPS plans to introduce noncompliance fees for packages with missing or incorrect dimensions beginning tentatively in early 2027.
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For more information about dimensional weight calculations and pricing, see Dimensional Weight Pricing.
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Hazardous Materials: USPS updated hazardous materials requirements, including handling, noncompliance, and mailing requirements for applicable shipments.
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Handling Fee ($7.50): Applicable Priority Mail Express® and Priority Mail® hazardous materials shipments will be subject to a per-package handling fee.
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Noncompliance Fee ($50): Shipments that do not meet USPS hazardous materials requirements, such as incorrect labels or restricted items, may be subject to a noncompliance fee.
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General Guidelines: USPS recommends declaring applicable hazardous materials, including lithium batteries, nail polish, and hairspray, during label creation to help ensure compliance with USPS mailing requirements.
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These rate changes took effect earlier in 2026.
USPS is applying a temporary 8% price increase to select domestic shipping rates.
Effective: April 26, 2026 – January 17, 2027
What this means for you
Rates will increase for the following services:
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Priority Mail®
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Priority Mail Express®
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USPS Ground Advantage™
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Parcel Select
What’s not affected
The following services are not impacted by this change:
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First-Class Mail® stamps
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Other USPS products and services
Effective February 23, 2026, USPS revised its rural ZIP Code designation list. The updated list now includes 20 fewer rural ZIP Codes, with some ZIP Codes added and others removed.
To check whether a specific ZIP Code is impacted, contact our Support team.
USPS has filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for new shipping rates, effective January 18, 2026.
These changes will impact the following Retail and Commercial rates:
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Ground Advantage™: Average rate increase of 7.8%
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Priority Mail®: Average price increase of 6.6%
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Priority Mail Express®: Average price increase of 5.1%
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Parcel Select: Average price increase of 6.0%
*USPS Mailing Services prices, including First-Class Mail® stamps, will not increase in January 2026.
These USPS rate changes also affect the rates you get through ShippingEasy.
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Ground Advantage™: Average decrease of 2.0%. Greatest impact on packages over 1 lb. Enjoy savings up to $6.44 and discounts up to 31.6% off Commercial Rates for heavier parcels.
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Ground Advantage™ cubic: Average decrease of 4.6%. Access savings up to $4.08 and discounts up to 28% off Commercial Rates.
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Priority Mail®: Average decrease of 1.0%. Savings up to $7.18 and discounts up to 12.0% off Commercial Rates.
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Priority Mail® flat rate: Average decrease of 0.5%. Savings up to $3.00 and discounts up to 13.5% off Commercial Rates.
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Priority Mail® cubic: Average decrease of 1.0%. Savings up to $3.19 and discounts up to 13.7% off Commercial Rates.
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Priority Mail Express: Average increase by about 1.2%.
The rate tables below compare the USPS Retail and Commercial products and services.
ShippingEasy customers enjoy additional discounts over most commercial rates, which will automatically appear in your account.
Below are common questions about the USPS rate changes. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
ShippingEasy offers discounted USPS rates for businesses of all sizes. All ShippingEasy plans have access to USPS Commercial Rates where offered, plus additional savings on Domestic and International Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, and Ground Advantage® (formerly First-Class Package and Parcel Select Ground) services.
Enter Dimensions to Avoid Surcharges
When preparing a package for shipment, if the Dimensions section is present, enter your package's dimensions to receive the most accurate rate and help avoid post-shipping adjustments.
To ensure accurate USPS pricing:
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Enter your package's total weight.
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Enter your package's complete dimensions.
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Round each dimension up to the nearest whole inch before entering measurements (for example, 14.1" becomes 15").
Fees and surcharges may apply to Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, USPS Ground Advantage®, and other applicable USPS services based on a package's weight, dimensions, and volume.
USPS may use dimensional weight (DIM weight)—also known as volumetric weight—to determine a shipment's billable weight when the package size is large relative to its actual weight. Dimensional weight is calculated using a package's length, width, height, and the USPS dimensional weight divisor. If the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, the higher value is used to calculate shipping costs.
To receive the most accurate rates and help avoid post-shipping adjustments, always enter your package's complete weight and dimensions.
If dimensions are not provided, or if they are inaccurate, USPS may apply a $3.00 fee when a package:
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Exceeds 1 cubic foot in volume, or
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Has a longest side greater than 22 inches
If a package exceeds USPS machinable sorting requirements, additional nonstandard size fees may apply.
Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express®
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Longest side more than 22 inches but less than 30 inches: $4.50
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Longest side greater than 30 inches: $21.00
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Package volume greater than 2 cubic feet: $35.00
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Missing or incorrect dimensions that result in a dimensions-based fee: $3.00
USPS Ground Advantage®
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Longest side more than 22 inches but less than 30 inches: $4.50
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Longest side greater than 30 inches: $10.00
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Package volume greater than 2 cubic feet: $21.00
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Missing or incorrect dimensions that result in a dimensions-based fee: $3.00
These fees do not apply to Media Mail® shipments.
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