USPS plans to raise holiday shipping rates
By: Gabe Hauari
USA Today
..... Shipping a gift to loved one this holiday season [2026] could cost a little more than usual.
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The U.S. Postal Service announced on August 25 [2026] it filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission regarding a "temporary price change for some package products for the 2026 peak holiday season." The agency says the;rice increase serves to "help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season."
..... The planed price adjustment would affect prices for the following retail and commercial domestic parcels: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. The USPS said no other products or services would be affected.
..... If approved, the new rates would go into effect October 4 [2026] and remain in place until January 17, 2027.
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According to the announcement, the planned price changes for the holiday season will vary based on service, destination and package size and weight.
Retail parcels
* Priority Mail and USPS ground Advantage: Zones 1-4: Increase range from 50 cents for packages 0-3 pounds to $3.90 for packages 26-70 pounds and oversize items.
* Priority Mail: Zones 5-9: Increases range from $1 for packages 0-3 pounds to $9.10 for packages 26-70 pounds.
* Priority Mail Flat Rate: $2.10 increase for large Flat Rate boxes; $1 increases for all other Flat Rate products.
* USPS Ground Advantage: Zone 5-9: Increases range from 75 cents for packages 0-3 pounds to $7.50 for packages 26-70 pounds and oversize items.
* Priority Mail Express: Zones 1-9: Increase range from $1.40 for packages 0-3 pounds to 420.80 for packages 26-70 pounds.
* Priority Mail Express Flat Rate: $2.35 increase for Flat Rate envelopes.
Commercial parcels
* Priority Mail and USPS ground Advantage: Zone 1-4: Increases range from 40 cents for packages 0-3 pounds and Cubic tiers 1-3 to $3.15 for packages 29-70 pounds and oversize items.
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Priority Mail: Zones 5-9: Increases range from 85 cents for packages 0-3 pounds and Cubic tiers 1-3 to $9.10 for packages 26-70 pounds.
* Priority Mail Flat Rate: $1.75 increase for large flat Rate boxes; 85-cent increase for all other Flat Rate products.
* USPS Ground Advantage Zones 5-9: Increases range from 35-cents for packages 0-3 pounds and Cubic Tiers 1-3 to $7.70 for packages 26-70 pounds and oversize items.
* Priority Mail Express Zones 1-4: Increases range from $1.40 for packages 0-3 pounds to $12.55 for packages 26-70 pounds.
* Priority Mail Express Zones 5-9: Increase range from $2.35 for packages 0-3 pounds to $18.20 for packages 26-70 pounds.
* Priority Mail Express Flat Rate: $2.35 increase for Flat Rate envelopes.
* Parcel Select (all entities): Increases range from 40 cents for packages 0-3 pounds to $2.35 for packages 26-70 pounds and oversize items.