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USPS Rate Changes 2024

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ShipWorks Content Team

Updated

Shipping carriers routinely update their products, services, and rates—typically at the start and midpoint of each year. To help you navigate these changes, this article provides an overview of USPS rates, the discounts you'll receive when shipping through ShipWorks , and a detailed comparison of commercial rates across each service class.

Summary of USPS 2024 Holiday Rate Changes

The U.S. Postal Service has proposed temporary holiday shipping rate changes beginning Sunday, October 6, 2024, and ending Sunday, January 19, 2025. Subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), these changes will impact Retail and Commercial rates for Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express, and USPS Ground Advantage™.

Priority Mail

Mailpiece Weight

Commercial Increase

Retail Increase

0-3lb, Zones 1-4

$0.30

$0.40

0-3lb, Zones 5-9

$0.70

$0.90

4-10lb, Zones 1-4

$0.45

$0.55

4-10lb, Zones 5-9

$1.25

$1.45

11-25lb, Zones 1-4

$0.75

$0.95

11-25lb, Zones 5-9

$2.75

$3.25

26-70lb, Zones 1-4

$3.00

$4.00

26-70lb, Zones 5-9

$7.00

$8.50
Priority Mail Express

Mailpiece Weight

Commercial Increase

Retail Increase

0-3lb, Zones 1-4

$1.00

$1.10

0-3lb, Zones 5-9

$1.75

$2.00

4-10lb, Zones 1-4

$1.50

$2.00

4-10lb, Zones 5-9

$3.95

$4.85

11-25lb, Zones 1-4

$3.50

$3.90

11-25lb, Zones 5-9

$7.50

$9.00

26-70lb, Zones 1-4

$8.95

$9.75

26-70lb, Zones 5-9

$13.00

$16.00
Ground Advantage

Mailpiece Weight

Commercial Increase

Retail Increase

0-3lb, Zones 1-4

$0.30

$0.40

0-3lb, Zones 5-9

$0.35

$0.50

4-10lb, Zones 1-4

$0.45

$0.55

4-10lb, Zones 5-9

$0.75

$1.00

11-25lb, Zones 1-4

$0.75

$0.95

11-25lb, Zones 5-9

$1.25

$2.00

26-70lb, Zones 1-4

$3.00

$4.00

26-70lb, Zones 5-9

$5.50

$5.85

To offset USPS holiday rate increases, consider using a shipping platform like ShipWorks, which often offers discounted rates for major carriers, including USPS, potentially saving you money on holiday shipments.

USPS Rates

The rate tables below compare the USPS Retail and Commercial rates, effective October 6, 2024.

ShipWorks customers enjoy additional discounts over most commercial rates, which will automatically appear in your account.

Letters

Letters

Commercial

Retail

First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.)

$0.69

$0.73

First-Class Mail letter (each additional ounce)

$0.24

$0.28

First-Class Mail Flat/Large Envelope (1 oz.)

$1.50

$1.50

First-Class Mail Flat/Large Envelope (each additional ounce)

$0.24

from $0.27

Postcard

$0.53

$0.56
Flat Rate Envelopes

Flat Rate Envelopes

Commercial

Retail

Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope

$9.00

$10.45

Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope

$9.30

$10.75

Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope

$9.80

$11.20

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope

$27.90

$32.00

Priority Mail Express Legal Flat Rate Envelope

$28.20

$32.20

Priority Mail Express Padded Flat Rate Envelope

$28.40

$32.75
Packages

Packages

Commercial

Retail

Media Mail (1 lb.)

N/A

from $4.63

USPS Ground Advantage™ (4 oz.)

(formerly USPS First Class Package)

from $4.09

from $5.40

USPS Ground Advantage™ (1 lb.)

(formerly USPS Parcel Select Ground)

from $7.13

from $8.40

Priority Mail (1 lb.)

from $8.20

from $9.65

Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box

$9.55

$11.00

Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box

$16.85

$19.30

Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box

$23.05

$26.00

Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box

$21.35

$24.25
Int'l Packages

International Packages

Commercial

Retail

First Class Package Intl Service (Canada 1 lb.)

from $23.54

from 24.80

Priority Mail Intl (Canada 1 lb.)

from $40.91

from $42.95

Priority Mail Intl Flat Rate Envelopes (Canada)

$29.66

$30.90

Priority Mail Intl Small Flat Rate Box (Canada)

$30.67

$32.20

Priority Mail Intl Medium Flat Rate Box (Canada)

$58.06

$61.80

Priority Mail Intl Large Flat Rate Box (Canada)

$69.10

$74.60

Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Envelopes (Canada)

$55.49

$59.50

First Class Package Intl Service (Other Countries 1 lb.)

from $16.35

from $17.20

Priority Mail Intl (Other Countries 1 lb.)

from $40.91

from $42.95

Priority Mail Intl Flat Rate Envelopes (Other Countries)

from $38.89

from $40.25

Priority Mail Intl Small Flat Rate Box (Other Countries)

from $40.35

from $41.75

Priority Mail Intl Medium Flat Rate Box (Other Countries)

from $70.49

from $74.60

Priority Mail Intl Large Flat Rate Box (Other Countries)

from $83.02

from $88.05

Priority Mail Express Intl (0.5 lb.)

from $57.32

from $61.60

Global Express Guaranteed (0.5 lb.)

from $71.20

from $74.95
Special Services

Special Services

Certified Mail™

$4.85

Certified Mail™ Restricted Delivery

$12.75

Certificate of Mailing

$2.20

Registered Mail™

from $18.60

Return Receipt (mail)

$4.10

Return Receipt (electronic)

$2.62

Signature Confirmation™ (Ground Advantage-electronic)

$3.70

Adult Signature

$9.35

Package Intercept

$17.50

FAQs

Below are common questions about the USPS rate changes. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

When do the new USPS rates start?

The temporary USPS holiday rate changes took effect on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

Does my ZIP code impact my shipping rates?

On September 16th, USPS adjusted Priority Mail and Ground Advantage rates, resulting in increased shipping and mailing costs for certain ZIP codes. Rest assured, you’ll still get discounted rates on most services through ShipWorks.

For more information on which ZIP Codes are affected by this update, please contact our ShipWorks Support team.

Do I get discounted USPS rates with ShipWorks?

ShipWorks offers discounted USPS rates for businesses of all sizes. All ShipWorks 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.

How do I avoid potential fees and surcharges?

Fees and surcharges may apply to Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Ground Advantage shipments based on the package volume and dimensions.

Dimensional weight, also called DIM weight or volumetric weight, is a pricing method that uses an estimated weight calculated from the length, width, and height of a package divided by a specific divisor determined by the carrier. For certain carriers, like USPS, UPS, and FedEx, a shipment's billable shipping cost is calculated based on dimensional weight if that value is higher than the actual weight.

To ensure you are receiving accurate shipping quotes, we recommend that you always include a package's total weight and package dimensions.

Flat Rate packages are not affected.

If dimensions are not provided or if dimensions are inaccurate: A $1.50 fee will be added for packages that are greater than one cubic foot in volume or have a box length greater than 22 inches.

Enter Dimensions to Avoid Surcharges

When preparing a package for shipment, if the dimensions section is present, be sure to enter the size of your package to ensure an accurate rate and avoid post-shipping adjustments.

If packages have dimensions that exceed machinable sorting requirements, nonstandard sizing fees will apply as follows:

USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express

  • If the longest side of a package is more than 22 inches but less than 30 inches, a $4.00 surcharge will be applied

  • If the longest side of a package is greater than 30 inches, a $15.00 surcharge will be applied

  • If the volume of the package is greater than 2 cubic feet, a $30.00 surcharge will be applied*

  • Packages with missing or incorrect package dimensions that result in any dimensions-based fees, a $1.50 surcharge will be applied

USPS Ground Advantage

  • If the longest side of a package is more than 22 inches but less than 30 inches, a $4.00 surcharge will be applied*

  • If the longest side of a package is greater than 30 inches, a $8.40 surcharge will be applied*

  • If the volume of the package is greater than 2 cubic feet, a $18.00 surcharge will be applied*

  • Packages with missing or incorrect package dimensions that result in any dimensions-based fees, a $1.50 surcharge will be applied*

  • Does not apply to Media Mail.

Still Need Help?

Please feel free to reach out to one of our awesome Technical Support Representatives in St. Louis.  We are happy to help.

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