U.S. Postal Service announces temporary price change for 2026 holiday shipping

USPS SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 17: Customers wait in line to deliver packages at United States Post Office at Rincon Center on December 17, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

By KIRO 7 News Staff

Shipping packages this holiday season is going to get a little more expensive.

The U.S. Postal Service filed notice today with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for a temporary price change for some package products.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

The planned change would affect prices on:

  • Priority Mail Express (PME)
  • Priority Mail (PM)
  • USPS Ground Advantage
  • Parcel Select

No other products or services would be affected.

Pending favorable review by the PRC, the temporary rates would go into effect on Oct. 4 and remain in place until Jan. 17, 2027.

The planned price changes include:

Retail:

Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1-4

  • $0.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
  • $0.80 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
  • $1.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
  • $3.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail: Zones 5-9

  • $1.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
    • $2.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
    • $4.30 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
    • $9.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Flat Rate:

  • $2.10 increase for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
  • $1.00 increase for all other Flat Rate Products.

USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 5-9

  • $0.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
    • $1.40 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
    • $2.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
    • $7.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail Express: Zones 1-9

  • $1.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
  • $2.35 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
  • $2.45 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
  • $6.30 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
  • $5.05 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
  • $11.70 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
  • $12.70 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
  • $20.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate:

  • $2.35 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes.

Commercial:

Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1-4

  • $0.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 1-3.
  • $0.65 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 4-5 (PM), 4-9 (GA).
  • $1.05 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs. and Cubic Tier 10 (GA).
  • $3.15 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail: Zones 5-9

  • $0.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 1-3.
  • $1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 4-5.
  • $3.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
  • $9.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Flat Rate:

  • $1.75 increase for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
    • $0.85 increase for all other Flat Rate Products.

USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 5-9

  • $0.55 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 1-3.
    • $1.05 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 4-9.
    • $1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs. and Cubic Tier 10.
    • $7.70 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail Express: Zones 1-9

  • $1.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
  • $2.35 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
  • $2.10 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
  • $5.55 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
  • $4.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
  • $10.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
  • $12.55 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
  • $18.20 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate:

  • $2.35 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes.

Parcel Select: (all entries)

  • $0.40 increase for 0-3 lbs.
  • $0.50 increase for 4-10 lbs.
  • $0.80 increase for 11-25 lbs.
  • $2.35 increase for 26-70 lbs. and Oversized