Three price layers are stacked right now
- January 18, 2026 general increase. The yearly base price change. USPS raised Ground Advantage by an average of 7.8%, Priority Mail by 6.6%, Priority Mail Express by 5.1% and Parcel Select by 6.0%.
- April 26, 2026 to January 17, 2027: 8% time-limited increase. USPS filed an 8 percent increase to base postage for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, tied to transportation costs. No other products were included.
- October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027: holiday add-on. A flat dollar amount per piece by service, zone group and weight, set out below. It also covers retail and commercial prices of the same four products only.
Both temporary layers are scheduled to end at 12 a.m. Central on January 17, 2027, so January 16 is the last day of the peak prices. Because the add-on is a fixed dollar amount, it hurts light, cheap labels the most: $0.55 on a commercial Ground Advantage label to Zone 5 is a far bigger share of a $6 label than of a $20 one.
Commercial increases (per label)
| Service | Zones | 0–3 lb, cubic 1–3 | 4–10 lb, cubic 4–9 | 11–25 lb, cubic 10 | 26–70 lb, oversized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | 1–4 | $0.40 | $0.65 | $1.05 | $3.15 |
| Ground Advantage | 5–9 | $0.55 | $1.05 | $1.75 | $7.70 |
| Priority Mail | 1–4 | $0.40 | $0.65 (cubic 4–5) | $1.05 | $3.15 |
| Priority Mail | 5–9 | $0.85 | $1.75 (cubic 4–5) | $3.85 | $9.10 |
| Priority Mail Express | 1–4 | $1.40 | $2.10 | $4.90 | $12.55 |
| Priority Mail Express | 5–9 | $2.35 | $5.55 | $10.50 | $18.20 |
| Parcel Select | All entries | $0.40 | $0.50 | $0.80 | $2.35 |
Commercial flat rate: Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box +$1.75, other Priority Mail Flat Rate +$0.85, Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope +$2.35.
Retail increases (per label)
| Service | Zones | 0–3 lb | 4–10 lb | 11–25 lb | 26–70 lb, oversized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage and Priority Mail | 1–4 | $0.50 | $0.80 | $1.25 | $3.90 |
| Ground Advantage | 5–9 | $0.75 | $1.40 | $2.75 | $7.50 |
| Priority Mail | 5–9 | $1.00 | $2.10 | $4.30 | $9.10 (26–70 lb) |
| Priority Mail Express | 1–4 | $1.40 | $2.45 | $5.05 | $12.70 |
| Priority Mail Express | 5–9 | $2.35 | $6.30 | $11.70 | $20.80 |
Retail flat rate: Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box +$2.10, other Priority Mail Flat Rate +$1.00, Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope +$2.35. The USPS table lists Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express heavy rows as 26–70 lb without an oversized price, except the Zones 1–4 Priority Mail row it shares with Ground Advantage, so the calculator shows no oversized figure for them.
Worked example
A seller ships 300 commercial Ground Advantage labels a week, 2 lb each, mostly to Zone 5. The add-on is $0.55 per label. From October 20, 2026 to the last peak day, January 16, 2027, is 89 days, about 12.7 weeks, so the season costs about 300 × 12.7 × $0.55 ≈ $2,098 more than the same labels in September. Over the full peak window from October 4 (15 weeks) the figure is about $2,475.
What sellers can do about it
- Check where your weight sits. The tiers break after 3, 10 and 25 lb. A 3.2 lb package rounds up to 4 lb and moves from the $0.55 tier to $1.05 in Zones 5–9 commercial Ground Advantage.
- Check whether cubic pricing applies. Small dense commercial packages rated by cubic tier 1–3 get the lowest add-on in every zone group.
- Compare Zones 1–4 against 5–9. The far-zone add-on is higher in every row, up to more than double for Priority Mail. Shipping from a warehouse closer to your buyers lowers both the base price and the add-on.
- Price it in now. If you charge buyers shipping, the add-on is a fixed cost per order until January 16. On marketplaces with free shipping it comes straight out of margin; run your item through the FBA vs FBM calculator with the higher label cost.
Frequently asked questions
When does the USPS holiday price increase start and end?
USPS set it to run from 12 a.m. Central on October 4, 2026 until 12 a.m. Central on January 17, 2027, pending favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission (Docket No. CP2026-10). We could not open the PRC docket from our tools to read the Commission's order, so check your shipping platform's live price if the exact status matters.
Is the holiday increase added on top of the 8% increase?
The two are separate filings that overlap for the whole holiday window. The 8% time-limited increase applies to base postage from April 26, 2026, and the holiday change adds a fixed dollar amount per piece from October 4. Both are scheduled to end on January 17, 2027.
Which USPS services are not affected?
USPS said no products other than Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select are affected. That leaves out First-Class Mail and stamps, Media Mail, Library Mail and international services.
Do commercial labels from shipping platforms pay the increase?
Yes. The USPS notice has a separate commercial table, and its amounts are a little lower than retail in most rows. Labels bought through shipping software or marketplace label programs are usually commercial prices.
What happens to USPS prices after January 17, 2027?
Both temporary increases are scheduled to end that day. As of October 20, 2026 we found no USPS filing for a January 2027 general price change. We will update this page when USPS files one.
Sources & how this tool is maintained
Holiday amounts and dates: USPS news release "U.S. Postal Service Announces Temporary Price Change for 2026 Holiday Shipping Season" (August 25, 2026), checked against a second published copy of the same tables. The 8% increase: USPS transportation-related time-limited price change (March 25, 2026). The January 2026 averages are from USPS's November 2025 announcement as reported in the trade press. Full price lists are on the Postal Regulatory Commission website and USPS Postal Explorer. Marginely is an independent seller-tools site, not affiliated with USPS. Found a discrepancy? Tell us via the about page.
Last reviewed: October 20, 2026 · next review when USPS files its January 2027 prices.