2026 USPS Rate and Service Changes

Updated as of 1/18/2026. The United States Postal Service (USPS®) adjusts postage rates at least once a year, and sometimes more frequently. These changes can have an impact on your mailing and shipping costs, which is why we’re committed to keeping you informed so you can manage your expenses effectively.

What are rate changes?

Rate changes are regular adjustments to shipping and mailing prices, implemented by the carrier in response to factors such as fuel cost fluctuations, inflation, and operational enhancements. These adjustments, often referred to as rate changes or rate adjustments, are designed to keep carriers competitive, maintain their financial stability, and ensure they continue providing reliable services to customers.

New USPS rates going into effect January 18, 2026

USPS has filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for new shipping rates, effective January 18, 2026. These adjustments primarily affect competitive package services, which are critical for high-volume shippers.

• Focus on shipping: The increases are concentrated in shipping services, including the popular Ground Advantage™, Priority Mail®, and Priority Mail Express®.
• No stamp changes: First-Class Mail® stamp prices are not included in this January price increase. mailing services prices will remain unchanged.
• No mailing changes: These rate adjustments will not introduce any changes or impact to existing mailing services.

Commercial and retail rate changes

USPS rate changes on Stamps.com 

Heads up! These USPS rate changes also affect the rates you get through Stamps.com. Check out the details below.

• 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.
• Ground Advantage™ cubic: Average decrease of 4.6%. Access savings up to $4.08 and discounts up to 28% off Commercial Rates.
• Priority Mail®: Average decrease of 1.0%. Savings up to $7.18 and discounts up to 12.0% off Commercial Rates.
• Priority Mail® flat rate: Average decrease of 0.5%. Savings up to $3.00 and discounts up to 13.5% off Commercial Rates.
• Priority Mail® cubic: Average decrease of 1.0%. Savings up to $3.19 and discounts up to 13.7% off Commercial Rates.
• Priority Mail Express: Average increase by about 1.2%.

Don’t sweat the changes—Get up to 87% off USPS rates

USPS rate increases are an inevitable cost of doing business, but they don’t have to cut into your profit margin. Stamps.com offers competitive rates for our customers through our 30-year partnership with USPS.

The Stamps.com advantage:

• Deeper discounts: You will continue to access deeply discounted USPS rates for services like Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage.
• Zero disruption: Our platform automatically applies these discounts, helping you get the best price for your shipment, maintaining your maximum savings without any service disruption.

Beyond postage—Effortless mailing and shipping

Your business thrives on efficiency and delivering an excellent client experience. Beyond rate discounts, Stamps.com makes everything about mailing and shipping—from address verification to package pickups—more convenient so you can spend more time running your business.

• Address verification: Say goodbye to returned mail. We instantly check and correct domestic and international addresses.
• Address book: Manage your contacts on a single dashboard to send important items quickly and reliably every time.
• Utilize cost-saving features: We have tools to help calculate postage and find savings opportunities, offering clear insights and streamlining your daily tasks. 
• Centralized tracking: Track every item you send via any carrier from a single dashboard to run your business with more precision.
• Package pickups: Print stamps, envelopes, and labels in under 2 minutes, and hand your mail to your carrier or schedule package pickups in just a few clicks.
• Access helpful resources: We provide resources to keep you informed about industry trends, including rate changes, demand surcharges, and dynamic pricing.

Your reliable partner for 30+ years

For over three decades, Stamps.com has been the market leader, making mailing and shipping easy for small businesses across the nation. Millions of Americans rely on our technology to access every mail class and shipping service available online, 24/7. As the shipping landscape evolves, Stamps.com remains committed to providing the stability, trust, and cost-saving tools your business needs to succeed.

Start your risk-free trial today.

Madison Unruh

Madison is passionate about helping businesses make sense of the ever-changing world of shipping and carriers, and is all about helping customers feel confident and ship smarter. When she's off the clock, you'll find her exploring an art museum, enjoying the outdoors, diving into a good book, or spending time with her loved ones.

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