Postage Rate Increase
Info on the 2021 USPS Mailing Rate Increase (starting August 29, 2021)
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will implement a postage rate increase for mailing services on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
Domestic Mailing:
- This August 2021 postage rate increase is ONLY impacting mailing services (Market Dominant). Shipping rates (Competitive Products) are not being changed.
- The First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) rate for postage purchased at the Post Office will increase three cents to $0.58 from $0.55.
- “Metered Mail” rates for First Class Mail letters (1 oz.), which includes online postage and postage meters, will increase two cents to $0.53. This five-cent discount compared to Post Office rates for a First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) represents a savings of 9%.
- Each additional ounce for a First Class Mail letter (Post Office and Metered Mail rates) will cost $0.20 (no change).
- First Class Mail Flats/Large Envelopes (1 oz.) rates will increase sixteen cents to $1.16 from $1.00. Each additional ounce will cost $0.20 (no change).
- Postcards will increase by four cents to $0.40 from $0.36.
- Certified Mail will increase by fifteen cents, to $3.75 from $3.60.
- Special services such as Registered Mail, Signature Confirmation and Return Receipt will also increase in August 2021.
Summary of the 2021 Postage Rate Increase (implemented January 24, 2021):
Domestic Mailing:
- The First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) rate for postage purchased at the Post Office will remain at $0.55 (no change from 2020).
- Each additional ounce for a First Class Mail letter will cost $0.20, a five cent increase from 2020.
- “Metered Mail” rates for First Class Mail letters (1 oz.), which includes online postage and postage meters, will increase one cent to $0.51. This four-cent discount compared to Post Office rates for a First Class Mail letter represents a savings of 7%.
- First Class Mail Flats/Large Envelopes (1 oz.) rates will not increase and will remain at $1.00 (no change from 2020). Each additional ounce will cost $0.20 (no change from 2020).
Domestic Shipping:
- Priority Mail Express will see an overall rate increase of 2.5% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $22.75 (no change from 2020).
- Priority Mail will see an average rate increase of 3.6% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $7.16 (previously $7.02).
- First Class Package Service will see an average rate increase of 6.5% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $3.01 (previously at $2.74).
- Parcel Select Ground will see an average rate increase of 1.3% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $7.01 (previously $6.92).
- Media Mail rates will increase by 3.57% in 2021. Rates will start at $2.89 (previously $2.80).
- NEW: An overweight/oversize surcharge of $100 will be added for packages that exceed the 70 lb. maximum weight limitation or the 130 inch length plus girth maximum dimensional size limit.
International Shipping:
- Priority Mail Express International will see an average rate increase of 3.6% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $42.85 (no change from 2020).
- Priority Mail International will see an average rate increase of 5.1% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $35.72 (previously $34.53).
- First Class Package International Service will see an average rate increase of 4.8% in 2021. Commercial Base (online postage) rates will start at $13.54 (previously $11.64).
- NEW: The number of country groups has increased for international shipping services. Priority Mail Express International goes from 17 to 20 country groups, Priority Mail International goes from 17 to 20 country groups, and First Class Package International Service goes from 9 to 20 country groups.
| Post Office/Retail Rates | Stamps.com Rates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letters | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | |
| First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.) | $0.58 | $0.55 | $0.53 | $0.50 | |
| First-Class Mail letter - each additional ounce | $0.20 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.15 | |
| First-Class Mail Flat/Large Envelope (1 oz.) | $1.16 | $1.00 | $1.16 | $1.00 | |
| First-Class Mail Flat/Large Envelope - each additional ounce | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.20 | $0.20 | |
| Postcard | $0.40 | $0.35 | $0.40 | $0.35 | |
| Post Office/Retail Rates | Stamps.com Rates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate Envelopes | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | |
| Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope | $26.35 | $26.35 | $22.75 | $22.75 | |
| Priority Mail Express Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $26.95 | $26.95 | $23.25 | $23.25 | |
| Priority Mail Express Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $26.50 | $26.50 | $22.95 | $22.95 | |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope | $7.95 | $7.75 | $7.40 | $7.15 | |
| Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $8.55 | $8.40 | $8.00 | $7.75 | |
| Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $8.25 | $8.05 | $7.70 | $7.45 | |
| Post Office/Retail Rates | Stamps.com Rates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packages | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | |
| Priority Mail Express (0.5 lb.) | $26.35 and up | $26.35 and up | $22.75 and up | $22.75 and up | |
| Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Box | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | |
| Priority Mail (1 lb.) | $7.70 and up | $7.50 and up | $7.16 and up | $7.02 and up | |
| Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box | $8.45 | $8.30 | $7.90 | $7.65 | |
| Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box | $15.50 | $15.05 | $13.75 | $13.20 | |
| Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box | $21.90 | $21.10 | $19.30 | $18.30 | |
| Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box | $20.40 | $19.60 | $17.80 | $16.80 | |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A | $10.13 and up | $9.98 and up | $7.83 and up | $7.68 and up | |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B | $10.53 and up | $10.37 and up | $8.23 and up | $8.07 and up | |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate Box C | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | |
| First Class® Package Service (1 oz.) | $4.00 and up | $3.80 and up | $3.01 and up | $2.74 and up | |
| Parcel Select Ground® (1 lb.) | Not Available | Not Available | $7.01 and up | $6.92 and up | |
| Media Mail (1 lb.) | $3.19 | $2.80 | $3.19 | $2.80 | |
| Retail Ground® (formerly Standard Post® - 1 lb.) | $7.70 and up | $7.50 and up | Not Available | Not Available | |
| Library Mail (1 lb.) | $2.75 | $2.66 | Not Available | Not Available | |
| Post Office/Retail Rates | Stamps.com Rates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | |
| Global Express Guaranteed (0.5 lb.) | $67.80 and up | $67.80 and up | $64.41 and up | $64.41 and up | |
| Priority Mail Express Intl (0.5 lb.) | $45.95 and up | $45.95 and up | $42.85 and up | $42.85 and up | |
| Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Box - Canada | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | |
| Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Box - Other Countries | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | |
| Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Envelopes - Canada | $45.95 and up | $45.95 and up | $42.85 | $42.85 | |
| Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Envelopes - Other Countries | $62.95 and up | $61.65 and up | $57.95 and up | $56.75 and up | |
| Priority Mail Intl (1 lb.) - Canada | $37.60 and up | $36.35 and up | $35.71 and up | $34.53 and up | |
| Priority Mail Intl (1 lb.) - Other Countries | $46.95 and up | $44.50 and up | $44.60 and up | $42.28 and up | |
| Priority Mail Intl Flat Rate Envelopes - Canada | $28.50 | $26.90 | $27.10 | $25.22 | |
| Priority Mail Intl Flat Rate Envelopes - Other Countries | $35.45 and up | $33.75 and up | $33.70 and up | $32.05 and up | |
| Priority Mail Intl Small Flat Rate Box - Canada | $29.55 | $27.90 | $28.10 | $26.50 | |
| Priority Mail Intl Small Flat Rate Box - Other Countries | $37.10 and up | $35.35 and up | $35.25 and up | $33.60 and up | |
| Priority Mail Intl Medium Flat Rate Box - Canada | $54.65 | $51.55 | $51.90 | $48.95 | |
| Priority Mail Intl Medium Flat Rate Box - Other Countries | $79.75 and up | $75.95 and up | $72.75 and up | $72.15 and up | |
| Priority Mail Intl Large Flat Rate Box - Canada | $71.05 | $67.05 | $67.50 | $63.70 | |
| Priority Mail Intl Large Flat Rate Box - Other Countries | $104.05 and up | $99.10 and up | $98.85 and up | $94.15 and up | |
| First Class Package Intl Service - Canada (1 lb.) | $21.25 | $20.75 | $20.19 and up | $19.71 and up | |
| First Class Package Intl Service - Mexico (1 lb.) | $21.75 | $21.75 | $20.66 and up | $20.66 and up | |
| First Class Package Intl Service - Other Countries (1 lb.) | $24.50 and up | $24.50 and up | $23.28 and up | $23.28 and up | |
| First Class Mail Intl Letters - Mexico & Canada (1 oz.) | $1.30 | $1.20 | $1.30 | $1.20 | |
| First Class Mail Intl Letters - Other Countries (1 oz.) | $1.30 | $1.20 | $1.30 | $1.20 | |
| Post Office/Retail Rates | Stamps.com Rates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Services | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | 2021 Postage Rates | 2020 Postage Rates* | |
| Certified Mail™ | $3.75 | $3.55 | $3.75 | $3.55 | |
| Certificate of Mailing | $1.55 | $1.50 | $1.55 | $1.50 | |
| Registered Mail™ | $13.75 and up | $12.60 and up | $13.75 and up | $12.60 and up | |
| USPS Tracking | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Restricted Delivery | $5.40 | $5.30 | $5.40 | $5.30 | |
| Return Receipt - (mail) | $3.05 | $2.85 | $3.05 | $2.85 | |
| Return Receipt - (electronic) | $1.85 | $1.70 | $1.85 | $1.70 | |
| Return Receipt - (for Merchandise) | Discontinued | $4.30 | Discontinued | $4.30 | |
| Signature Confirmation™ | $3.45 | $3.15 | $2.90 | $2.65 | |
| Adult Signature - (Basic) | $6.90 | $6.65 | $6.90 | $6.65 | |
| Adult Signature - (Person Specific) | $7.15 | $6.90 | $7.15 | $6.90 | |
| Package Intercept | $15.25 | $14.65 | $15.25 | $14.65 | |
* 2020 postage rates do not include the holiday surcharge fee.
Stamps.com will automatically update with the new USPS rates on Jan 24, 2021.
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