USPS Surcharges & Fees

October 1, 2024 by Maria Fagerland

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is temporarily raising rates for select package services from October 6th to January 19th. This is a common practice among major carriers like FedEx and UPS during the holiday season to accommodate the surge in shipping volume and maintain service quality.

Commercial Pricing vs. ShipWorks Discounts

As a reminder Commercial Pricing is a discounted rate offered to businesses who print USPS shipping labels and meet certain volume requirements. Commercial Pricing is always cheaper than the Retail Pricing given at the Post Office.

ShipWorks, provides even lower USPS shipping rates for shipments within the continental U.S. When you print labels through ShipWorks, you can access these discounted rates, often saving money compared to Commercial Pricing.

Here’s what you need to know:

Affected Services: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail®, and USPS Ground Advantage™ both Commercial and Retail rates.

Commercial pricing adjustments

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 1-4):

• $0.30 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $0.45 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $0.75 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $3.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 5-9):

• $0.70 increase for Priority Mail® and $0.35 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $1.25 increase for Priority Mail® and $0.75 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $2.75 increase for Priority Mail® and $1.25 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $7.00 increase for Priority Mail™ and $5.50 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 1-4):

• $1.00 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $1.50 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $3.50 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $8.95 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 5-9):

• $1.75 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $3.95 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $7.50 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $13.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Retail pricing adjustments

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 1-4):

• $0.40 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $0.55 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $0.95 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $4.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail® and USPS Ground Advantage™ (Zones 5-9):

• $0.90 increase for Priority Mail® and $0.50 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $1.45 increase for Priority Mail® and $1.00 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $3.25 increase for Priority Mail® and $2.00 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $8.50 increase for Priority Mail® and $5.85 increase for USPS Ground Advantage™ for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 1-4):

• $1.10 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $2.00 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $3.90 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $9.75 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express (Zones 5-9):

• $2.00 increase for packages weighing 0-3 lbs.
• $4.85 increase for packages weighing 4-10 lbs.
• $9.00 increase for packages weighing 11-25 lbs.
• $16.00 increase for packages weighing 26-70 lbs.

For complete details on the new pricing, please visit the Postal Explorer website.

How to save on mailing and shipping costs during the holidays

To offset the temporary USPS rate increases during the holiday season, consider using a shipping platform like ShipWorks. These platforms often offer discounted shipping rates for major carriers, including USPS. By using ShipWorks, you can potentially access rates lower than those available to the general public, helping you save money on your holiday shipments.