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USPS holiday prices: Ground Advantage up $0.40 to $0.75 on 0-3 lb parcels
Temporary prices on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select until 12 a.m. CT on Jan 17, 2027. A 0-3 lb Ground Advantage parcel costs $0.40 more at commercial prices in Zones 1-4 ($0.55 in Zones 5-9) and $0.50 more at retail ($0.75). Heavier parcels rise more, up to $7.70. Media Mail and First-Class Mail are not affected.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$0.40 / -$0.40 / -$0.40
If you pay for a 0-3 lb commercial Ground Advantage label, Zones 1-4. Same at any sale price. Retail: -$0.50; Zones 5-9: -$0.55 commercial, -$0.75 retail.
Source: USPS newsroom, Aug 25, 2026 · verified
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USPS holiday ship-by dates: Ground Advantage Dec. 17, Priority Mail Dec. 18
For delivery before Dec. 25, USPS recommends sending Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail by Dec. 17, Priority Mail by Dec. 18 and Priority Mail Express by Dec. 19, 2026 in the lower 48 states. The First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express dates also apply to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories; Ground Advantage to or from those places has a service expectation of 10 days or more. These are recommendations, not guarantees.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: n/a / n/a / n/a
Recommended dates, not a fee. Use them for holiday handling times and cutoff notices to buyers.
Source: USPS newsroom, Sep 22, 2026 · verified
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USPS may raise stamp and Media Mail prices in January 2027, by up to 2.105% on average per class
On July 16, 2026, USPS asked the Postal Regulatory Commission to let it count estimated fiscal 2026 density rate authority so it could move its yearly mailing price increase to January 2027. The PRC denied the request on Aug. 21, 2026 (Order No. 9696) but said USPS may still file in October 2026 for a January 2027 increase. The PRC's Oct. 14, 2026 rate-authority table puts the most USPS can raise First-Class Mail and Package Services (which includes Media Mail) at 2.105% on average.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: n/a / n/a / n/a
No January 2027 filing found as of Oct 14, 2026, so there is no price change to compute yet. As an illustration only: 2.105% of the $4.39 1 lb Media Mail price is about $0.09, but USPS can raise individual prices by more or less than the class average.
Source: PRC Order No. 9696 (Aug 21, 2026) + PRC Available Rate Authority (Oct 14, 2026) · PRC: Available Rate Authority (Oct 14, 2026) · verified
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Light parcels hit hardest: commercial Ground Advantage drops its ounce tiers
USPS ended ounce-based price differences in published commercial Ground Advantage prices, so a 4 oz parcel now costs the same as a 15.999 oz one. Zone 1, 4 oz: $5.09 at January 18 prices, $5.50 after the April 26 increase, $6.93 from July 12, and $7.33 with holiday prices since Oct 4. Negotiated platform rates can be lower.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$1.43 / -$1.43 / -$1.43
4 oz commercial label, Zone 1: $5.50 (Apr 26 prices) to $6.93 (Jul 12). Since Jan 18 ($5.09) the total rise, including the 8% step, is $1.84.
Source: USPS newsroom, May 11, 2026 + Notice 123 archive · verified
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USPS dimensional weight now divides by 139, not 166, and rounds sides up
Since July 12, 2026, Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select boxes over 1,728 cubic inches (1 cubic foot) are billed at the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight, and dimensional weight is now length x width x height divided by 139 instead of 166. Each side is also rounded up to the next whole inch instead of to the nearest inch. A 16 x 12 x 12 in. box now bills as 17 lb instead of 14 lb.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$1.24 / -$1.24 / -$1.24
Commercial Ground Advantage, 16 x 12 x 12 in. box weighing 5 lb, Zone 1: billed at 17 lb ($17.02) instead of 14 lb ($15.78) at Oct 4 prices (the same $1.24 at July 12, 2026 prices). Zone 5: -$2.13; Zone 8: -$3.89. A 12 1/4 in. cube weighing 5 lb: -$6.34 commercial, Zone 1, at peak prices (-$5.94 at July 12, 2026 prices; USPS hasn't published the prices that follow Jan 17, 2027).
Source: USPS final rule, Federal Register, May 15, 2026 (+ DMM 133 Jan 18 vs Jul 12, 2026) · verified
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Forever stamp rises to 82 cents
Mailing-services prices rose about 4.8% on July 12, 2026, and the First-Class Forever stamp went from 78 to 82 cents. It matters if you mail cards or small flat items with stamps.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$0.04 / -$0.04 / -$0.04
Per one-stamp letter. Package prices are separate.
Source: USPS newsroom, Apr 9, 2026 · verified
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Ground Advantage Cubic: poly mailers move to cheaper tiers, and boxes up to 22 in. now qualify
Since July 12, 2026, Ground Advantage Cubic soft packs (poly mailers and padded envelopes) are priced on 5 tiers instead of 10, set by length plus width: up to 21 in. is tier 0.10, up to 27 in. is 0.20, up to 31 in. is 0.30, up to 34 in. is 0.40 and up to 36 in. is 0.50. A 10 x 13 in. mailer (23 in.) was tier 0.30 and is now 0.20; a 12 x 15 1/2 in. mailer drops from 0.50 to 0.30. The longest side allowed for Ground Advantage and Priority Mail Cubic also rose from 18 to 22 in. The other limits are unchanged: 20 lb maximum, with up to 1 cubic foot for Ground Advantage and 0.5 cubic foot for Priority Mail.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: +$0.57 / +$0.57 / +$0.57
10 x 13 in. poly mailer, commercial Ground Advantage Cubic, Zone 1: tier 0.20 costs $8.22 instead of $8.79 for 0.30 at Oct 4 prices (same difference at base prices). Zone 5: +$1.59; Zone 8: +$2.83. A 12 x 15 1/2 in. mailer: +$1.45 in Zone 1 and +$2.86 in Zone 5 at peak prices (+$1.20 / +$2.36 at July 12, 2026 prices; USPS hasn't published the prices that follow Jan 17, 2027).
Source: USPS final rule, Federal Register, May 15, 2026 (+ DMM 283 Jan 18 vs current) · verified
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USPS adds a $7.50 hazmat handling fee on Priority Mail
Since July 12, 2026, a Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express package containing hazardous materials pays a $7.50 HAZMAT Handling Fee, at both retail and commercial prices. Ground Advantage and Parcel Select also have the fee, but it is set at $0 for now and USPS kept the option to raise it. Commercial packages found with hazardous materials that were not properly declared and labeled can be charged a $50 HAZMAT Noncompliance Fee.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$7.50 / -$7.50 / -$7.50
If you pay for a Priority Mail label on a package with declared hazardous materials. The amount is the same at any sale price. Ground Advantage: $0 for now. The $50 fee applies only to commercial labels where hazmat was not declared or labeled correctly.
Source: USPS Governors' Decision No. 26-2, Federal Register, May 14, 2026 · verified
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USPS adds a $50 fee for undeclared hazmat, and old labels on reused boxes trigger it
Since July 12, 2026, USPS charges a $50 HAZMAT Noncompliance Fee on commercial-price competitive packages (Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, Parcel Select and others) when it detects hazardous materials that weren't declared and labeled. Resellers most often get hit for reusing a box that still shows old hazmat markings. Notice 123 doesn't list the fee for Media Mail or for retail counter prices.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: n/a / n/a / n/a
A penalty, not a per-sale fee: $50 for each flagged commercial-label package. Mercari pays $25 of it (since Sept 1), and Poshmark pays none from Oct 19. eBay's Seller Center says you're charged the full $50.
Source: Federal Register 2026-09584 (USPS competitive price change) + USPS Notice 123 · verified
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Media Mail got cheaper: 1 lb is now $4.39 (was $4.47)
In the July 12, 2026 price change, Media Mail went down at every weight checked: 1 lb $4.47 to $4.39, 2 lb $5.22 to $5.13, 5 lb $7.47 to $7.34, 10 lb $11.22 to $11.02. Retail and commercial Media Mail prices are the same, and USPS Tracking is included.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: +$0.08 / +$0.08 / +$0.08
If you pay for a 1 lb Media Mail label. 2 lb: +$0.09; 5 lb: +$0.13; 10 lb: +$0.20.
Source: USPS Notice 123 (Jul 12, 2026) vs (Jan 18, 2026) · verified
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USPS now requires box dimensions with every commercial parcel label
Since July 12, 2026, the shipping data a label service sends USPS for commercial Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select must include each parcel's accurate length, width and height. Flat Rate and USPS Returns pieces are exempt. USPS put off charging for missing or wrong dimensions until a second phase, tentatively early 2027; until then, the $3.00 Dimension Noncompliance Fee for missing or wrong dimensions still applies only to parcels over 1 cubic foot or 22 in. long.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: n/a / n/a / n/a
A rule with no new fee yet for most parcels. Once phase two starts, a missing or wrong dimension could cost $3.00 per parcel (Notice 123). Enter real box sizes when you buy labels.
Source: USPS final rule, Federal Register, Mar 31, 2026 · verified
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USPS adds a temporary 8% to Ground Advantage and Priority Mail
An 8% increase on base postage for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, in place until midnight CT on Jan 17, 2027. USPS said no other products were affected, including First-Class stamps.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$0.70 / -$0.70 / -$0.70
If you pay for a 1 lb retail Ground Advantage label, Zone 1: $8.85 (Jan 18 prices) to $9.55 (Notice 123 effective Apr 26, 2026).
Source: USPS newsroom, Mar 25, 2026 · USPS Notice 123, effective Apr 26, 2026 (archive) · verified
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Stamps and Media Mail: at most one price increase per fiscal year through 2030
A Postal Regulatory Commission rule (Order No. 9426) bars USPS from raising market-dominant prices more than once per fiscal year (Oct. 1 to Sept. 30) from March 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2030. Price cuts and de minimis increases are exempt. Market-dominant products include First-Class Mail stamps and Package Services, the class that contains Media Mail.
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: n/a / n/a / n/a
A pricing rule, not a fee. Media Mail and stamp prices can rise at most once in each fiscal year until Sept. 30, 2030.
Source: PRC final rule (Order No. 9426), Federal Register, Jan 16, 2026 · verified
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January 2026: Ground Advantage base prices up; light commercial parcels +$0.89 vs July 2025
Compared with the July 13, 2025 base prices, retail 1 lb Zone 1 rose from $8.70 to $8.85 and commercial 4 oz Zone 1 from $4.20 to $5.09. (Holiday prices of $9.10 and $4.50 applied Oct 5, 2025 to Jan 17, 2026, so on Jan 18 itself the retail 1 lb label fell $0.25 and the 4 oz commercial label rose $0.59.) Media Mail did not change (1 lb stayed $4.47).
Your net on a $10 / $25 / $50 sale: -$0.15 / -$0.15 / -$0.15
Versus Jul 13, 2025 base prices: 1 lb retail Ground Advantage label, Zone 1. A 4 oz commercial label, Zone 1: -$0.89.
Source: USPS Notice 123 (Jan 18, 2026) vs (Jul 13, 2025) · verified
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