USPS postage rate chart: shipping cost by weight and zone (2026)
USPS Ground Advantage costs $7.33 to $199.01 with a label bought online (USPS's commercial prices) and $8.40 to $204.30 at the Post Office, from 4 oz to 70 lb and Zone 1 to Zone 9. Media Mail, for books, CDs, DVDs and other media only, costs $4.39 for 1 lb up to $55.23 for 70 lb, the same to every zone.
The table lists every weight step USPS prices, at the nearest zone and the farthest. Pick a weight below for all nine zones, online vs counter savings and what the next ounce costs.
Temporary holiday prices. The Ground Advantage prices on this page are USPS's holiday prices, in effect from 12 a.m. CT Oct 4, 2026 to 12 a.m. CT Jan 17, 2027. Media Mail isn't part of the holiday increase. What the holiday prices add
Rates verified on
Every weight: Ground Advantage and Media Mail
Online is USPS's commercial price, which USPS charges for labels bought with Click-N-Ship; Post Office is the retail counter price. Zone 1 is up to 50 miles; Zones 8 and 9 cost the same at every weight. Bold weights have their own page with all nine zones; 4 oz and 15.999 oz link to the 8 oz and 12 oz pages, which have the same prices.
| Weight | Post Office, Zone 1 | Post Office, Zones 8-9 | Online, Zone 1 | Online, Zones 8-9 | Media Mail, any zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 oz | $8.40 | $10.20 | $7.33 | $8.95 | $4.39 |
| 8 oz | $8.40 | $10.20 | $7.33 | $8.95 | $4.39 |
| 12 oz | $10.05 | $13.65 | $7.33 | $8.95 | $4.39 |
| 15.999 oz | $10.05 | $13.65 | $7.33 | $8.95 | $4.39 |
| 1 lb | $10.05 | $13.65 | $8.01 | $11.22 | $4.39 |
| 2 lb | $11.30 | $19.80 | $8.39 | $13.42 | $5.13 |
| 3 lb | $11.80 | $23.15 | $9.04 | $16.30 | $5.86 |
| 4 lb | $13.05 | $25.65 | $9.93 | $19.06 | $6.60 |
| 5 lb | $13.75 | $27.45 | $10.35 | $20.24 | $7.34 |
| 6 lb | $14.30 | $29.75 | $10.52 | $21.73 | $8.08 |
| 7 lb | $14.80 | $32.00 | $10.61 | $22.88 | $8.81 |
| 8 lb | $15.40 | $34.55 | $10.75 | $23.95 | $9.55 |
| 9 lb | $15.90 | $37.10 | $11.66 | $25.14 | $10.29 |
| 10 lb | $16.75 | $40.85 | $12.56 | $26.39 | $11.02 |
| 11 lb | $18.00 | $46.05 | $13.80 | $29.12 | $11.76 |
| 12 lb | $18.70 | $49.25 | $14.54 | $30.48 | $12.50 |
| 13 lb | $19.45 | $53.75 | $15.20 | $31.86 | $13.23 |
| 14 lb | $20.20 | $57.65 | $15.78 | $33.28 | $13.97 |
| 15 lb | $20.90 | $60.10 | $16.28 | $34.66 | $14.71 |
| 16 lb | $21.65 | $62.65 | $16.69 | $36.04 | $15.44 |
| 17 lb | $22.40 | $65.60 | $17.02 | $37.17 | $16.18 |
| 18 lb | $23.10 | $68.60 | $17.26 | $38.39 | $16.92 |
| 19 lb | $23.55 | $70.75 | $17.43 | $39.59 | $17.65 |
| 20 lb | $24.00 | $72.15 | $17.51 | $42.14 | $18.39 |
| 21 lb | $27.50 | $81.25 | $19.53 | $44.76 | $19.13 |
| 22 lb | $29.80 | $87.30 | $20.91 | $51.49 | $19.86 |
| 23 lb | $31.35 | $91.80 | $22.56 | $60.16 | $20.60 |
| 24 lb | $32.45 | $95.50 | $24.49 | $70.72 | $21.34 |
| 25 lb | $33.65 | $99.10 | $26.37 | $79.94 | $22.07 |
| 26 lb | $37.45 | $107.50 | $29.42 | $90.50 | $22.81 |
| 27 lb | $38.55 | $111.15 | $30.36 | $95.16 | $23.55 |
| 28 lb | $39.45 | $114.30 | $31.12 | $98.23 | $24.29 |
| 29 lb | $40.35 | $117.35 | $31.87 | $101.28 | $25.02 |
| 30 lb | $41.15 | $120.30 | $32.61 | $104.30 | $25.76 |
| 31 lb | $42.15 | $123.30 | $33.33 | $107.27 | $26.50 |
| 32 lb | $42.90 | $126.20 | $34.05 | $110.21 | $27.23 |
| 33 lb | $43.75 | $129.05 | $34.77 | $113.12 | $27.97 |
| 34 lb | $44.60 | $131.80 | $35.47 | $115.99 | $28.71 |
| 35 lb | $45.50 | $134.65 | $36.19 | $118.86 | $29.44 |
| 36 lb | $46.25 | $137.30 | $36.86 | $121.64 | $30.18 |
| 37 lb | $47.10 | $140.10 | $37.56 | $124.44 | $30.92 |
| 38 lb | $47.85 | $142.75 | $38.23 | $127.21 | $31.65 |
| 39 lb | $48.65 | $145.30 | $38.92 | $129.95 | $32.39 |
| 40 lb | $49.40 | $147.90 | $39.59 | $132.66 | $33.13 |
| 41 lb | $50.25 | $150.50 | $40.24 | $135.32 | $33.86 |
| 42 lb | $51.05 | $152.90 | $40.91 | $137.98 | $34.60 |
| 43 lb | $51.70 | $155.40 | $41.55 | $140.58 | $35.34 |
| 44 lb | $52.50 | $157.75 | $42.20 | $143.15 | $36.07 |
| 45 lb | $53.20 | $160.10 | $42.83 | $145.71 | $36.81 |
| 46 lb | $53.95 | $162.45 | $43.48 | $148.22 | $37.55 |
| 47 lb | $54.60 | $164.70 | $44.09 | $150.70 | $38.28 |
| 48 lb | $55.30 | $166.85 | $44.71 | $153.15 | $39.02 |
| 49 lb | $56.00 | $169.10 | $45.32 | $155.58 | $39.76 |
| 50 lb | $56.65 | $171.25 | $45.92 | $157.97 | $40.49 |
| 51 lb | $57.35 | $173.25 | $46.50 | $160.33 | $41.23 |
| 52 lb | $58.05 | $175.30 | $47.10 | $162.65 | $41.97 |
| 53 lb | $58.70 | $177.30 | $47.68 | $164.95 | $42.71 |
| 54 lb | $59.30 | $179.25 | $48.25 | $167.19 | $43.44 |
| 55 lb | $59.90 | $181.15 | $48.82 | $169.44 | $44.18 |
| 56 lb | $60.55 | $183.00 | $49.37 | $171.63 | $44.92 |
| 57 lb | $61.15 | $184.85 | $49.94 | $173.80 | $45.65 |
| 58 lb | $61.75 | $186.60 | $50.48 | $175.93 | $46.39 |
| 59 lb | $62.35 | $188.25 | $51.03 | $178.03 | $47.13 |
| 60 lb | $62.85 | $190.00 | $51.54 | $180.09 | $47.86 |
| 61 lb | $63.40 | $191.60 | $52.07 | $182.14 | $48.60 |
| 62 lb | $64.00 | $193.25 | $52.60 | $184.14 | $49.34 |
| 63 lb | $64.60 | $194.70 | $53.10 | $186.12 | $50.07 |
| 64 lb | $65.05 | $196.30 | $53.61 | $188.06 | $50.81 |
| 65 lb | $65.55 | $197.70 | $54.09 | $189.95 | $51.55 |
| 66 lb | $66.05 | $199.20 | $54.59 | $191.83 | $52.28 |
| 67 lb | $66.55 | $200.50 | $55.08 | $193.68 | $53.02 |
| 68 lb | $67.10 | $201.75 | $55.56 | $195.49 | $53.76 |
| 69 lb | $67.50 | $203.05 | $56.03 | $197.27 | $54.49 |
| 70 lb | $68.00 | $204.30 | $56.48 | $199.01 | $55.23 |
What the table shows
- Under 1 lb, online is one price. USPS charges the same commercial price for every weight up to 15.999 oz ($7.33 to $8.95 by zone). At the Post Office the price steps up after 8 oz.
- The 1 lb line matters online. A package of exactly 1 lb costs $0.68 to $2.27 more online than one at 15.999 oz, and anything over 1 lb pays the 2 lb price.
- The biggest pound-to-pound jumps online: in Zone 1, 25 lb to 26 lb (+$3.05; $2.10 of it is the holiday add-on rising from $1.05 to $3.15); in Zones 8-9, 23 lb to 24 lb and 25 lb to 26 lb (+$10.56 each; on the 26 lb step, $5.95 of it is the holiday add-on rising from $1.75 to $7.70). Close to one of those lines, weigh carefully.
- Media Mail is cheaper in 627 of 630 pound-and-zone combinations. An online Ground Advantage label costs less only at 19 lb to Zone 1 and 20 lb to Zones 1 and 2. It's only for books and other media, and it's slower: USPS says 2-8 days, against 2-5 days for Ground Advantage (USPS; Media Mail rates).
- Online always beats the counter, by $0.94 (4 oz, Zone 4) up to $36.49 (21 lb, Zone 8, 45% off).
What the zones mean
USPS measures from the center of the 3-digit ZIP Code area serving the sending Post Office to the one serving the receiving Post Office (DMM 608.9). USPS's zone chart tool gives the zone between two ZIP Codes. Media Mail ignores zones.
| Zone | Distance | 1 lb online | 5 lb online | 10 lb online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | same 3-digit ZIP area, or up to 50 miles | $8.01 | $10.35 | $12.56 |
| Zone 2 | up to about 150 miles | $8.08 | $10.41 | $12.91 |
| Zone 3 | up to about 300 miles | $8.40 | $10.79 | $13.83 |
| Zone 4 | up to about 600 miles | $8.55 | $11.67 | $15.09 |
| Zone 5 | up to about 1,000 miles | $9.29 | $14.53 | $17.81 |
| Zone 6 | up to about 1,400 miles | $10.18 | $16.94 | $20.99 |
| Zone 7 | up to about 1,800 miles | $10.53 | $18.17 | $23.02 |
| Zone 8 | beyond Zone 7 (over about 1,800 miles) | $11.22 | $20.24 | $26.39 |
| Zone 9 | Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands | $11.22 | $20.24 | $26.39 |
How much each extra pound costs
From 1 lb up, USPS prices both services by the pound and rounds any fraction up (DMM 283.1.1, DMM 173). Media Mail adds the same $0.73 or $0.74 for every pound to every zone. Online, Ground Advantage adds more per pound the farther it goes, and more above 20 lb than below. Under 1 lb, online is one price up to 15.999 oz, and the first full pound adds $0.69 online to Zone 4.
| Service and zone | 1 to 20 lb, per lb | 20 to 70 lb, per lb |
|---|---|---|
| Media Mail, any zone | $0.74 ($0.73-$0.74) | $0.74 ($0.73-$0.74) |
| Ground Advantage online, Zone 1 | $0.50 ($0.08-$1.24) | $0.78 ($0.45-$3.05) |
| Ground Advantage online, Zone 4 | $0.64 ($0.27-$1.23) | $1.23 ($0.47-$4.98) |
| Ground Advantage online, Zones 8-9 | $1.63 ($1.07-$2.88) | $3.14 ($1.74-$10.56) |
| Ground Advantage at the Post Office, Zone 1 | $0.73 ($0.45-$1.25) | $0.88 ($0.40-$3.80) |
| Ground Advantage at the Post Office, Zone 4 | $0.92 ($0.45-$2.40) | $1.48 ($0.60-$7.75) |
| Ground Advantage at the Post Office, Zones 8-9 | $3.08 ($1.40-$6.15) | $2.64 ($1.25-$9.10) |
How box size changes the price
A Ground Advantage box over 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) pays for the greater of its weight and its dimensional weight: length x width x height, each side rounded up to the inch, divided by 139 and rounded up (DMM 283.1.4). Media Mail is charged "per pound or fraction thereof," with no dimensional-weight rule (DMM 173.1.2). Here is what the box does to a 2 lb item sent online to Zone 4, which costs $8.91 in a box of 1 cubic foot or less. Over 22 in. long or over 2 cubic feet, USPS also adds a nonstandard fee ($4.50 over 22 in., $10.00 over 30 in., $21.00 over 2 cubic feet; Notice 123).
| Box | Cubic inches | Dimensional weight | Billed as | Fees | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 x 12 x 12 | 1,728 | none (1 cu ft or less) | 2 lb | - | $8.91 |
| 13 x 13 x 13 | 2,197 | 16 lb | 16 lb | - | $18.99 |
| 14 x 14 x 14 | 2,744 | 20 lb | 20 lb | - | $20.71 |
| 16 x 12 x 12 | 2,304 | 17 lb | 17 lb | - | $19.46 |
| 18 x 14 x 12 | 3,024 | 22 lb | 22 lb | - | $25.12 |
| 20 x 16 x 12 | 3,840 | 28 lb | 28 lb | $21.00 | $67.00 |
Holiday prices until Jan 17, 2027
Every Ground Advantage price on this page includes USPS's temporary holiday add-on, from 12 a.m. CT Oct 4, 2026 to 12 a.m. CT Jan 17, 2027 (USPS, announced Aug 25, 2026). Before it, under the Jul 12, 2026 Notice 123, online labels cost $6.93 to $191.31. Media Mail isn't affected.
| Price type and zones | 0-3 lb | 4-10 lb | 11-25 lb | 26-70 lb / oversized |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Office, Zones 1-4 | +$0.50 | +$0.80 | +$1.25 | +$3.90 |
| Post Office, Zones 5-9 | +$0.75 | +$1.40 | +$2.75 | +$7.50 |
| Online, Zones 1-4 | +$0.40 | +$0.65 | +$1.05 | +$3.15 |
| Online, Zones 5-9 | +$0.55 | +$1.05 | +$1.75 | +$7.70 |
On Jan 17, 2027 the add-on ends, and so does USPS's 8% time-limited increase, in place since Apr 26, 2026 (tracker entry). USPS's Governors ordered prices "rolled back to approved levels" then (Governors' Decisions 26-1 and 26-7). What that means for these prices: questions below · what's known about 2027 prices · USPS holiday prices in detail
Questions
How much does USPS charge to ship a package by weight?
With USPS Ground Advantage, $7.33 to $199.01 for a label bought online (USPS's commercial prices) and $8.40 to $204.30 at the Post Office, from 4 oz to 70 lb and Zone 1 to Zone 9, at the holiday prices in effect until Jan 17, 2027. To Zone 4 (up to about 600 miles), an online label costs $8.55 for 1 lb, $11.67 for 5 lb, $15.09 for 10 lb and $20.71 for 20 lb (USPS Notice 123).
Is Media Mail cheaper than Ground Advantage?
Almost always, if your item qualifies. Media Mail costs $4.39 to $55.23 for 1 to 70 lb, the same to every zone, and it's cheaper than an online Ground Advantage label in 627 of 630 pound-and-zone combinations. The exceptions: 19 lb to Zone 1 and 20 lb to Zones 1 and 2. It's slower: USPS says 2-8 days for Media Mail, against 2-5 days for Ground Advantage. Only books (at least 8 pages), CDs, DVDs and other media on USPS's list qualify; video games don't (USPS).
Is it cheaper to buy USPS postage online?
Yes. USPS's commercial prices, which USPS charges for labels bought online with Click-N-Ship, are below the Post Office counter at every weight and zone: from $0.94 less (4 oz, Zone 4) to $36.49 less (21 lb, Zone 8) (USPS). Selling platforms and label services can have their own rates.
How does USPS round package weight?
Under 1 lb, Ground Advantage is priced in 4, 8, 12 and 15.999 oz steps, and anything over a step pays the next one (4.1 oz pays the 8 oz price). From 1 lb, USPS says "Any fraction of a pound is considered a whole pound," so 1.25 lb pays the 2 lb price (DMM 283.1.1). Media Mail is charged per pound with a 1 lb minimum (DMM 173). A box over 1 cubic foot is billed at the greater of its weight and its dimensional weight, so any box over 1,728 cubic inches bills as at least 13 lb (DMM 283.1.4).
How much does USPS charge per pound?
Media Mail adds $0.73 or $0.74 for each pound, to any zone, from $4.39 at 1 lb. Ground Advantage online adds about $0.64 a pound to Zone 4 from 1 to 20 lb and $1.23 from 20 to 70 lb; to Zone 8 it's $1.63 and $3.14. Single steps vary: online to Zone 4, one more pound costs $0.27 to $1.23 between 1 and 20 lb (Notice 123). A box over 1 cubic foot can bill as more pounds than it weighs (DMM 283.1.4).
What is a USPS zone?
USPS's distance band between the 3-digit ZIP Code areas of the sending and receiving Post Offices: Zone 1 is up to 50 miles, Zone 4 up to about 600 miles and Zone 8 beyond about 1,800 miles. Zone 9 covers Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands (DMM 608.9). USPS's zone chart tool gives the zone between two ZIP Codes.
Do these prices go down after Jan 17, 2027?
The holiday add-on, $0.40 to $7.70 per package depending on weight, zone and price type, ends at 12 a.m. CT on Jan 17, 2027 (USPS), and so does USPS's 8% time-limited increase. Before the add-on started on Oct 4, 2026, online labels cost $6.93 to $191.31. USPS's Governors ordered both temporary increases "rolled back to approved levels" at 12 a.m. on Jan 17, 2027 (Governors' Decisions 26-1 and 26-7); the restored prices apply "unless the Governors take further action to adjust prices." USPS filed those prices with the Postal Regulatory Commission (Dockets CP2026-4 and CP2026-10), but they aren't in a Notice 123 price list yet, so this page shows no price from Jan 17, 2027, and the earlier prices above aren't a forecast.
Sources
Rates verified on from each official page below.
- USPS Notice 123 (effective Oct 4, 2026)
- Postal Explorer archive: Notice 123, July 12, 2026
- USPS: temporary price change for 2026 holiday shipping (Aug 25, 2026)
- USPS: transportation-related time-limited price change (Mar 25, 2026)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 283: Ground Advantage commercial (weight steps, dimensional weight)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 173: Media Mail (priced per pound, 1 lb minimum)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 608.9: postal zones
- USPS: Mail and shipping services (Media Mail and Ground Advantage rules)
Know when USPS prices change
The holiday prices on this page end Jan 17, 2027. Our free email will cover USPS, label and selling-fee changes like that, with what each one costs on a $10, $25 and $50 sale. Weekly, once the newsletter starts.