U.S. Postal Service Announces Temporary Price Increase, starting Oct. 18
The United States Postal Service is planning for a temporary price increase that will go in affect from Oct. 18 to Dec. 27.
The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on August 14th.
The planned temporary price adjustments are in response to increased expenses and heightened demand for online shopping package volume due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected holiday Ecommerce. The USPS temporary rate increase will only impact commercial shippers. Retail prices and international products will be unaffected.
The planned price increase would go into effect at 12:00AM Central on Oct.18, 2020 and remain in place until 12:00AM Central Dec. 27, 2020.
The planned prices, approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on August 6, would raise prices on its commercial domestic competitive parcels – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, and Parcel Return Service.
Please check the USPS news room for more details.
See tables below for more details on planned rate increases for popular USPS services (Commercial Base Pricing)
Product |
Current |
Planned Increase |
First Class Package Service Commercial |
Starts at $2.74 |
25 cents |
Priority Mail Commercial |
Starts at $7.02 |
40 cents |
Priority Mail Flat Rate Services |
Starts at $7.55 |
40 cents |
Priority Mail Express Commercial |
Starts at $22.75 |
$1.50 |
First Class Package Service - 2020 Rate Increase (Commercial Base Pricing)
Below is a full chart of USPS First Class Package Service with a rate increase of 7% or 25 cent increase per package. First Class Package Service is one of the USPS's most popular services.
Mailpiece Weight |
Zones 1 & 2 |
Zone 3 |
Zone 4 |
Zone 5 |
Zone 6 |
Zone 7 |
Zone 8 |
Zone 9 |
1 ounce |
2.99 | 3.01 | 3.03 | 3.09 | 3.18 | 3.3 | 3.43 | 3.43 |
2 ounces |
2.99 | 3.01 | 3.03 | 3.09 | 3.18 | 3.3 | 3.43 | 3.43 |
3 ounces |
2.99 | 3.01 | 3.03 | 3.09 | 3.18 | 3.3 | 3.43 | 3.43 |
4 ounces |
2.99 | 3.01 | 3.03 | 3.09 | 3.18 | 3.3 | 3.43 | 3.43 |
5 ounces |
3.46 | 3.48 | 3.5 | 3.56 | 3.64 | 3.77 | 3.92 | 3.92 |
6 ounces |
3.46 | 3.48 | 3.5 | 3.56 | 3.64 | 3.77 | 3.92 | 3.92 |
7 ounces |
3.46 | 3.48 | 3.5 | 3.56 | 3.64 | 3.77 | 3.92 | 3.92 |
8 ounces |
3.46 | 3.48 | 3.5 | 3.56 | 3.64 | 3.77 | 3.92 | 3.92 |
9 ounces |
4.18 | 4.22 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.43 | 4.57 | 4.71 | 4.71 |
10 ounces |
4.18 | 4.22 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.43 | 4.57 | 4.71 | 4.71 |
11 ounces |
4.18 | 4.22 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.43 | 4.57 | 4.71 | 4.71 |
12 ounces |
4.18 | 4.22 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.43 | 4.57 | 4.71 | 4.71 |
13 ounces |
5.29 | 5.33 | 5.37 | 5.52 | 5.65 | 5.79 | 5.95 | 5.95 |
14 ounces |
5.29 | 5.33 | 5.37 | 5.52 | 5.65 | 5.79 | 5.95 | 5.95 |
15 ounces |
5.29 | 5.33 | 5.37 | 5.52 | 5.65 | 5.79 | 5.95 | 5.95 |
15.999 ounces |
5.29 | 5.33 | 5.37 | 5.52 | 5.65 | 5.79 | 5.95 | 5.95 |
A full list of commercial pricing can be found on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website https://www.usps.com/business/prices.htm.
The Postal Service has some of the lowest mail postage rates in the industrialized world and also continues to offer a great value in shipping.
The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect on Oct.18, 2020. The complete Postal Service price filings with prices for all products can be found on the PRC website under the Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. The price change tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.