USPS raised shipping costs ahead of the holidays — here’s what shoppers need to know

This year, sending your Christmas list to Santa will be more expensive.

Starting Oct. 4 through Jan. 17, 2027, the US Postal Service (USPS) will be hiking prices for the most wonderful time of the year. The “temporary price change” will be for some package products for the 2026 peak holiday season. 

USPS told The Post, “This change is in response to the anticipated, heightened demand in mail and package volume during the 2026 fall and peak holiday season, resulting in extra handling costs.”

For consumers, it means if you’re planning on mailing gifts or any other packages between October and mid-January, be prepared to pay a bit extra. 

The increases will hit certain domestic package services, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. No other USPS products or services are affected by the change. 

How much you pay will depend on three factors: what you’re sending, the weight and how far it’s traveling. The USPS breaks it down by retail and commercial.

For retail:

Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1-4

• $0.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
• $0.80 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
• $1.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
• $3.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail: Zones 5-9

• $1.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
• $2.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
• $4.30 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
• $9.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Flat Rate:

• $2.10 increase for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
• $1.00 increase for all other Flat Rate Products.

USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 5-9

• $0.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
• $1.40 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
• $2.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
• $7.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail Express: Zones 1-9

• $1.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
• $2.35 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
• $2.45 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
• $6.30 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
• $5.05 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
• $11.70 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
• $12.70 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
• $20.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate:

• $2.35 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes.

For commercial:

Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1-4

• $0.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 1-3.
• $0.65 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 4-5 (PM), 4-9 (GA).
• $1.05 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs. and Cubic Tier 10 (GA).
• $3.15 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail: Zones 5-9

• $0.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 1-3.
• $1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 4-5.
• $3.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
• $9.10 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Flat Rate:

• $1.75 increase for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
• $0.85 increase for all other Flat Rate Products.

USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 5-9

• $0.55 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 1-3.
• $1.05 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs. and Cubic Tiers 4-9.
• $1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs. and Cubic Tier 10.
• $7.70 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs. and Oversized.

Priority Mail Express: Zones 1-9

• $1.40 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
• $2.35 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
• $2.10 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
• $5.55 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
• $4.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
• $10.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
• $12.55 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
• $18.20 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate:

• $2.35 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes.

Parcel Select: (all entries)

• $0.40 increase for 0-3 lbs.
• $0.50 increase for 4-10 lbs.
• $0.80 increase for 11-25 lbs.
• $2.35 increase for 26-70 lbs. and Oversized