2026 USPS Rates
2026 USPS Rates: First-Class, Priority, Certified & Bulk Mail Rates
If you’re still paying retail rates, you may be missing out on discounts and leaving money on the table.
Navigating USPS® Postage Rates and Mailing Costs in 2026
Postage rates aren’t just numbers. They’re a cost center that can affect your margins and bottom line. Whether you’re sending invoices, marketing mail, flats, envelopes or parcels, every cent counts. This page breaks down the latest USPS rates so you can find savings and keep more cash in your business and less at the Post Office.
-
Price of stamps increased by 7.4% to $0.78
-
First-Class Metered mail rate is now $0.74
-
Certified Mail fee and Return Receipt costs both increased this year
-
New rates on select shipping products began April 26, 2026
-
Peak shipping season for the Postal Service starts October 2026
2026 USPS® Postal Mail Rates: What You’ll Pay (and How to Pay Less)
Retail rates at the Post Office add up fast! Use First-Class Mail® for customer communications that need to be delivered in 1-5 business days.
Mail Class | Post Office Rate | Quadient Rate | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Letters - up to 1 oz. | $0.78 | $0.74 | 5.1% |
Letters - up to 2 oz. | $1.07 | $1.03 | 3.7% |
Letters - up to 3 oz. | $1.36 | $1.32 | 2.9% |
Letters - up to 3.5 oz. | $1.65 | $1.61 | 2.4% |
Postcards (3.5" H x 5" L)* | $0.61 | - | - |
Large Envelope (Flats up to 1 oz.) | $1.63 | - | - |
Large Envelope (Flats 2-13 oz.) | $1.90-$5.04 | - | - |
Pro Tip: Postcards sent via First-Class Mail® do not receive a metered discount. Want lower postcard rates? Use USPS Marketing Mail or Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) for bulk postcard mailings.
Certified Mail® with Return Receipt
Use Certified Mail for your most important mailings and prove they got there! Add options like Electronic Return Receipt for extra documentation and peace of mind.
Service | Price |
|---|---|
Certified Mail® Fee | $5.30 |
Return Reciept (Hard Copy) | $4.40 |
Return Receipt (Electronic) | $2.82 |
Restricted Delivery | $13.70 |
Adult Signature Required | $13.70 |
Adult Signature Restricted Delivery | $13.70 |
Pro Tip: You can create digital workflow and save 36% on Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt using an online solution like Quadient’s e-Certify.
Save Big with USPS® Bulk Mail Rates
Move non-First Class mail to Marketing Mail and pay as little as $0.22 per piece for high-volume advertising and promotional mailings. Perfect for saturating ZIP codes and reaching entire carrier routes.
Sample Rates for Carrier Route Mailings (3.5 oz or less)
Entry point | Saturation | High Density | 5-Digit | AADC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Post Office | $0.24 | $0.36 | $0.37 | $0.40 |
DSCF Postal Facility | $0.22 | $0.34 | $0.35 | - |
Pro Tip: Businesses love Marketing Mail because it’s a no-brainer way to access lower rates. The more you sort your mail and the closer you enter mail to its destination, the lower your cost per piece. See how mail automation can help you do this.
USPS® Shipping Rates & Priority Mail Pricing
Shipping shouldn’t be complicated or expensive! With the right USPS service, you can keep your budget in check without sacrificing speed, reliability or the bottom line. Check out the current shipping rates below and find out how your business can get access to exclusive discounts. Rates effective as of April 26, 2026.
Pricing tiers:
-
Retail Rates: What you’d pay at the Post Office.
-
Commercial Rates: Discounted rates available with shipping software.
-
Merchant Rates: The lowest USPS rates, now available to all Quadient customers, no minimums!
Priority Mail® Flat Rates
Need speed without breaking the budget? Priority Mail® delivers in 1-3 business days with tracking included.
Product | Retail Rate | Commercial Rate |
|---|---|---|
Regular Flat Rate Envelope | $11.95 | $10.30 |
Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $12.25 | $10.80 |
Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $12.95 | $11.10 |
Small Flat Rate Box | $12.65 | $11.20 |
Medium Flat Rate Box | $22.95 | $19.60 |
Large Flat Rate Box | $31.50 | $28.70 |
APO/FPO/DPO Large Box | $30.15 | $27.40 |
Pro Tip: Priority Mail rates increased by ~5–7% in January 2026. You can access lower Commercial rates automatically by using shipping software from Quadient.
Priority Mail Express® Flat Rates
Need it there faster? Priority Mail Express® is the fastest USPS service, offering overnight delivery to most U.S. locations plus tracking. Perfect for urgent and time-sensitive mailings and parcels.
Product | Retail Rate | Commercial Rate |
|---|---|---|
Regular Flat Rate Envelope | $33.25 | $28.90 |
Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $33.55 | $29.10 |
Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $34.15 | $29.35 |
Pro Tip: With Quadient you can get access to Merchant Rates, the deepest discounts available on Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services! Save up to 43% off Priority Mail retail rates and 21% off Priority Mail Express. Learn more.
USPS Ground Advantage™ Fast, Affordable Shipping
Ship packages up to 70 lbs. in 2 - 5 business days with built-in insurance, free tracking, address correction and home or office pickup. The best part? With Quadient, you can save up to 35% compared to Post Office rates!
Package weight | Post Office Price | Quadient Rate | Savings per Package |
|---|---|---|---|
1 - 4 oz. | $7.30 | $4.20 | 42% |
5 - 8 oz. | $7.30 | $4.65 | 36% |
9 - 12 oz. | $8.85 | $5.38 | 39% |
13 - 15.99 oz. | $8.85 | $6.07 | 31% |
Pro Tip: Use your built-in insurance wisely! USPS Ground Advantage automatically includes up to $100 in coverage for outbound and return shipments, so packages are protected without paying extra.
USPS Mailing and Shipping FAQs
The easiest way to check is by downloading Quadient’s 2026 USPS Postage Rate Guide. It includes the current prices, helpful mailing and shipping tips and links to official USPS resources, so you always have the latest rates at your fingertips.
Stamped mail uses postage stamps purchased at the Post Office at full retail rates. Metered mail is indicia printed directly on your envelopes or labels using a postage meter or approved mailing software.
Why choose metered mail?
Automatic discounts on every mail piece
Skip the Post Office
No more running out of stamps or overpaying
Secure, compliant postage for business mail
First-Class Mail is the most widely used USPS service for letters, postcards and small parcels. It’s ideal for everyday business communications, such as invoices, statements, policy documents and renewal letters. Because those mailings go out every day, even small savings can add up quickly. The good news? You don’t need any special tricks, just proven ways to save:
Meter your mail: Print postage with a meter or approved software for an easy, automatic 5% discount.
Qualify for presort rates: With the right volume, presorting your mail can unlock even deeper discounts, sometimes more than 25% off retail postage rates. All you need is mail automation software .
Use the free online Price Calculator from the U.S. Postal Service to check the commercial, discounted rates for packages, flats and envelopes. Just enter the weight, dimensions, origin, and destination for your package or mailing, and it shows you rate options.
Bonus: USPS flat rate envelopes and boxes offer predictable shipping costs - no weighing, no sizing, no math!
There are a few things that affect the pricing of shipments from the U.S. Postal Service. The key is to identify which ones are most important to your shipment and your budget:
Weight and dimensional size (larger boxes may count as heavier)
Service type (e.g., Ground vs. Express)
Distance between sender and recipient (USPS zones)
Extra services like insurance, tracking or signatures
Seasonal or fuel surcharges during peak periods
Contact
Ready to optimize mail operations?
How can we help you?
Thank you for submitting, someone will be in touch shortly