There was a time when USPS rate increases didn’t happen very often. That changed in 2021, when the “Delivering for America” plan to transform the USPS into a self-sustaining operation was announced. Each year since then, the USPS has raised its rates twice, in January and July—and it’s possible that postage rate increases may become even more frequent in the near future. So it’s important to be aware of the latest rates, and understand how they might impact your bottom line. In this article we will cover what you need to know about the latest USPS rate increases. We will also explain how USPS shipping rates are calculated, based on weight, speed and distance, and include a chart of USPS 2023 shipping rates by weight so that you are equipped to make informed to make cost-effective shipping decisions.
What factors impact shipping costs?
Generally speaking, USPS shipping costs tend to be lower than those of other major carriers. But because the cost of shipping has a significant impact on your bottom line, you still need to be aware of how these four main factors influence your shipping costs.
- Package Weight:The heavier the package, the higher the shipping cost will be. Every parcel shipping service sets weight limits. For the USPS the limit for packages is 70 lbs.
- Package Size:Larger packages are harder to handle and take up more cargo space, so shipping rates are correspondingly higher. The USPS has different size limits for different shipping services. For packages shipping via USPS Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express, the length (or longest side of the package) plus girth (or width plus height) must be no more than 108 inches. For packages shipped via USPS Ground Advantage-Retail, the length plus girth can’t exceed 130 inches. The size limits for packages shipped internationally will vary based on the shipping service and the destination country.
- Distance: The USPS uses zones to determine the cost to ship a package from the point of origin to its final destination. The higher the zone, the greater the distance and the higher the shipping cost will be. There are nine USPS zones in the US:
- Zone 1:1-50 miles from the shipping origin
- Zone 2:51-150 miles
- Zone 3:151-300 miles
- Zone 4:301-600 miles
- Zone 5:601-1000 miles
- Zone 6:1001-1400 miles
- Zone 7:1401-1800 miles
- Zone 8:1801 miles or more
- Zone 9:US territories
- Shipping speed: To get a package from point A to point B overnight usually requires air transport, which is inherently more costly than ground transportation, and everything has to work like clockwork. While most express services carry a premium price tag, Priority Mail Express provides expedited delivery at a very competitive rate.
2023 USPS Shipping Rate Changes Highlights
USPS announced two separate rate increases for 2023. The first took effect in January and the second became effective in July. As the table below illustrates, the January rate change made significant changes to shipping rates. USPS also eliminated the local zone, splitting it into zones 1 and 2. Each of the newly established zones has its own rate structure, which is likely to result in higher costs for shipments to nearby destinations.
| USPS rate increase 2023 | Increase | Starting rate |
| Priority Mail | Approx. 5.5% | $9.35 for a 1 lb. package |
| Priority Mail Express | 6.6% | $9.35 for a 1 lb. package |
| First Class Package | 7.8% | $4.75 to ship a 1 oz. package |
| Small flat rate box | -2% | $10.20 |
The big change in July was the creation of USPS Ground Advantage, which replaces USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select Ground, and First-Class Package services. Packages weighing less than one pound are charged by the ounce, and those weighing one pound or more, up to a maximum of 70 lbs., are charged by the pound. The new service offers delivery within two to five days and comes with added benefits such as insurance coverage for up to $100 in declared value, tracking, and complimentary pickup services. There were no changes to Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express rates in July, and the cost to ship some popular flat rate boxes decreased slightly.
2023 USPS First Class Shipping Rates by Weight Chart
The newly launched USPS Ground Advantage service offers attractive rates based on weight and destination zone. Package pickup, tracking and $100 insurance are included at no additional cost. To qualify for USPS Ground Advantage rates, packages cannot exceed 130 inches in combined length plus girth (height + width). Dimensional weight applies to parcels larger than one cubic foot.
The rates for parcels weighing less than one lb. are unchanged from the former First Class Package rates. Shipping heavier packages now costs less than before: the new rates start at $7.60 for a one lb. package, compared to $8.95 for the former UPS Retail Ground. For an estimate of how much you can save by shipping via USPs Ground Advantage, see the USPS 2023 shipping rates by weight chart below.
To qualify for USPS Ground Advantage rates, packages cannot exceed 130 inches in combined length plus girth (height + width). Dimensional weight applies to parcels larger than one cubic foot.
| USPS Ground Advantage – Retail rates | |||||||||
| Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 | Zone 9 | |
| 8oz | $5.40 | $5.50 | $5.55 | $5.60 | $5.65 | $5.70 | $5.75 | $5.85 | $5.85 |
| 12 oz | $6.15 | $6.25 | $6.30 | $6.35 | $6.40 | $6.45 | $6.55 | $6.65 | $6.65 |
| 1 | $7.60 | $7.75 | $7.85 | $8.00 | $8.15 | $8.25 | $8.40 | $8.55 | $8.55 |
| 2 | $8.50 | $9.00 | $9.55 | $10.25 | $11.00 | $11.80 | $12.90 | $14.90 | $14.90 |
| 3 | $8.85 | $9.50 | $9.95 | $10.80 | $11.80 | $12.90 | $14.90 | $17.65 | $17.65 |
| 4 | $9.55 | $10.00 | $10.70 | $11.65 | $12.85 | $14.30 | $16.35 | $19.00 | $19.00 |
| 5 | $10.20 | $10.65 | $11.40 | $12.45 | $13.75 | $15.40 | $17.65 | $20.50 | $20.50 |
| 10 | $12.70 | $13.00 | $13.70 | $15.45 | $18.15 | $21.85 | $26.55 | $31.45 | $31.45 |
| 20 | $18.20 | $18.40 | $19.60 | $21.90 | $28.15 | $35.25 | $44.40 | $55.50 | $55.50 |
| 40 | $37.65 | $37.70 | $46.75 | $59.70 | $70.90 | $85.25 | $99.25 | $113.65 | $113.65 |
| 60 | $46.65 | $46.75 | $55.65 | $70.20 | $92.85 | $09.15 | $124.95 | $141.20 | $141.20 |
| 70 | $53.25 | $53.35 | $58.95 | $81.45 | $96.65 | $118.55 | $139.95 | $161.75 | $161.75 |
| Oversized | $89.05 | $91.55 | $113.40 | $137.75 | $161.90 | $186.15 | $209.50 | $233.75 | $233.75 |
USPS priority class shipping rates by weight chart
Priority Mail is faster than USPS Ground Advantage: delivery is within one to three days anywhere in the Continental U.S. But rates are higher, starting at $9.75 for a one lb. package. You can use Priority Mail to ship envelopes, tubes or packages weighing up to 70 lbs.
Priority Mail is ideal for small to medium-size packages; larger packages may be subject to higher rates or additional fees. Parcels over one cubic foot will be charged based on the actual or dimensional weight, whichever is higher. Parcels more than 22 inches but less than 30 inches in length will be charged an additional $4.00. Parcels over 30 inches in length will be charged an additional $15.00. Parcels that exceed two cubic feet will be charged an extra $25.00. The USPS 2023 shipping rates by weight chart (below) shows the impact of rate increases for various package weights and destination zones.
| USPS Priority Mail -Retail | |||||||||
| Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 | Zone 9 | |
| Flat rate envelope | $9.65 | ||||||||
| Small flat rate box | $10.20 | ||||||||
| Medium flat rate box | $17.10 | ||||||||
| Large flat rate box | $22.80 | ||||||||
| 1 lb. | $9.35 | $9.55 | $9.85 | $10.20 | $10.65 | $10.95 | $11.75 | $12.55 | $21.35 |
| 2 lbs. | $9.80 | $10.05 | $10.55 | $11.45 | $12.45 | $13.40 | $15.60 | $17.05 | $33.85 |
| 3 lbs. | $10.45 | $10.75 | $11.35 | $12.55 | $14.50 | $16.30 | $18.95 | $22.45 | $45.25 |
| 4 lbs. | $11.15 | $11.45 | $12.20 | $13.30 | $15.80 | $19.35 | $22.85 | $25.45 | $52.40 |
| 5 lbs. | $11.90 | $12.20 | $13.05 | $14.05 | $16.65 | $21.55 | $26.25 | $29.35 | $60.65 |
| 10 lbs. | $14.90 | $15.25 | $16.05 | $17.90 | $23.50 | $32.25 | $42.85 | $49.00 | $104.50 |
| 20 lbs. | $23.15 | $23.75 | $25.85 | $27.95 | $41.65 | $53.00 | $74.85 | $86.85 | $177.55 |
| 50 lbs. | $42.85 | $44.50 | $53.10 | $66.15 | $100.65 | $115.60 | $133.20 | $156.10 | $314.90 |
| 70 lbs. | $53.40 | $55.45 | $59.50 | $82.00 | $113.25 | $133.85 | $158.10 | $196. | $401.35 |
USPS express class shipping rates by weight chart
As the name implies, Priority Mail Express is the fastest USPS shipping service. You get delivery within one to two days with a money back guarantee – but at a significantly higher cost. Shipping a one lb. package to Zone 2 costs more than three times as much as Priority Mail, and nearly four times more expensive than USPS Ground Advantage. Yet it is still an excellent value compared to other carriers. Weight and dimension limits and related fees are the same as Priority Mail. Refer to the USPS 2023 shipping rates by weight chart (below) to see the impact of rate increases for various package weights and destination zones.
| USPS Priority Mail Express - Retail | |||||||||
| Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 | Zone 9 | |
| Flat rate envelope | $28.75 | ||||||||
| Legal flat rate envelope | $28.95 | ||||||||
| Padded flat rate envelope | $29.45 | ||||||||
| 0.5 lb. | $28.75 | $28.95 | $29.05 | $31.20 | $35.50 | $38.15 | $40.70 | $43.70 | $56.00 |
| 1 lb. | $29.20 | $29.90 | $31.55 | $35.80 | $42.40 | $45.90 | $48.75 | $51.65 | $66.30 |
| 2 lbs. | $29.70 | $30.90 | $34.10 | $40.40 | $49.30 | $53.65 | $56.80 | $59.65 | $76.60 |
| 3 lbs. | $30.15 | $31.85 | $36.60 | $45.00 | $56.20 | $61.40 | $64.85 | $67.60 | $86.95 |
| 4 lbs. | $30.65 | $32.85 | $39.15 | $49.60 | $63.10 | $69.15 | $72.90 | $75.60 | $97.25 |
| 5 lbs. | $31.10 | $33.80 | $41.65 | $54.20 | $70.00 | $76.90 | $80.95 | $83.55 | $107.55 |
| 10 lbs. | $46.80 | $50.70 | $62.10 | $83.95 | $104.25 | $112.30 | $119.20 | $122.90 | $158.55 |
| 20 lbs. | $69.30 | $79.15 | $108.45 | $131.05 | $150.55 | $156.45 | $165.65 | $171.70 | $221.95 |
| 50 lbs. | $149.10 | $176.90 | $260.25 | $300.55 | $338.75 | $350.35 | $366.00 | $382.00 | $494.15 |
| 70 lbs. | $206.65 | $245.20 | $360.75 | $417.30 | $465.85 | $486.45 | $504.85 | $530.50 | $688.20 |
2023 USPS postage rate increases
There were two USPS postage rate increases in 2023. Overall, mailing costs increased more than shipping costs: the cost to mail a one ounce First Class letter went up ten percent, and postage for a First Class postcard rose nearly 16 percent.
| USPS Postage Rate Increases | July 2022 | January 2023 | July 2023 | % increase |
| First Class letter (1 oz.) | $0.60 | $0.63 | $0.66 | 10% |
| First Class letter (1 oz., metered) | $0.57 | $0.60 | $0.63 | 10.5% |
| First Class postcards (domestic) | $0.44 | $0.48 | $0.51 | 15.9% |
| First Class postcards (international) | $1.40 | $1.45 | $1.50 | 7% |
| First Class letter (1 oz., international) | $1.40 | $1.45 | $1.50 | 7% |
How can you prepare to save on shipping and mailing costs in 2023?
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