The 2025 USPS temporary holiday rates are officially coming to an end. Those peak pricing adjustments wrap up on January 18, 2026, and with them comes a transition to USPS’s new 2026 rate changes.
If you ship regularly, this matters — because January 18th marks both the end of holiday pricing and the start of USPS’s updated pricing for the year. Below is the simple breakdown.
- Lightweight Ground Advantage (< 1 lb) up ~4% on average
- Many Ground Advantage 10–20 lb shipments down up to 26%
- Most weight-based Priority Mail up to 13%
- Priority Mail 11–20 lb down up to 8%
- Media Mail: no change
❄️ Holiday Pricing Ends January 18, 2026
USPS applied temporary peak-season pricing throughout the holiday rush to manage higher shipping volume. Those surcharges expire on January 18th. Once they’re gone, rates briefly normalize — but on that same day, USPS rolls out updated 2026 pricing.
January 2026 USPS Rate Changes
Actual prices still depend on weight, dimensions, zone, and service — but the patterns below are what you’ll see most often.
USPS Ground Advantage
- Increase Shipments under 1 lb: average ~4% increase
- Decrease Many 10–20 lb shipments: cheaper by up to 26%
- Mid-weight packages: mixed changes depending on zone/weight
Priority Mail (Weight-Based)
- Increase Most rates: up to 13%
- Decrease 11–20 lb shipments: down up to 8%
Priority Mail Cubic
- Increase Smaller cubic tiers to Zones 1–4: up to 5%
- Decrease Larger cubic tiers: down up to 3%
Priority Mail Express
- Increase Average increase: ~2%
- Some Flat Rate Express packaging: small decreases (see below)
Media Mail
- No change Media Mail rates stay the same in 2026
Signature Services
- No change Signature Confirmation remains $3.95
- Increase Adult Signature increases to $9.70
Flat Rate Packaging Changes
| Service | Change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate Envelope | -$0.20 | Decrease |
| Padded Flat Rate Envelope | -$0.10 | Decrease |
| Legal Flat Rate Envelope | -$0.10 | Decrease |
| Small Flat Rate Box | -$0.15 | Decrease |
| Medium Flat Rate Box | +$0.30 | Increase |
| Large Flat Rate Box | +$0.15 | Increase |
| APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box | +$0.30 | Increase |
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Packaging
| Service | Change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| PME Flat Rate Envelope | -$0.15 | Decrease |
| PME Legal Flat Rate Envelope | -$0.15 | Decrease |
| PME Padded Flat Rate Envelope | -$0.10 | Decrease |
Nonstandard & Dimension Fees (Where Sellers Get Surprised)
If you ship larger or oddly shaped packages, these can add up fast. Double-check dimensions before you buy labels — it’s the easiest way to avoid “wait… why did this cost more?” moments.
| Fee Type | Ground Advantage | Priority Mail / Express |
|---|---|---|
| Nonstandard length > 22" | $4.50 | $4.50 |
| Nonstandard length > 30" | $10 | $21 |
| Nonstandard volume > 2 cubic feet | $21 | $35 |
| Dimension noncompliance fee | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Nonstandard characteristic fee | $4.50 | $4.50 |
International USPS Rate Changes
International services are seeing broader increases overall. Here’s what to expect on average:
| Service | What’s changing |
|---|---|
| First Class Package International | Increasing by up to 16% (average ~8%) |
| Priority Mail International | Increasing by up to 15% (average ~4%) |
| Priority Mail Express International | Increasing by up to 16% (average ~5%) |
| Simple Export Rate | Most shipments: +$1 • Canada (1–8 oz): +$2 • Often still the most cost-effective option |
How Thryft Ship Handles Rate Changes
Thryft Ship automatically applies commercial USPS pricing and keeps rates updated behind the scenes as changes roll out. That means:
Less guesswork
- You don’t need to memorize rate tables
- Pricing updates are already built into the platform
More control
- You see accurate costs before you buy a label
- You can compare services quickly and ship with confidence
Questions about your 2026 shipping mix?
If you want help choosing the most cost-effective option for your packages — or figuring out why a label price changed — DM us. We’re happy to talk it through.
Thryft Ship — Shipping smarter every day.
