The U.S. Postal Service has proposed new postage rates to be implemented on Sunday, January 26, 2020, subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Listed below are the highlights of the proposed 2020 USPS rate increase for customers buying postage online for DOMESTIC letters and packages:
The rate for a First Class Mail Letter (1 oz.) for postage purchased at the Post Office is NOT INCREASING in 2020, remaining at $0.55. If you print postage online (via Stamps.com), the Metered Mail rate will also NOT BE INCREASING, with rates remaining at $0.50 in 2020, a 5 cent discount off the Post Office price. Each additional ounce will cost $0.15 (no change from 2019).
The starting rate for a First Class Mail Flats/Large Envelope is NOT INCREASING in 2020 with the price remaining at $1.00 (1 oz.). Each additional ounce will cost $0.20 (a 5 cent increase from 2019). Postcards will remain at $0.35 in 2020.
Overall, prices for Priority Mail Express will increase by 2.2%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $38.05 in 2020 compared to $36.52 currently.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes will also see a rate increase in 2020. The increases vary depending on the type of envelope, ranging from $0.07 to $0.15 per envelope.
Priority Mail will see an average increase of 2.8%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will cost $8.42 in 2020 compared to $8.25 currently.
For 1 and 2 lb. packages, the Priority Mail rate increases are modest with a maximum increase of $0.17 for 1 lb. Zone 8, costing $8.42 (increase of 2.0%) and an increase of $0.33 for 2 lb. Zone 8 to $11.19 (increase of 2.9%). For packages weighing 4 lbs. or more, the rate increase are much more significant with increases of at least $0.53 per package.
Postage rates for Priority Mail Flat Rate products will increase in 2020. The popular Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope will cost $7.75 in 2020 compared to $7.55 currently, a $0.20 increase. Rates for the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box will increase 40 cents, to $13.20 from $12.80 currently. Rates for the Large Flat Rate Box will increase 70 cents, to $18.30 from $17.60 currently.
Rates for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes will be increasing for all shipping zones in 2020. A 5 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Regional Rate Box A will increase by $0.90 to $12.10 in 2020 compared to $11.20 currently.
Regional Rate Box A packages traveling shorter distances (up to Zone 5) are seeing a modest increase of up to 16 cents. Packages traveling to farther shipping zones are increasing much more – Zone 6 is seeing a 42 cents increase, Zone 7 is seeing a 58 cents increase and Zone 8 is seeing a 90 cents increase.
Overall rates for First Class Package Service will increase by 2.2%. A 15.999 ounce package for First Class Package Service traveling to zone 8 will increase $0.17 to $5.70 in 2020 from $5.53 currently.
Packages that weigh 9 to 15.999 ounces are all seeing increases of 10 cents or more. A package weighing 15.999 ounces traveling to Zone 8 is seeing an increase of 17 cents (3.0%) to $5.70 in 2020 from $5.53 in 2019.
Overall rates for Parcel Select Ground will increase by 2.5% in 2020. A 2 lb. package going to Zone 8 will increase $0.33 to $10.89 in 2020 from $10.56 currently.
NEW: Parcel Select Ground rates are now cheaper than Priority Mail for all weights and shipping zones. For a 2 lb. package traveling to Zone 8, Parcel Select is cheaper by 30 cents ($10.89) compared to Priority Mail ($11.19).
Media Mail rates will increase by 1.9% in 2020. A 1 lb. package traveling to Zone 8 will increase 5 cents, to $2.80 in 2020 compared to $2.75 currently.
Stamps.com Will Automatically Update to the New USPS Rates on January 26, 2020
Once the rates are approved by the PRC, Stamps.com will automatically update all USPS rates inside the software and web-based version (Stamps.com Online) on Sunday, January 26, 2020. If you are a Stamps.com customer, no additional actions are needed and you will AUTOMATICALLY see the 2020 USPS rates in the platform.
