The U.S. Postal Service has proposed new postage rates to be implemented on Sunday, January 24, 2021, subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Listed below are the highlights of the proposed 2021 USPS shipping rate increase for customers buying postage online for DOMESTIC SHIPPING services. For information about the previously announced mailing rates see the USPS 2021 Mailing Rates post.
Priority Mail Express – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Overall, prices for Priority Mail Express will increase by 2.5% (Commercial Base). A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $39.85 in 2021 compared to $38.05 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- Packages weighing up to 20 lbs. traveling to Zones 1 through 3 will not see an increase.
- Rate increases for Zone 9 (U.S. territories) are increasing by 4.95% or more
- Commercial Base and Commercial Plus pricing will be the same in 2021.
- The maximum discount for Commercial Base based pricing compared to Post Office (Retail) prices is 17%
- NEW: An overweight/oversize surcharge of $100 will be added for packages that exceed the 70 lb. maximum weight limitation or the 130 inch length plus girth maximum dimensional size limit. This $100 surcharge must be paid by the shipper before the package will be delivered.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes will NOT increase rates in 2021. Prices for Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes will remain the same as 2020, ranging from $22.75 to $23.25 per envelope.
Priority Mail – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Priority Mail will see an average increase of 3.6% (Commercial Base). A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will increase $0.38, costing $8.80 in 2021 compared to $8.42 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- Rate increases are modest (2.04% or lower) for packages weighing up to 6 lbs. being delivered to Zones 1-5. The one exception is Zone 5 at 5 lbs. which is seeing an increase of $1.06 (9.96%).
- For all packages weighing up to 70 lbs. being delivered to Zones 6-8, the rate increases are significant at 4.50% or higher.
- For packages weighing 7 lbs. or more, Zone 1-5 are seeing a significant increase of 3.96% or higher.
- For packages weighing 11 lbs. or higher, the rate increase is a minimum of 7%.
- Rate increases for Zone 9 (U.S. territories) are increasing by 24.99% or more
- The maximum Priority Mail Commercial Base discount compared to Post Office (Retail) prices is 40%.
- NEW: An overweight/oversize surcharge of $100 will be added for packages that exceed the 70 lb. maximum weight limitation or the 130 inch length plus girth maximum dimensional size limit. This $100 surcharge must be paid by the shipper before the package will be delivered.
Priority Mail Flat Rate – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Shipping rates for Priority Mail Flat Rate products will increase in 2021. The popular Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope will increase $0.25 to $8.00 in 2021 compared to $7.75 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020. Rates for the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box will increase $0.55 to $13.75 from $13.20 currently. Rates for the Large Flat Rate Box will increase $1.00, to $19.30 from $18.30 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- Rate increases gain in cost as the Flat Rate Box increases in size.
- Small Flat Rate boxes are increasing only $0.25 (3.5%) while the Large Flat Rate Box is increasing $1.00 (5.46%).
Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Rates for Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes will be increasing for all shipping zones in 2021. A 5 lb. package going to Zone 8 using the Regional Rate Box A will increase by $0.54 to $12.64 in 2021 compared to $12.10 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020. Regional Rate Box A is priced at a 2 lb. regular Priority Mail rate, yet can contain products that weigh up to 15 lbs.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- For Regional Rate Box A, the closer shipping zones (Zones 1-5) are seeing a modest 1-2% increase.
- At Zone 6, the rate increase jumps significantly to 4.46% or higher
- Rate increases Zone 9 (U.S. territories) are increasing by 25%
First Class Package Service – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Overall rates for First Class Package Service will increase by 6.50%. A 15.999 ounce package for First Class Package Service traveling to zone 8 will increase $0.28 to $5.98 in 2021 from $5.70 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- First Class Package Service is seeing increases range from $0.11 (2.8% increase) to $0.31 (9.75% increase)
- The maximum First Class Package Service Commercial Base discount compared to Post Office (Retail) prices is 28%.
- First Class Package Service remains the best deal across all shipping carriers in the U.S.
- NEW: An overweight/oversize surcharge of $100 will be added for packages that exceed the 70 lb. maximum weight limitation or the 130 inch length plus girth maximum dimensional size limit. This $100 surcharge must be paid by the shipper before the package will be delivered.
Parcel Select Ground – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Overall rates for Parcel Select Ground will increase by 1.3% in 2021. However, many low weight packages are actually declining in 2021. A 2 lb. package going to Zone 8 will DECREASE by $0.10 to $10.79 in 2021 from $10.89 (does not include holiday surcharge) in 2020.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- Lower weights and closer shipping zones are seeing rates DECREASE by as much as $0.34 cents (3 lbs., zone 8)
- Heavier packages traveling to farther shipping zones (Zones 6-8) are seeing big increases. A package weighing 70 lbs. traveling to Zone 7 is seeing a $9.12 increase.
- NEW: An overweight/oversize surcharge of $100 will be added for packages that exceed the 70 lb. maximum weight limitation or the 130 inch length plus girth maximum dimensional size limit. This $100 surcharge must be paid by the shipper before the package will be delivered.
Media Mail – 2021 Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
INCREASE PER PACKAGE – 2021 Rates vs. 2020 Rates
Media Mail rates will increase by an average of 3.57% in 2021. A 1 lb. package traveling to Zone 8 will increase $0.09 cents to $2.89 in 2021 compared to $2.80 in 2020.
2021 USPS Shipping Rate Increase Points of Interest:
- The rate increases get higher as Media Mail package weights go up. While 1 lb. rates are going up by $0.09, a 45 lb. package is increasing by $1.03 and a 70 lb. package is increasing by $1.53
- NEW: An overweight/oversize surcharge of $100 will be added for packages that exceed the 70 lb. maximum weight limitation or the 130 inch length plus girth maximum dimensional size limit. This $100 surcharge must be paid by the shipper before the package will be delivered.
Stamps.com Will Automatically Update to the New USPS Rates on January 24, 2021
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 24, 2021. If you are a Stamps.com customer, no additional actions are needed and you will AUTOMATICALLY see the 2021 USPS rates in the platform.
Follow the Stamps.com blog for more USPS news, including year over year comparisons for USPS International Shipping rates.
