The U.S. Postal Service has announced their peak holiday shipping rate increase to start on Sunday, October 3, 2021 through Sunday, December 26, 2021. The USPS introduced the peak holiday shipping rate increase in 2020, after UPS and FedEx introduced peak period increases in 2019. All three carriers noted the peak rate increase was due to higher expenses related to the increased demand in holiday e-commerce activity.
The USPS peak holiday rate increase will impact five specific mail classes for shippers using Commercial Base pricing (printing labels online) – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First Class Package Service, Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service. New for 2021, the Peak holiday rate increase will also include Post Office (retail) shipping rates. International shipping products will not be impacted.
Listed below are the 2021 USPS holiday rate increases for customers buying postage online (Commercial Base pricing):
First Class Package Service will see an average rate increase of 8.0%. A 15.999 ounce package going to Zone 8 using First Class Package Service will cost $6.28 in the 2021 peak holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $5.98 currently.
Priority Mail will see an average rate increase of 6.3%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will cost $9.55 in the 2021 holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $8.80 currently.
Priority Mail Express will see an average rate increase of 2.2%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $40.60 in the 2021 holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $39.85 currently.
Parcel Select Ground will see an average rate increase of 6.2%. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Parcel Select Ground will cost $8.90 in the 2021 holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $8.15 currently.
Priority Mail Regional Rate prices are increasing by $0.40 per shipment. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A will cost $13.39 in the 2021 holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $12.64 currently.
Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and envelopes are increasing by $0.75 per shipment. A Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate package going to Zone 8 will cost $14.50 in the 2021 holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $13.75 currently.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate envelopes are increasing by $0.75 per shipment. A Priority Mail Express Padded Flat Rate Envelope going to Zone 8 will cost $24.00 in the 2021 holiday period (October 3 through December 26, 2021), compared to $23.25 currently.
Get more info on the USPS holiday peak shipping rate increase.
