Shipping costs are one of the biggest variables in e-commerce profitability, and USPS has confirmed another round of updates for the middle of 2026. The USPS price change effective July 12, 2026 follows an earlier transportation-related rate adjustment from April 2026, and this time it covers First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and several Special Services.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the July 2026 USPS price change and what it means for your store.
On This Page
- USPS Price Changes July 2026: What Was Announced vs. What Went Live
- Categories That Increased in the July 2026 USPS Price Change
- Categories That Stayed the Same After USPS Price Change
- Categories That Actually Decreased After USPS Price Change
- What Shopify and WooCommerce Merchants Should Do Now
- Conclusion
- FAQ’s
USPS Price Changes July 2026: What Was Announced vs. What Went Live
The USPS July 2026 price changes are now officially in effect. Before the implementation, USPS announced the proposed rate adjustments, and the prices that went live on July 12 match those announced earlier, following approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission.
| Product | Before | After (July 12, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail Forever Stamp (1 oz. letter) | $0.78 | $0.82 |
| Metered 1 oz. Letter | $0.74 | $0.78 |
| Domestic Postcard | $0.61 | $0.65 |
| International Postcard | $1.70 | $1.75 |
| International Letter (1 oz.) | $1.70 | $1.75 |
| Additional-Ounce Price (single-piece letters) | $0.29 | $0.29 (unchanged) |
Beyond these headline mailing figures, USPS had also signaled that it was reviewing prices for other First-Class Mail products, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services, and select Special Services. The July final rule confirmed those changes too.
Categories That Increased in the July 2026 USPS Price Change
The USPS price changes weren’t limited to stamps and postcards. Several commercial and merchant-relevant categories saw noticeable increases:
| USPS Service | Previous Price | New Price | Change / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail Large Envelopes (Flats), 1 oz. | $1.63 | $1.69 | +$0.06 |
| EDDM Retail Flats (up to 3.3 oz.) | $0.247 | $0.260 | +$0.013 |
| Semipostal Stamps | $0.900 | $1.000 | +$0.100 |
| USPS Marketing Mail – Commercial Letters | $0.365 | $0.389 | +$0.024 |
| Periodicals – Outside County CR Saturation Barcoded Letters | $0.256 | $0.333 | +$0.077 |
| Periodicals – Outside County 5-Digit Barcoded Letters | $0.361 | $0.415 | +$0.054 |
| Bound Printed Matter – Commercial, 1.0 lb. | $2.55 | $3.20 | +$0.65 |
| Alaska Bypass Service (70 lb.) | $38.91 | $41.58 | +$2.67 |
For merchants who ship extra services alongside their packages, these USPS price changes also brought increases across the board:
- Certified Mail: $5.30 to $5.55
- Insurance ($0.01–$50): $2.70 to $2.80
- Return Receipt (hard copy): $4.40 to $4.65
- Signature Confirmation (retail): $4.95 to $5.15
- COD ($0.01–$50): $13.05 to $13.75
- PO Box fees also rose in most cases, though a handful of Market Dominant fee groups were left untouched
For more info on this, check out USPS July 2026 Price Change .
Categories That Stayed the Same After USPS Price Change
Not every service was affected by this USPS price change. Several of the rate tables most commonly used by e-commerce sellers held firm:
- Priority Mail Express (Retail): identical parcel and envelope rates (e.g., Flat Rate Envelope $35.90; 0.5 lb. Zone 1 $35.65)
- Priority Mail (Retail): identical rate tables (Flat Rate Envelope $12.90; Zone 1, 1 lb. $11.00)
- USPS Ground Advantage (Retail parcels): unchanged (4 oz. Zone 1 remains $7.90)
- Parcel Select Destination Entry (Commercial): rate tables carried over without change
This is good news for merchants whose fulfillment mostly runs through these core parcel services.
Check out the article on Zone Charts to find out which zone you come under.
Categories That Actually Decreased After USPS Price Change
Interestingly, this USPS price change included a couple of small decreases:
- Media Mail (Retail, single piece): 1 lb. dropped from $4.47 to $4.39
- Library Mail (Retail, single piece): 1 lb. dropped from $4.25 to $4.17
This softening lines up with the fact that April’s prices were labeled “transportation-related” and time-limited, suggesting a temporary cost add-on from April was rolled back by July, even as most other categories moved up.
What Shopify and WooCommerce Merchants Should Do Now
With this USPS price change touching major USPS services, merchants who use these services should revisit their shipping cost calculations and update checkout pricing where needed. Even where core parcel rates like Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage haven’t moved, the surcharges and extra services attached to those shipments have.
The easiest way to stay current without manually tracking every USPS Notice is to connect your store directly to USPS through a shipping automation tool.
For Shopify merchants, the PH Multi-Carrier Shipping Label App
For WooCommerce merchants, the PH USPS Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce with Print Label
Both link directly with your USPS account. That means live rates reflecting the latest USPS price change are pulled automatically at checkout, so you’re never quoting customers outdated prices or absorbing rate increases that should be passed through.
Conclusion
The USPS price change effective July 12, 2026, increases rates for First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail, Periodicals, Bound Printed Matter, and several Special Services, while Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select remain unchanged. For most e-commerce merchants, the impact will depend on how heavily they rely on extra services and non-parcel mail categories. Connecting your store to USPS through the PH Multi-Carrier Shipping Label App (Shopify) or the PH USPS Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce is the most reliable way to ensure your checkout always reflects current USPS pricing.
FAQ
Q: When did the July 2026 USPS price change take effect?
The updated prices became effective July 12, 2026.
Q: Did First-Class Mail stamp prices increase in this USPS price change?
Yes, the Forever Stamp rose from $0.78 to $0.82, and the metered 1 oz. letter rate rose from $0.74 to $0.78.
Q: Did Priority Mail or USPS Ground Advantage rates change in July 2026?
No, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select (Destination Entry, Commercial) rate tables remained unchanged in this USPS price change.
Q: Were any USPS prices reduced in this price change?
Yes, Media Mail and Library Mail single-piece rates for 1 lb. both decreased slightly.
Q: How can Shopify and WooCommerce merchants keep up with USPS price changes automatically?
By connecting their store to USPS through the PH Multi-Carrier Shipping Label App (Shopify) or the PH USPS Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce, live USPS rates are automatically pulled at checkout, reflecting the current pricing without any manual updates required.
