The United States Postal Service (USPS) delivers approximately 400,000 pieces of mail every day, making it one of the most widely used postal delivery services worldwide. Within the United States, USPS offers some of the cheapest shipping options and delivers to almost every residential & business address daily.
USPS recently announced an increase in their shipping rates to take effect from early 2022. The price increments for USPS postal services are driven by the consumer price index, while the pricing for shipping services is generally adjusted based on market conditions. This new pricing, according to USPS, will maintain the Postal Service economical while also delivering much-needed revenue.
USPS mentioned that the pricing actions are a part of a 10-year plan “Delivering for America” for achieving financial sustainability and to become more efficient & service responsive. Additionally, over the next few years, USPS rate hikes are estimated to contribute up to $40 billion in funding for people, innovation, and equipment to modernize and enhance the USPS’s management and customer experience.
When do new USPS rates go into effect?
The first USPS rate change in 2022 will take effect on January 9, 2022. However, some of the changes have been delayed to April 3, 2022.
Changes effective from Jan. 9, 2022:
- Rates for USPS First-Class Package Service, USPS Priority Mail, and USPS Priority Mail Express, as well as USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate packaging, will be increased.
- Increased insurance rates for international destinations.
- Enforcement of City / Province / PostalCode field requirements to print international labels. An international print will be blocked with an error if any of these fields are missing.
Changes effective from Apr. 3, 2022:
Except for USPS First Class and USPS Media Mail, there are four new surcharges for non-standard package dimensions:
- The longest side exceeds 22 inches, but less than or equal to 30 inches: $4.00
- The longest side exceeds 30 inches: $15.00
- Volume exceeds 2 cubic feet: $15.00
- Missing or incorrect dimensions resulting in any of the above dimensions-based charges: $1.50 (applied as an adjustment)
The competitive prices, approved by the Postal Service Governors, would raise Shipping Services prices approximately 3.1 percent for Priority Mail service, and 3.1 percent for Priority Mail Express service. The new prices will have a price hike for Small Flat-Rate Box to $9.45.
The price for Medium Flat-Rate Box would go up to $16.10 while the Large Flat-Rate Box would decrease to $21.50, along with APO/FPO Large Flat-Rate Box that would also go down to $20.00.
USPS Shipping Rates Comparison – Current vs Upcoming
| Flat Rate Envelopes | Changed Pricing | Current Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $27.50 | $26.95 |
| Priority Mail Express Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $27.10 | $26.50 |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope | $8.95 | $7.95 |
| Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $9.65 | $8.55 |
| Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $9.25 | $8.25 |
| Packages | Changed Pricing | Current Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express (0.5 lb.) | $26.95 and up | $26.35 and up |
| Priority Mail (1 lb.) | $8.70 and up | $7.70 and up |
| Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box | $9.45 | $8.45 |
| Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box | $16.10 | $15.50 |
| Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box | $21.50 | $21.90 |
| Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box | $20.00 | $20.40 |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A | $10.68 and up | $10.13 and up |
| Priority Mail Regional Rate Box B | $11.18 and up | $10.53 and up |
| First Class® Package Service (1 oz.) | $4.50 and up | $4.00 and up |
| Media Mail (1 lb.) | $3.19 | $2.89 |
| Retail Ground® (formerly Standard Post® – 1 lb.) | $8.50 and up | $7.70 and up |
| Library Mail (1 lb.) | $3.03 | $2.75 |
| International | Changed Pricing | Current Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express Intl (0.5 lb.) | $47.95 and up | $45.95 and up |
| Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Envelopes – Canada | $47.95 and up | $45.95 and up |
| Priority Mail Express Intl Flat Rate Envelopes – Other Countries | $64.95 and up | $62.95 and up |
| Priority Mail Intl (1 lb.) – Canada | $40.45 and up | $37.60 and up |
| Priority Mail Intl (1 lb.) – Other Countries | $48.80 and up | $46.95 and up |
| Priority Mail Intl Flat Rate Envelopes – Canada | $29.60 | $28.50 |
| Priority Mail Intl Flat Rate Envelopes – Other Countries | $36.85 and up | $35.45 and up |
| Priority Mail Intl Small Flat Rate Box – Canada | $30.70 | $28.50 |
| Priority Mail Intl Small Flat Rate Box – Other Countries | $38.55 and up | $37.10 and up |
| Priority Mail Intl Medium Flat Rate Box – Canada | $56.80 | $54.65 |
| Priority Mail Intl Medium Flat Rate Box – Other Countries | $82.85 and up | $79.75 and up |
| Priority Mail Intl Large Flat Rate Box – Canada | $73.80 | $71.05 |
| Priority Mail Intl Large Flat Rate Box – Other Countries | $108.10 and up | $104.05 and up |
| First Class Package Intl Service – Canada (1 lb.) | $22.10 | $21.25 |
| First Class Package Intl Service – Mexico (1 lb.) | $22.60 | $21.75 |
| First Class Package Intl Service – Other Countries (1 lb.) | $30.90 and up | $24.50 and up |
| First Class Mail Intl Letters – Mexico & Canada (1 oz.) | $1.30 | $1.20 |
| First Class Mail Intl Letters – Other Countries (1 oz.) | $1.30 | $1.20 |
| Special Services | Changed Pricing | Current Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Mail™ | $3.75 | $3.60 |
| Certificate of Mailing | $1.65 | $1.55 |
| Registered Mail™ | $13.75 and up | $12.90 and up |
| Restricted Delivery | $5.85 | $5.40 |
| Return Receipt – (mail) | $3.05 | $2.85 |
| Return Receipt – (electronic) | $1.85 | $1.75 |
| Signature Confirmation™ | $3.45 | $3.20 |
| Adult Signature – (Basic) | $8.50 | $6.90 |
| Adult Signature – (Person Specific) | $8.75 | $7.15 |
| Package Intercept | $15.95 | $15.25 |
As a result of these new surcharges, USPS also brings forth modifications in their packages:
- Package Type – Package
It will represent packages that- Are a cubic foot (12 x 12 x 12) or under
- Are with sides, 22 inches or under
- Will not require dimensions to be specified when printing a label. If dimensions are specified, they will be utilized to calculate any appropriate dimensional prices or cubic rates based on existing behavior.
- Package Type – LargePackage
USPS introduced this package type in 2019. It will now represent packages that- exceed the default dimensional weight threshold (12 x 12 x 12) or packages with any side exceeding 22 inches. Mail classes utilizing this package type will require dimensions to be specified when printing a label.
Get the USPS prices for 2022 on your online store with PluginHive’s automated shipping solution
PluginHive USPS shipping solutions are officially certified by Stamps.com. If your eCommerce store is based on WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, or BigCommerce platform, the PluginHive solution will automatically get these updated prices on your store.
Besides, PluginHive USPS shipping solutions will let you print USPS shipping labels directly from within your store dashboard & manage live shipment tracking for your orders.
If you have any queries about the latest USPS price changes or need help integrating the USPS shipping within your eCommerce store, reach out to the PluginHive support team.
