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USPS Postage Rate Increase Starts January 27, 2019

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The USPS will be implementing new postage rates on Sunday, January 27, 2019. Listed below are the highlights of the 2019 USPS rate increase for customers buying postage online:

 

First Class Mail Letters

  • The First Class Mail letter (1 oz.) rate for postage purchased at the Post Office is increasing by five cents to $0.55 from $0.50.
  • Each additional ounce for a First Class Mail letter will cost an extra $0.15 (a decrease from $0.21 in 2018).
  • First Class Mail Flats/Large Envelope rates are not increasing in 2019, remaining at $1.00 (1 oz.), with additional ounces costing $0.15.
  • Postcard rates are also not increasing in 2019, remaining at $0.35.
  • Customers who print postage online (via Stamps.com), the Metered Mail rate will now be a 5 cent discount compared to the Post Office price with rates increasing to $0.50 in 2019 from $0.47 currently.
  • Each additional ounce will cost an extra $0.15 in 2019, a decrease from $0.21 currently.
  • The five cent discount for online postage on a one-ounce First Class Mail letter represents a savings of 9% for consumers and small business owners.

Priority Mail Express (Commercial Base Pricing)

  • Priority Mail Express will see an average increase of 3.9%.
  • A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $36.52 in 2019 compared to $35.04 currently.
  • The USPS is adjusting the DIM Divisor for Priority Mail Express packages over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) from 194 to 166.
  • Commercial Plus Pricing has been eliminated.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate (Commercial Base Pricing)

  • Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes will also see a rate increase ranging from $0.70 to $0.72 depending on the envelope used.

Priority Mail (Commercial Base Pricing)

  • Priority Mail will see an average increase of 5.9%.
  • A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will cost $8.25 in 2019 compared to $7.76 currently.
  • Heavier weights for Priority Mail are seeing a rate decrease.  For packages weighing between 11 lbs. and 70 lbs., all shipping zones are seeing lower rates compared to 2018.  Cost savings range from $0.11 (11 lbs. Zone 1/2 = $10.67) to $1.37 savings (70 lbs. Zone 8 = $184.51) compared to 2018.
  • Medium weight packages (4 lbs. to 10 lbs.), traveling to Zone 5 and higher are seeing a decrease in rates compared to 2018, with costs being reduced by $0.17 (7 lbs. Zone 5 = $15.43) to $0.63 (5 lbs. Zone 8 = $20.40)
  • NOTE: The Dimensional Weight (DIM) divisor  for Priority Mail packages will not take place until June 23, 2019. After that, Priority Mail packages over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) is being adjusted from 194 to 166.
  • NOTE: After June 23, 2019 Priority Mail parcels in ALL shipping zones will receive DIM pricing for packages over 1 cubic foot.  Previously, only Priority Mail parcels being delivered to Zones 5-9 received DIM pricing.
  • Commercial Plus Pricing has been eliminated.

Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes & Envelopes (Commercial Base Pricing)

  • Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box is decreasing by five cents to $12.80 in 2019 from $12.85 currently.
  • Priority Mail Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is decreasing by five cents to $17.60 in 2019 from $17.65 currently.
  • Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope, a popular option for e-commerce sellers, is increasing by $0.45 to $7.55 in 2019 from $7.10 currently.

Priority Mail Regional Rate (Commercial Base Pricing)

Regional Rate Box A

  • Closer shipping zones (Zones 1/2 through Zone 5) are seeing bigger rate increases from $0.55 (Zone 1/2 = $7.65) to $0.61 (Zone 5 = $8.76).
  • Packages traveling to farther shipping zones are seeing a smaller rate increase – going up by $0.26 (Zone 7 = $10.55) and to $0.40 (Zone 8 = $11.20)

Regional Rate Box B

  • Other than Zone 1/2 where the rate increase is $0.64, the increase is relatively small at $0.08 (Zone 3 = $8.50), $0.03 (Zone 4 = $9.40) and no rate increase for farther Zones 5-8.

First Class Package Service (Commercial Base Pricing)

  • Overall rates for First Class Package Service will increase by 11.9%.
  • Zone-based pricing is being added to First Class Package Service in 2019.
  • Any package going across the country (Zone 8) is seeing a significant rate increase going up from $0.43 (Zone 8 – 1 ounce = $3.09) to $1.43 (Zone 8 – 13 ounces = $5.53)
  • 13 ounce packages in particular are rising across all zones, increasing $0.84 (Zone 1/2 = $4.94) to $1.43 (Zone 8 = $5.53)
  • Heavier items weighing 15 ounces to 15.999 ounces are seeing a smaller increase, going from no increase at all (Zone 1/2 = $4.94) to $0.59 (Zone 8 = $5.53)

Parcel Select Ground (Commercial Base Pricing)

  • Shipping rates for Parcel Select Ground will decrease by an average of 1.3% in 2019.
  • For parcels weighing between 3 lbs. and 18 lbs. and traveling to farther zones (Zone 5-9), every cell is seeing a rate decrease in 2019.
  • Parcel Select Group is also seeing a rate decrease for all zones for parcels weighing between 21 to 70 pounds
  • The Dimensional Weight (DIM) divisor for Parcel Select Ground packages over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) is being adjusted from 193 to 166.

Media Mail

  • Media Mail rates will increase by 2.95% in 2019.
  • A 1 lb. package traveling to Zone 8 will cost $2.75 in 2019 compared to $2.66 currently.