What are the current USPS postage rates?

The easiest way to check is by downloading Quadient’s 2025 USPS Postage Rate Guide. It includes the current prices, helpful mailing and shipping tips and links to official USPS resources, so you always have the latest rates at your fingertips.

What’s the difference between metered and stamped mail?

Stamped mail uses postage stamps purchased at the Post Office at full retail rates. Metered mail is indicia printed directly on your envelopes or labels using a postage meter or approved mailing software.Why choose metered mail?Automatic discounts on every mail pieceSkip the Post OfficeNo more running out of stamps or overpayingSecure, compliant postage for business mail

How do I save on First-Class letters?

First-Class Mail is the most widely used USPS service for letters, postcards and small parcels. It’s ideal for everyday business communications, such as invoices, statements, policy documents and renewal letters. Because those mailings go out every day, even small savings can add up quickly. The good news? You don’t need any special tricks, just proven ways to save:Meter your mail: Print postage with a meter or approved software for an easy, automatic 5% discount.Qualify for presort rates: With the right volume, presorting your mail can unlock even deeper discounts, sometimes more than 25% off retail postage rates. All you need is mail automation software.

How do I estimate USPS shipping costs?

Use the free online Price Calculator from the U.S. Postal Service to check the commercial, discounted rates for packages, flats and envelopes. Just enter the weight, dimensions, origin, and destination for your package or mailing, and it shows you rate options.Bonus: USPS flat rate envelopes and boxes offer predictable shipping costs - no weighing, no sizing, no math!

What affects USPS shipping costs?

There are a few things that affect the pricing of shipments from the U.S. Postal Service. The key is to identify which ones are most important to your shipment and your budget:Weight and dimensional size (larger boxes may count as heavier)Service type (e.g., Ground vs. Express)Distance between sender and recipient (USPS zones)Extra services like insurance, tracking or signaturesSeasonal or fuel surcharges during peak periods

2026 USPS Postage Rates | Quadient Mail Related Solutions

Navigating USPS® Postage Rates and Mailing Costs in 2026 Without the Guesswork!

Postage rates aren’t just numbers. They’re a cost center that can affect your margins and bottom line. Whether you’re sending invoices, marketing mail, flats, envelopes or parcels, every cent counts.

This page breaks down the latest USPS rates so you can find savings and keep more cash in your business and less at the Post Office.

Key updates:

Price of stamps increased by 7.4% to $0.78
First-Class Metered mail rate is now $0.74
Certified Mail fee and Return Receipt costs both increased this year
Peak shipping season for the Postal Service starts Oct 2026

2026 USPS® Postal Mail Rates: What You’ll Pay (and How to Pay Less)

Everything your business needs to understand postal rate changes like a pro!

USPS® First-Class Mail

Retail rates at the Post Office add up fast! Use First-Class Mail® for customer communications that need to be delivered in 1-5 business days.

Mail Class	Post Office Rate	Quadient Rate	Savings
Letters - up to 1 oz.	$0.78	$0.74	5.1%
Letters - up to 2 oz.	$1.07	$1.03	3.7%
Letters - up to 3 oz.	$1.36	$1.32	2.9%
Letters - up to 3.5 oz.	$1.65	$1.61	2.4%
Postcards (3.5" H x 5" L)*	$0.61	-	-
Large Envelope (Flats up to 1 oz.)	$1.63	-	-
Large Envelope (Flats 2-13 oz.)	$1.63	-	-

Pro Tip: Postcards sent via First-Class Mail® do not receive a metered discount. Want lower postcard rates? Use USPS Marketing Mail or Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) for bulk postcard mailings.

Certified Mail® with Return Receipt

Use Certified Mail for your most important mailings and prove they got there! Add options like Electronic Return Receipt for extra documentation and peace of mind.

Service	Price
Certified Mail® Fee	$5.30
Return Receipt (Hard Copy)	$4.40
Return Receipt (Electronic)	$2.82
Restricted Delivery	$13.70
Adult Signature Required	$13.70
Adult Signature Restricted Delivery	$13.70

Pro Tip: You can create digital workflow and save 36% on Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt using an online solution like Quadient’s e-Certify.

Save Big with USPS Bulk Mail Rates

Move non-First Class mail to Marketing Mail and pay as little as $0.22 per piece for high-volume advertising and promotional mailings. Perfect for saturating ZIP codes and reaching entire carrier routes.

Sample Rates for Carrier Route Mailings (3.5 oz or less)

Entry point	Saturation	High Density	5-Digit	AADC
Post office	$0.24	$0.36	$0.37	$0.40
DSCF Postal Facility	$0.22	$0.34	$0.35	-

Pro Tip: Businesses love Marketing Mail because it’s a no-brainer way to access lower rates. There are also options for deeper discounts and extra incentives available.

USPS® Shipping Rates & Priority Mail Pricing

Shipping shouldn’t be complicated – or expensive! With the right USPS service, you can keep your budget in check without sacrificing speed, reliability or the bottom line. Check out the current shipping rates below and find out how your business can get access to exclusive discounts.

Pricing tiers:

Retail Rates: What you’d pay at the Post Office.
Commercial Rates: Discounted rates available with shipping software.
Merchant Rates: The lowest USPS rates, now available to all Quadient customers, no minimums!

Priority Mail® Flat Rates

Need speed without breaking the budget? Priority Mail® delivers in 1-3 business days with tracking included.

Product	Retail Rate	Commercial Rate
Regular Flat Rate Envelope	$11.00	$9.70
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	$11.20	$10.20
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	$11.95	$10.50
Small Flat Rate Box	$11.70	$10.60
Medium Flat Rate Box	$21.05	$18.50
Large Flat Rate Box	$29.95	$27.10
APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Boxes	$28.70	$25.85

Priority Mail Express® Flat Rates

Need it there faster? Priority Mail Express® is the fastest USPS service, offering overnight delivery to most U.S. locations plus tracking. Perfect for urgent and time-sensitive mailings and parcels.

Product	Retail Rate	Commercial Rate
Regular Flat Rate Envelope	$31.40	$27.50
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	$31.65	$27.50
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	$32.25	$27.50

Pro Tip: With Quadient you can get access to Merchant Rates, the deepest discounts available on Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services! Save up to 43% off Priority Mail retail rates and 21% off Priority Mail Express. Learn more

USPS Ground Advantage™ Fast, Affordable Shipping

Ship packages up to 70 lbs. in 2 - 5 business days with built-in insurance, free tracking, address correction and home or office pickup.

The best part? With Quadient, you can save up to 38% compared to Post Office rates!

Package size	Post Office Rate	Quadient Rate	Savings per package
1 - 4 oz.	$6.80	$4.20	38%
5 - 8 oz	$7.10	$4.65	34%
9 - 12 oz.	$8.15	$5.38	34%
13 - 15.99 oz.	$8.70	$6.07	30%

Pro Tip: Use your built-in insurance wisely! USPS Ground Advantage automatically includes up to $100 in coverage for outbound and return shipments, so packages are protected without paying extra.

USPS Mailing and Shipping FAQs for 2025

All your top questions simplified and answered!

Solutions to Help You Reduce the Impact of New Postage Rates

When USPS postage rates rise, these tools will help you save without slowing you down.

Get automatic rate updates

Skip the hassle of stamping envelopes or calculating rates. Quadient meters are Post Office approved. You’ll always have access to the current rates and a 5% discount easily on letters, postcards, envelopes and small packages.

Explore postage meters