USPS® Shipping and Mailing Price Changes

The USPS has announced a new price increase for mailing services that will go into effect July 13, 2025,
if approved by the PRC.

Mailing Services (Market Dominant)

New USPS® mailing rates announced for July 13, 2025

The latest USPS mailing services price changes will take effect on July 13, 2025. The new rates include a 5-cent increase in the price of a First-Class® Mail Forever stamp from 73¢ to 78¢. On average, the changes raise mailing services prices 7.4%. Special services products will also be affected by the new rates. 

What’s changing in First-Class Mail?

As of July 13, 2025, mailers will see price increases to USPS mailing products such as First-Class Mail and Certified Mail.

First-Class letters (retail stamps and metered) increase 5¢. The good news for online postage and meter users is that the savings for Metered letter rate remains at 4¢ per letter. The additional ounce rate is only increasing from 28¢ to 29¢ for letters.

First-Class Flats (Large Envelopes) are increasing 11¢, and the additional ounce rate for Flats is increasing 27¢ to 30¢ depending on the weight of the envelope.

Certified Mail is increasing to $5.30 per piece plus $4.40 for the physical Green Card Return Receipt or $2.82 for the Electronic Return Receipt. PitneyShip® simplifies sending and managing Certified Mail, while also letting you take advantage of electronic Return Receipt, saving you $1.58 per piece with the new rates.

  • Total 1-ounce Certified Mail cost increases to $10.44 for Retail Return Receipt (Green Card) (metered)
  • Total 1-ounce Certified Mail cost will be $8.86 for electronic Return Receipt (Savings of $1.58 vs. Green Card)

You can check here to see the latest proposed prices. The USPS proposal to the eliminate Bound Printed Matter product and expand Marketing Mail is still pending approval. We will continue to keep you informed of the latest updates from the USPS and other carriers on changes to rates and services.

 

USPS Mail Rates

First-Class Mail

Product
Current
Proposed July 2025 Change
1oz. Letter $0.73 $0.78 +$0.05
1 oz. Letter (metered) $0.69 $0.73 +$0.05
Postcards $0.56 $0.62 +$0.06
Additional Oz. Letters $0.28 $0.29 +$0.01
International letter (1 oz.) $1.65 $1.70 +$0.05

Certified Mail

Extra Services Current Price Proposed July 2025 Change
Certified Mail $4.85 $5.30 +$0.45
Return Receipt Retail $4.10 $4.40 +$0.30
Return Receipt Electronic $2.62 $2.82 +$0.20

Marketing Mail

Commercial Automation
Current Price  
Mixed AADC   $0.402  
AADC   $0.380  
5-Digit   $0.345  
       
Nonprofit Automation      
Mixed AADC   $0.230  
AADC   $0.208  
5-Digit   $0.183  

Our PitneyShip software delivers a better way to send, track, and manage your Certified Mail, while saving you $1.58* on every piece – with no volume requirements. Learn more here.

*Pending PRC approval

Shipping Services (USPS Competitive Products)

New rates proposed for Retail and Commercial shipping services that, if approved, will go into effect July 13, 2025.

The USPS has proposed changes to its Shipping Services (Competitive Products). Once reviewed and approved by the PRC (Postal Regulatory Commission), the new prices would go into effect July 13, 2025.

The updated proposed price files can be found here: July 2025 Price Change | Postal Explorer

Here is a summary of the average increases:

  • Priority Mail® prices increase 6.3% with some prices decreasing like lighter weights in lower zones
  • Ground Advantage™ prices increase 7.1% with some prices decreasing like lighter weights in lower zones
  • No change to Priority Mail Express® prices

In addition, the following classification changes are proposed:

  • USPS Ground Advantage Commercial packages will be sealed against inspection. This is an obviously needed change to the Commercial category and is great for customers looking to leverage the lower prices of the Ground Advantage service.
  • Eliminate Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) price category within Parcel Select. NDCs are no longer used as consolidation points in the network for all ground packages.
  • There is a new $4.00 nonstandard fee based on non-standard characteristics such as tubes or rolls, liquids, wooden boxes, etc.
  • The IMpb Noncompliance Fee is being renamed as the Package Quality Noncompliance Fee (the fee remains $0.25).

Pitney Bowes clients will continue to see deeper savings through the USPS Connect Ecommerce (CeC) program. Our software solutions take the guess work out of rates and presents you with the best possible USPS rate for every package you send. And don't forget, USPS does not add any surcharges for fuel, residential delivery, or regular Saturday delivery.

Check out our rate calculator below to see if your package qualifies for certain rates.

USPS Priority Mail

Priority Mail (1-3 day delivery)

On average, Priority Mail prices are increasing an average of 3.2%. This is a very broad average with actual percentage changes being very complex and varying based on zone and weight. For the most part, prices are going up. PitneyShip reduces the complexity of the Priority Mail price changes and helps make sure you are getting the best price or every piece you send. 

Package Details

2024 Retail Price

2025 Retail Price

2025 Pitney Bowes Price

Savings with Pitney Bowes

Flat Rate Envelope

$9.85

$10.10

<$8.75

>$1.35

Small Flat Rate Box

$10.40

$10.65

<$9.30

>$1.35

Medium Flat Rate Box

$18.40

$19.15

<$16.65

>$2.50

APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box

$23.00

$25.05

<$22.70

>$2.35

1lb Package to Zone 1

$9.25

$9.35

<$7.99

>$1.36

2lb Package to Zone 1

$10.35

$10.50

<$8.44

>$2.06

5lb Package to Zone 1

$12.45

$12.60

<$9.35

>$3.25

 

Priority Mail Cubic

Priority Mail Cubic pricing is based on the dimensions of your package, rather than the weight. It’s a service not available at the Post Office, and offers shippers an inexpensive, fast way to ship their small packages (0.5 cubic feet or less) that weight up to 20lbs. Like all Priority Mail services, you can still expect a 1-3 business day delivery. Cubic pricing also includes $100 of insurance at no extra cost.

Package Details

2025 Retail Price

2025 Commercial Price

2025 Pitney Bowes Price

Savings with Pitney Bowes

0.20 Cubic Ft, 3lbs, Zone 3

$12.30

$9.55

$8.82

$3.48 (36%)

0.30 Cubic Ft, 5lbs, Zone 1

$12.60

$9.35

$8.85

$3.75 (40%)

0.50 Cubic Ft, 7lbs, Zone 4

$16.75

$12.08

$11.24

$5.51 (46%)

 

Priority Mail Express

If speed is what you need, then Priority Mail Express could be the right choice. It’s an overnight service delivery even on Saturdays. Prices are increasing between 5.8% and 6% for zones 1-8 and 10% for zone 9. There are no cubic price options for Priority Mail Express, but the USPS does offer Flat Rate packaging and prices.

Package Details

2024 Retail Price

2024 Commercial Price

2025 Retail Price

2025 Pitney Bowes Price

Savings with Pitney Bowes

Flat Rate Envelope

$30.45

$26.35

$31.40

$27.20

$4.20 (13%)

Legal Flat Rate Envelope

$30.65

$26.65

$31.65

$27.50

$4.15 (13%)

Padded Flat Rate Envelope

$31.20

$26.85

$32.25

$27.70

$4.55 (14%)

1lb Package to Zone 1

$30.95

$26.75

$31.95

$27.60

$4.35 (14%)

 

USPS Ground Advantage

USPS Ground Advantage™ Service

Most Ground Advantage rates are increasing, but like Priority Mail, the price changes are complex and depend on zone and weight of the package. Ground Advantage replaced First-Class Package Service category with USPS Ground Advantage. The service also incorporated USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Select® Ground. USPS Ground Advantage features 2-5 day delivery for packages up to 70 pounds and includes ounce-based pricing up to 15.999oz. Certified Mail is not an option as an extra service for these items. If you require a signature, Ground Advantage with Signature Confirmation is the recommended alternative. If your package requires Certified Mail, then you must use Priority Mail.

Package Details

2024 Retail Price

2024 Commercial Price

2025 Retail Price

2025 Pitney Bowes Price

Savings with Pitney Bowes

8 oz., Zone 1

$5.70

$4.21

$6.00

$4.33

$1.67 (28%)

11 oz., Zone 1

$6.50

$4.87

$6.75

$5.00

$1.75 (26%)

1lb, Zone 1

$8.00

$6.83

$8.35

$7.12

$1.23 (15%)

2lbs, Zone 1

$8.95

$7.21

$9.45

$7.50

$1.95 (21%)

5lbs, Zone 1

$10.75

$7.99

$11.35

$8.29

$3.06 (27%)

 

USPS Ground Advantage Cubic Rates

Like Priority Mail Cubic rates, Ground Advantage Cubic pricing is based on the dimensions of your package, rather than the weight. Ground Advantage differs in that packages can be up to a full cubic foot. Ground Advantage Cubic offers competitive pricing for packages up to 20lbs with a 2-5 delivery service.

Package Details

2025 Retail Price

2025 Commercial Price

2025 Pitney Bowes Cubic Price

Savings with Pitney Bowes

0.30 Cubic Ft, 3lbs, Zone 3

$11.05

$8.45

$8.22

$2.83 (33%)

0.50 Cubic Ft, 7lbs, Zone 1

$12.25

$8.70

$8.25

$4.00 (46%)

0.90 Cubic Ft, 14 lbs, Zone 4

$19.75

$14.73

$11.67

$8.08 (55%)

Package Cubic Rate Calculator

Fill in your package dimensions below to find out if it qualifies for cubic pricing.

HAZMAT Updates for Military and PTFAS Shipments

Effective January 19, 2025, USPS is requiring that all packages destined to and from Military and Possessions/Territories/Freely Associated States (PTFAS), except for Puerto Rico (PR), must follow international Dangerous Goods rules. Domestic HAZMAT rules should never have been applied for these shipments.

Although military and PTFAS are defined as domestic mail and use domestic shipping labels, they must follow international rules when it comes to hazardous materials content.

Currently GCS does not allow HazMat shipments to/from Military addresses.

GCS will allow only these three HAZMAT_TYPE values with shipments to and from PTFAS addresses (does not include PR):

  • Class 7 Radioactive Materials
  • Class 9 Lithium Battery Unmarked
  • Div 6.2 Biological Materials
  •  

How can you prepare to save on shipping and mailing costs in 2025?

We are here to help. Shipping continues to get more complex. It’s a great time to take a second look at the annual price increases for the carriers you use. Our shipping software helps you print labels and save on carrier rates like USPS, UPS, and FedEx and more. We make it easy choose the right carrier and price for every package you send. Let's talk.

Rate Change Support

Confirm your rate update

Check the status of rates on your device.
Confirm

Update your product

Instructions on how to download your new rates.
Update