USPS announced rate changes for domestic and international shipments with Ship Dates of January 18th, 2026 and beyond.
Since USPS doesn't let us publish the secret rates that are available through Pirate Ship that are below the listed Commercial Pricing rates, we've done our best to summarize the changes below... but you'll be best off using the Rates Calculator starting on January 18th to see the actual rates 😉
For shipments starting January 18th our site will reflect all of the rate changes. Whether you use our Rates Calculator or browse the spreadsheets on our dedicated USPS pages, we’ll have everything you need to help you keep the most loot in your pockets!
Summary of the January 2026 USPS rate changes
Domestic USPS services
Ground Advantage
Rate changes for Ground Advantage will be mixed. Lightweight Ground Advantage shipments under 1 lb will see average rate increases of 4% compared to the most recent pricing. However, most Ground Advantage shipments between 10-20 pounds will see prices getting cheaper by up to 26% 😱
Priority Mail
Most weight-based Priority Mail rates are increasing by up to 13%, except for 11-20 lb shipments which are getting up to 8% cheaper.
Priority Mail Cubic
Rate changes for Priority Mail Cubic will be mixed. Shipments in smaller cubic tiers going to Zones 1-4 will see increases of up to 5%, while shipments in larger cubic tiers will actually see decreases of up to 3%.
Priority Mail Flat Rate
Depending on which Priority Mail Flat Rate service you choose, rates will change by the following amounts:
Flat Rate Envelope: -$0.20 decrease
Padded Flat Rate Envelope: -$0.10 decrease
Legal Flat Rate Envelope: -$0.10 decrease
Small Flat Rate Box: -$0.15 decrease
Medium Flat Rate Box: +$0.30 increase
Large Flat Rate Box: +$0.15 increase
APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box: +$0.30 increase
Media Mail
Media Mail rates aren't changing 🎉
Priority Mail Express
Priority Mail Express rates are increasing by an average of 2%. Priority Mail Express Flat Rate services are changing by the following amounts:
PME Flat Rate Envelope: -$0.15 decrease
PME Legal Flat Rate Envelope: -$0.15 decrease
PME Padded Flat Rate Envelope: -$0.10 decrease
Signature Confirmation
Regular Signature Confirmation rates are remaining at $3.95. Adult Signature rates are increasing to $9.70.
Nonstandard fees
In addition to the above rate changes, USPS nonstandard fees are increasing to the following amounts:
Nonstandard Length fee > 22"
$4.50 for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express
Nonstandard Length fee > 30"
$10 for Ground Advantage
$21 for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express
Nonstandard Volume fee > 2 cubic feet
$21 for Ground Advantage
$35 for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express
Dimension Noncompliance fee
$3.00 for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express
Nonstandard Characteristic fee
$4.50 for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express
Read more about USPS nonstandard fees that you might incur on Pirate Ship.
International USPS services
Rates for international USPS services are changing by the following percentages (on average):
First Class Package International: Increasing by up to 16%, average 8%
Priority Mail International: Increasing by up to 15%, average 4%
Priority Mail Express International: Increasing by up to 16%, average 5%
Simple Export Rate (SER)
Simple Export Rate: Rates are increasing by $1 except 1-8 oz to Canada, which is increasing by $2. SER remains the cheapest way to ship internationally, saving you up to 52% compared to First Class Package International 🥳
Use our Rates Calculator to find the best rates for your shipments
Get real-time quotes: To see the exact price of your shipment, we recommend using our Rates Calculator! It'll also show you all the different shipping options, plus how much you'll save compared to Retail Rates 💰
Additional resources