USPS is raising rates twice in July 2024, on both July 1st and July 14th. The rates are changing everywhere you can buy postage online, so there's no avoiding them 😉
The first change will increase rates in all Priority Mail and Ground Advantage services, which will change the maximum discount available compared to Retail Pricing from 89% to 88% (comparing a Zone 8 shipment for a 19 or 20 lb package shipped with Priority Mail Cubic at the 0.10 cubic size compared to the retail price for weight-based Priority Mail).
The 2nd change will increase rates for Media Mail and Signature Confirmation.
Here's what you need to know:
Priority Mail will increase up to $3.10 on July 1st
USPS is increasing the "secret" Connect eCommerce rates for Weight-Based Priority Mail, Priority Mail Cubic, and Priority Mail Flat Rate for shipments starting July 1st.
Since USPS doesn't let its partners publish these rates, all we can tell you is that almost all rates are increasing up to 10 pounds and for all Flat Rate package types. Since Connect eCommerce is only available for shipments to/from the continental 48 states, if you're shipping to or from Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico you won't see any differences.
Weight-Based Priority Mail rates are increasing by up to $3.10
Priority Mail Cubic rates are increasing by up to $2.97
Priority Mail Flat Rate prices are increasing by up to $1.18
With these new rates, the maximum discount available for Priority Mail compared to the Retail Pricing you'd pay at the Post Office is now 88%.
Ground Advantage will increase up to $2.11 on July 1st
On July 1st, USPS is also increasing the Connect eCommerce prices for Ground Advantage and Ground Advantage Cubic. Like Priority Mail, these secret below-Commercial Pricing rates are only available when shipping to/from the continental 48 states.
Weight-Based Ground Advantage for shipments less than 1 pound are increasing by up to 33 cents for zones 6-8.
Weight-Based Ground Advantage for shipments that weigh more than 1 pound are increasing by up to $2.11, mostly in 1-5 pounds.
Ground Advantage Cubic rates are increasing by up to $1.67
With these new rates, the maximum discount available for Ground Advantage compared to the Retail Pricing you'd pay at the Post Office is 86%, down from the previous 89% (comparing a Zone 8 shipment for a 17, 18, or 19 lb package shipped with Ground Advantage Cubic at the 0.10 cubic size compared to the retail price for weight-based Ground Advantage).
Media Mail rates will increase on July 14th
Media Mail rates will increase by 50 cents for a package weighing up to 1 pound. After that the rate change will slightly increase for each pound up to 7 lbs before leveling out.
Here's how that looks:
1 lb | $4.63 (up by 50 cents) |
2 lb | $5.38 (up by 51 cents) |
3 lb | $6.13 (up by 52 cents) |
4 lb | $6.88 (up by 53 cents) |
5 lb | $7.63 (up by 54 cents) |
6 lb | $8.38 (up by 55 cents) |
7 lb | $9.13 (up by 56 cents) |
Over 7 lb | Every rate goes up 56 cents—see the new rates at https://www.pirateship.com/usps/media-mail |
With these rate increases for Media Mail, you may find that it's sometimes cheaper to use a different service, depending on the weight of your package and the distance it's traveling.
Learn more about how to use USPS Media Mail service.
Signature Confirmation is going up by 20 cents on July 14th
Signature Confirmation service for all USPS shipments will go from $3.50 to $3.70, an increase of 20 cents.
Adult Signature (which requires the signer to be 21 or older) will remain at the same price of $9.35.
Have any questions? Click the blue chat icon to live chat with our Support Crew or email us at support@pirateship.com—we'll help you get sailing on smooth waters! ⛵