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Carriers & Rates
2026 USPS Rate and Service Update
Last updated 2/23/26.
USPS shipping services rates have updated. Here’s what you need to know and how ShipStation helps your business stay efficient and profitable.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) updates its rates at least once a year—and sometimes more often. At ShipStation, we’re committed to keeping you informed and supporting you every step of the way when changes happen.
The good news? Through ShipStation you still get access to best-in-class discounted rates across USPS shipping services, plus other trusted carrier options. Even as rates change, we’re here to help you save more and get the most out of your shipping budget. We recommend bookmarking this blog to stay up to date with USPS rate changes.
What is a mailing and shipping rate change?
A rate change is a regular update to shipping prices made by carriers. These adjustments can happen for a variety of reasons, including fuel costs, inflation, operational improvements, or market demand. In some cases, carriers may also use dynamic pricing, where rates fluctuate based on factors like volume, capacity, seasonality, or delivery speed. Together, these updates help carriers remain competitive while continuing to invest in reliable service.
February 2026 Changes
USPS Rural ZIP Code Changes
Effective February 23, 2026, the USPS is updating its list of rural ZIP Codes that are subject to varying shipping prices based on the destination. This updated list contains 20 fewer ZIP Codes than the previous list, which was established in September 2024, as some were removed and others were added. To determine if a specific ZIP Code is affected by this change, please contact our support team.
January 2026 changes
USPS has implemented rate changes effective January 18, 2026, which could impact your shipping costs. These adjustments primarily affect competitive package services, which are critical for high-volume shippers.
- Focused on shipping: Rate updates impact shipping services like Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express.
- No stamp increases: First-Class Mail stamp prices will remain the same this January.
- No impact to mailing services: Mailing services and pricing are not affected by these changes.
Retail and commercial rate changes
| Mail Class | Average Increase (Approx.) |
| Ground Advantage | Up ~7.8% |
| Priority Mail | Up ~6.6% |
| Priority Mail Express | Up ~5.1% |
| Parcel Select | Up ~6.0% |
USPS rate changes on ShipStation
Heads up! These USPS rate changes also affect the rates you get through ShipStation. Check out the details below.
- Ground Advantage™: Average decrease of 2.0%. Greatest impact on packages over 1 lb. Enjoy savings up to $6.44 and discounts up to 31.6% off Commercial Rates for heavier parcels.
- Ground Advantage™ cubic: Average decrease of 4.6%. Access savings up to $4.08 and discounts up to 28% off Commercial Rates.
- Priority Mail®: Average decrease of 1.0%. Savings up to $7.18 and discounts up to 12.0% off Commercial Rates.
- Priority Mail® flat rate: Average decrease of 0.5%. Savings up to $3.00 and discounts up to 13.5% off Commercial Rates.
- Priority Mail® cubic: Average decrease of 1.0%. Savings up to $3.19 and discounts up to 13.7% off Commercial Rates.
- Priority Mail Express: Average increase by about 1.2%.
Don’t sweat the changes—Get up to 87% off USPS rates
Rate changes are an inevitable cost of doing business, but they don’t have to cut into your profit margin. ShipStation offers competitive rates for our customers through our long partnership with USPS.
The ShipStation advantage
Your business depends on efficiency and a great customer experience. Beyond competitive rates, ShipStation helps streamline every part of your shipping workflow—from address validation to label creation and pickups—so you can spend less time managing logistics and more time growing your business.
- Deeper discounts: You will continue to access deeply discounted USPS rates for services like Priority Mail and Ground Advantage.
- Zero disruption: ShipStation automatically applies these discounts, helping you get the best price for your shipment, maintaining your maximum savings without any service disruption.
- In-depth resources: We’ll update this blog with USPS changes, so be sure to bookmark it for easy access.
- Industry updates: We’ll keep you updated on the ever-changing landscape of carriers, including topics like rate changes, demand surcharges, dynamic pricing, and other industry shifts.
- Streamline your fulfillment process: From printing shipping labels to tools that help you make the best carrier decision for your business, we help simplify every step.
Sign up for a free trial of ShipStation and take advantage of the all-in-one shipping solution that removes the guesswork from shipping costs and maximizes your savings on every shipment, regardless of changes in rates.
