USPS holiday prices: the time-limited rates until January 16
USPS holiday prices for your package: the time-limited counter price in force since October 4, 2026, against July 2026 and against January 17, 2027.
Independent site, not the Postal Service: prices read in its own price files.
Example: 2 lb, zone 8· change a figure to see yours
Ground Advantage at the Post Office from January 17, 2027
$20.81
+5.1% against today, +9.2% against July 2026 · proposed, with the 11% fuel surcharge
| July 12 to October 3, 2026 | $19.05 |
| Today (holiday prices, to January 16, 2027) | $19.80 |
| From January 17, 2027: base price | $18.75 |
| Fuel surcharge (11%) | $2.06 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the prices are built
The USPS holiday prices are the time-limited price change that Postal Explorer lists as starting October 4, 2026 and running through January 17, 2027; the Notice 123 file of that change is the one in force when this page was written. They come on top of the 8% increase applied since April 2026, and they apply to shipping services and flat rate packaging, not to stamps, letters or Media Mail. Against the July 12, 2026 prices, a 2-pound Ground Advantage package to zone 8 costs $19.80 at a counter instead of $19.05, and the Medium Flat Rate Box $25.80 instead of $24.80. On January 17, 2027 they give way to the proposed 2027 prices with the 11% fuel surcharge, which are higher for most packages but lower for some. Every price on this site labelled today is a holiday price, valid from October 4, 2026 to January 16, 2027.
USPS holiday prices against July 2026
| Package, counter price | July 2026 | Holiday price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage, 8 oz, zone 4 | $8.30 | $8.80 | +6.0% |
| Ground Advantage, 2 lb, zone 8 | $19.05 | $19.80 | +3.9% |
| Priority Mail, 1 lb, zone 1 | $11.00 | $11.50 | +4.5% |
| Priority Mail, 5 lb, zone 5 | $22.10 | $24.20 | +9.5% |
| Priority Mail Express, 2 lb, zone 8 | $72.45 | $74.80 | +3.2% |
Flat rate envelopes and boxes rose by a round amount, one or two dollars at the counter:
| Envelope or box | July 2026 | Holiday price | Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate Envelope | $12.90 | $13.90 | $1.00 |
| Small Flat Rate Box | $13.65 | $14.65 | $1.00 |
| Medium Flat Rate Box | $24.80 | $25.80 | $1.00 |
| Large Flat Rate Box | $34.00 | $36.10 | $2.10 |
Your package: July, today, January
Example: 2 lb, zone 8· change a figure to see yours
Ground Advantage at the Post Office from January 17, 2027
$20.81
+5.1% against today, +9.2% against July 2026 · proposed, with the 11% fuel surcharge
| July 12 to October 3, 2026 | $19.05 |
| Today (holiday prices, to January 16, 2027) | $19.80 |
| From January 17, 2027: base price | $18.75 |
| Fuel surcharge (11%) | $2.06 |
Why prices moved three times in a year
The Postal Service changed its shipping prices in April 2026 with a time-limited 8% increase tied to transportation costs, again in July 2026, and once more on October 4 for the holiday season. Each change was published as a Notice 123 file on Postal Explorer, which this site keeps and compares. The holiday prices are the highest of the three, which is why a package mailed in December costs more than the same package in September. Extra services such as Certified Mail, the return receipt and insurance did not change in October.
What comes next
On January 17, 2027 the proposed 2027 prices take over, with the 11% fuel surcharge added to base prices. The 2027 page compares them with today, and the fuel surcharge page explains the 11%. For the cheapest way to ship during the holidays, see the cheapest way page.