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USPS Rates & Delivery Times (2026)

Mailing rates are effective . Shipping rates are effective . Source: USPS Notice 123.

Postmarkr is not USPS. This independent guide summarizes USPS-published postage rates; Postmarkr pricing is separate from USPS retail postage.

Current USPS mailing rates

These USPS mailing rates apply to mail accepted on or after .

USPS Notice 123 price files, verified in the Postmarkr fact library.
RateCurrent rateApplies to
1 oz stamped letter$0.82Forever stamp / retail counter letter
1 oz metered letter$0.78Postage meter or PC Postage
Postcard$0.65Retail single-piece postcard
Large envelope / flat, 1 oz$1.69Retail First-Class flat
Certified Mail add-on$5.55Added to base postage

Which USPS rate do I need?

Pick the row that matches the mailpiece shape, weight, and service you need. These examples use fact-backed USPS rates for mail accepted on or after .

One-page letter

$0.82 current USPS rate.

Current rate for mail accepted on or after July 12, 2026.

Postcard

$0.65 current USPS rate.

Use postcard pricing only when the mailpiece meets USPS postcard rules.

Large envelope or flat

$1.69 current USPS rate.

Start with the 1 oz flat row, then add weight-based postage if needed.

Proof of mailing or delivery

$6.37 current USPS rate.

Certified Mail is an add-on; Return Receipt, if needed, costs extra.

Local-address letter

$0.82 current USPS rate.

Choose the rate by mailpiece shape and weight, then use delivery windows for timing.

Business letter sent online

$0.78 current USPS rate.

Use metered postage for USPS postage comparisons; Postmarkr pricing is separate.

Need to send the letter, not just price it? Send a letter online with Postmarkr, or use the mail cost calculator to compare Postmarkr bundled pricing with USPS retail postage.

All Rates at a Glance

Every USPS domestic mail class in one table.

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
Mail ClassStarting RateDelivery
First-Class Letter (1 oz)$0.821–5 days
First-Class Postcard$0.651-5 days
Priority Mail$12.90+2–3 days
Priority Mail Express$35.90+1–3 days (money-back guarantee to most addresses)
Ground Advantage$7.90+2-5 days
EDDM (retail)$0.260/pc3–14 days
Certified Mail (add-on)+$5.551–5 days
Media Mail$4.47+2-8 days

First-Class Mail

Standard service for letters, postcards, and large envelopes up to 3.5 oz. Effective .

Letters (by weight)

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
WeightStampedMetered
1 oz$0.82$0.78
2 oz$1.11$1.07
3 oz$1.40$1.36
3.5 oz (max)$1.69$1.65

Postcards & Flats

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
ServiceRate
Postcard$0.65
Large Envelope / Flat (1 oz)$1.69
Presorted Automation 5-Digit (1 oz)$0.621

Example: a 1 oz stamped letter costs $0.82. A postcard costs $0.65.

Priority Mail

Flat rate and weight-based options with 2–3 day delivery, $100 insurance included. Effective April 26, 2026.

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
OptionRetailCommercial
Flat Rate Envelope$12.90$11.12
Small Flat Rate Box$13.65$12.10
Medium Flat Rate Box$24.80$21.17
Large Flat Rate Box$34.00$31.00
Express Flat Rate Envelope$35.90

Ground Advantage

Affordable ground shipping with 2–5 day delivery, tracking, and $100 insurance. Up to 70 lbs. Zone 1–4 rates shown. Effective April 26, 2026.

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
OptionRetailCommercial
1 lb (Zone 1–4)$9.55$7.61
5 lb (Zone 1–4)$12.95$9.70
10 lb (Zone 1–4)$15.95$11.91

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)

Flat per-piece rate for saturating postal routes without a mailing list. Effective July 12, 2026.

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
ServiceRate
EDDM Retail (per piece)$0.260
EDDM BMEU (per piece)$0.259

Certified Mail & Extra Services

Add-on fees for proof of mailing, delivery confirmation, insurance, and more. In addition to base postage. Effective July 12, 2026.

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
ServiceRate
Certified Mail (add-on fee)$5.55
Certified Mail + Restricted Delivery$14.35
Return Receipt (hard copy, PS 3811)$4.65
Return Receipt (electronic)$2.91
Certificate of Mailing (PS 3817)$2.45
Signature Confirmation (retail)$5.15
Signature Confirmation (electronic)$4.15
Registered Mail (declared value $0)$20.90
Insurance ($0.01–$50.00)$2.80
Insurance ($50.01–$100.00)$3.50
Insurance ($100.01–$200.00)$4.50

How USPS Notice 123 Works

Notice 123 is the USPS price list for domestic mail classes, extra services, and common fees. It is the source Postmarkr uses for the tables above.

Mailing rates on this page use the final July 12, 2026 USPS price files. Shipping rates use the April 26, 2026 USPS price files because those services follow a separate rate cycle.

Media Mail

Discounted rates for books, film, manuscripts, and educational materials. 2–8 day delivery, up to 70 lbs. Effective April 26, 2026.

Delivery Times

USPS delivery windows by mail class. Only Priority Mail Express offers a money-back guarantee.

Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing rates effective July 12, 2026; shipping rates effective April 26, 2026
Mail ClassDelivery Window
First-Class Mail1–5 days
Priority Mail2–3 days
Priority Mail Express1–3 days (money-back guarantee to most addresses)
Ground Advantage2-5 days
Media Mail2-8 days
EDDM3–14 days
Certified Mail1–5 days

Rate History

How USPS rates have changed since 2020.

First-Class Letter (1 oz, stamped)

First-Class Postcard

Download and cite this data

Download the same fact-backed records used on this page. The CSV and JSON files share stable identifiers, effective dates, verification dates, and source links.

Title
USPS Rates & Delivery Times
Publisher
Postmarkr
Canonical URL
https://postmarkr.com/usps-rates
Last verified
Primary source
USPS Notice 123

Optional citation

Postmarkr, “USPS Rates & Delivery Times,” last verified 2026-07-11, https://postmarkr.com/usps-rates.

You may quote or analyze the data. Verify time-sensitive decisions against USPS Notice 123. No backlink or exact attribution is required.

Revision log

  • — Added CSV and JSON distributions, Dataset metadata, and a downloadable history chart generated from the Postmarkr fact library.

How We Keep This Accurate

Every rate on this page is pulled from a verified fact library maintained by Postmarkr. Each fact is traced to an official USPS source — primarily USPS Notice 123, the Domestic Mail Manual, and official USPS service pages.

Every fact records its effective date, last verification date, and the exact source location (down to the section and line number). Automated CI checks flag any rate fact that hasn't been re-verified within 60 days of a USPS rate cycle change.

USPS typically updates rates in January and July each year. We re-verify all rates within weeks of each change. If you spot an error, please let us know.

USPS rates FAQ

Quick answers sourced from USPS Notice 123 and the Postmarkr fact library.

Ready to mail a letter online?

Postmarkr is not USPS. It handles online printing, postage, and mailing workflows through USPS, with bundled pricing from $2.05 per letter.