USPS Shipping Cost: Current Prices & Fees

What you pay to ship with USPS depends on three things: the service, the package weight and the distance, which USPS measures in zones. Flat Rate boxes and envelopes skip the weight and distance math and charge one price for anything that fits.

The prices on this page come from the official USPS price list (Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026) and the USPS postage prices page, checked on Oct 11, 2026. They are retail prices at the Post Office counter. For an exact quote on your package, use the USPS Postage Price Calculator.

Zones measure the distance between the sending and receiving ZIP codes. Zone 1 is local and the zone numbers rise as the distance grows, up to Zone 8 for most of the country and Zone 9 for some distant destinations. That is why each weight-based price below is a range: the low end is Zone 1 and the high end is the farthest zone.

To get a quote, the calculator asks for:

• The origin and destination ZIP codes
• The package weight
• The dimensions, if the box is large
• The shipping date

Large, light boxes may be priced by dimensional weight instead of actual weight. If your box is big but holds something light, measure it before you choose a service.

USPS Ground Advantage is the lowest-cost USPS option for most packages. A package up to 4 ounces costs $8.40 – $10.20, and a 1-pound package costs $10.05 – $13.65.

Ground Advantage includes tracking. It is slower than Priority Mail, so it suits shipments where a few extra days do not matter, such as online sales and gifts sent early.

Priority Mail is faster than Ground Advantage and includes tracking. A 1-pound package costs $11.50 – $17.95 and a 5-pound package costs $15.10 – $39, from Zone 1 to Zone 8.

For light packages going a short distance, Ground Advantage and Priority Mail can be close in price. Compare both on the calculator, since the gap widens with weight and distance.

Flat Rate packaging charges one price regardless of weight or destination within the country. USPS provides the boxes and envelopes for free.

The Flat Rate Envelope costs $13.90, the Small Flat Rate Box $14.65, the Medium box $25.80 and the Large box $36.10. Flat Rate works best for heavy, compact items going far. A light item going a short distance is usually cheaper by weight.

Priority Mail Express is the fastest USPS domestic service. Retail prices start at $37.05 for a half-pound package going to Zone 1, and rise with weight and distance.

Express also has Flat Rate envelopes: the standard envelope costs $38.25 and the padded envelope $39.25. They are useful for time-sensitive documents.

• Buy postage online. Many online postage services and usps.com offer commercial prices that can be lower than counter prices.
• Weigh and measure first, so you do not overpay for a bigger box or service tier.
• Compare Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Flat Rate for each package. The cheapest one changes with weight and distance.
• Use free USPS Flat Rate boxes for heavy items going far.
• Schedule a free carrier pickup from usps.com instead of driving to the Post Office.