Seasonal price changes will affect major package services from October 4 through January 17, giving businesses and consumers a reason to plan holiday shipments early
Washington, 26 August 2026 – The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the busiest shipping period of the year with a temporary price adjustment on several package delivery services. The proposed changes are designed to help cover additional handling costs during the 2026 holiday shipping season and would affect both retail customers and commercial shippers.
The changes are still subject to review by the Postal Regulatory Commission. If approved, the new rates will take effect at 12 a.m. Central Time on October 4, 2026, and remain in place until 12 a.m. Central Time on January 17, 2027.
The temporary adjustment applies to four major USPS package services: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. Other USPS products and services are not included in the proposed holiday price change.
For consumers, the size of the increase will depend on the service selected, package weight and shipping distance. Retail prices for Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage shipments traveling within Zones 1 through 4 would rise by 50 cents for packages weighing up to three pounds. Larger packages would see higher increases, with some oversized shipments facing increases of several dollars.
Longer distance shipments would also see higher adjustments. For example, retail Priority Mail packages weighing 26 to 70 pounds and traveling within Zones 5 through 9 would see a proposed increase of $9.10. USPS Ground Advantage shipments in the same weight and zone range would increase by $7.50.
Priority Mail Express would see some of the largest increases. Retail shipments weighing 26 to 70 pounds traveling within Zones 5 through 9 would rise by $20.80. The proposed commercial rate for a similar Priority Mail Express shipment would increase by $18.20.
The change will also matter to retailers, online sellers and other businesses that depend on affordable package delivery during the holiday shopping season. Commercial customers using USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select would see adjustments based on package weight, shipping zone and service type.
For commercial shippers, the proposed increase for a Priority Mail or USPS Ground Advantage package weighing up to three pounds in Zones 1 through 4 is 40 cents. Commercial Parcel Select packages in the same weight range would also increase by 40 cents.
The USPS says the seasonal adjustment is intended to bring its holiday shipping prices in line with competitive market practices while helping manage the additional costs associated with peak season package handling. The agency has also provided updated price files and other resources through its Postal Explorer platform.
The timing is particularly relevant for the growing e-commerce and online retail sector. Holiday shoppers and businesses typically send significantly larger numbers of packages toward the end of the year, making shipping costs an important part of seasonal planning. For small businesses and online sellers, even modest increases across hundreds or thousands of shipments can affect fulfillment budgets and delivery strategies.
The USPS has already introduced other pricing adjustments in 2026. A separate time-limited change that began April 26 increased prices for several competitive package services and is scheduled to remain in effect through January 17, 2027.
With the proposed holiday adjustment, businesses can benefit from reviewing shipping rates early, comparing delivery services, and factoring seasonal costs into holiday pricing and fulfillment plans. Consumers may also find it useful to avoid last-minute shipping, particularly when sending heavier or longer-distance packages.
The 2026 holiday shipping season is therefore set to bring another temporary change to the cost of package delivery. While the proposed increases vary considerably by service, distance, and package size, the overall message for shippers is straightforward: planning could help manage the additional cost of sending holiday packages.
