USPS domestic postage rates start at $0.78 for a one-ounce First-Class letter and climb from there based on the mail class you choose, the weight and size of what you’re sending, and how far it’s going.1United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail and Postage Package prices open around a few dollars for economy ground service and reach $33 or more for overnight delivery. The figures below reflect retail prices at the post office counter as of January 2026.
Letters and Postcards
A standard one-ounce letter takes a $0.78 Forever Stamp, and each additional ounce adds $0.29. Letters cap out at 3.5 ounces; anything heavier ships as a large envelope or parcel.2Postal Explorer. First-Class Mail Prices and Eligibility A postcard is $0.61. Large envelopes (flats) start at $1.63 for the first ounce and can weigh up to 13 ounces.1United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail and Postage
Forever Stamps hold their value. A stamp you bought years ago still pays for a one-ounce letter today, even after price increases.1United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail and Postage
Package Rates by Speed
For parcels, USPS offers three main speed tiers. All three include tracking and $100 of insurance built into the price.3United States Postal Service. Insurance and Extra Services
USPS Ground Advantage (2–5 business days)
Ground Advantage is the economy option, handling anything from a small padded mailer up to 70 pounds. Pricing depends on weight and the zone between origin and destination ZIP codes.4United States Postal Service. USPS Ground Advantage Lightweight items under 16 ounces are priced in tiers (4, 8, 12, and 15.999 ounces), with any fractional weight rounded up. Heavier packages are priced per pound.5Postal Explorer. Domestic Mail Manual 283 – USPS Ground Advantage Commercial Delivery to Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations can run longer than the standard window.
Priority Mail (1–3 business days)
Priority Mail is the mid-tier service. The simplest way to price it is Flat Rate packaging, where the box or envelope sets the price no matter the weight or destination. Retail Flat Rate prices as of January 2026:6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
- Flat Rate Envelope: $11.95
- Legal Flat Rate Envelope: $12.25
- Padded Flat Rate Envelope: $12.95
- Small Flat Rate Box: $12.65
- Medium Flat Rate Box: $22.95
- Large Flat Rate Box: $31.50
Flat Rate pays off when what you’re shipping is heavy for its size. A 20-pound package that fits in the Small Flat Rate Box still costs $12.65. For lighter items, weight-and-zone pricing through your own packaging often comes out cheaper. Use the USPS online price calculator to compare before you commit to a box.
Priority Mail Express (overnight or 2 days)
Express is the fastest domestic service and the only one with a money-back guarantee: if it doesn’t arrive by the time printed on your receipt, you can request a full postage refund.7United States Postal Service. Request a Domestic Refund Flat Rate Envelopes start at $33.25 at the post office, with the Legal Envelope at $33.50 and the Padded Envelope at $34.15. Parcels are priced by weight and zone, starting at $33.00 for a half-pound package in Zone 1. Sunday and holiday delivery adds $12.50.6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
Media Mail for Books and Educational Items
If you’re shipping books, sound or video recordings, printed music, film, educational reference charts, manuscripts, test materials, or computer-readable media like CDs and DVDs, Media Mail is far cheaper than the other classes. Books must have at least eight printed pages, and advertising content beyond incidental publisher ads disqualifies the item.8Postal Explorer. DMM 273 Media Mail and Library Mail Prices and Eligibility Pricing is by weight only, with no zone factor, so it works well for heavy items going across the country. The trade-offs are slower delivery, and the USPS can open packages to verify contents. Using Media Mail for ineligible items can result in postage-due charges on delivery.
Library Mail is a related discount rate starting at $4.25 per pound, but it’s restricted to shipments sent to or from schools, museums, libraries, and similar institutions.6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
What Raises the Price Beyond the Sticker
Three factors commonly push the final price above what a rate chart suggests.
Zones. Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express all factor distance into the price. The USPS assigns a zone based on the first three digits of the origin and destination ZIP codes, running from Local through Zone 9 (typically coast to coast).9United States Postal Service. What Are the Zone Charts and How Can I Obtain One A five-pound package going two states over costs less than the same package traveling to Hawaii. Media Mail and Library Mail are the exceptions and charge the same regardless of distance.
Nonmachinable surcharge. First-Class letters that can’t run through automated sorting equipment pick up an extra $0.49. Square envelopes, rigid envelopes, envelopes with clasps, and those with uneven thickness all trigger the charge.10Postal Explorer. Notice 123 Price List Wedding invitations are the classic example.
Dimensional weight. For parcels larger than one cubic foot, the USPS compares the actual weight to a calculated dimensional weight and charges based on whichever is higher.11Postal Explorer. Notice 123 Price List This affects Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express. A big box with a small item inside will cost more than its weight alone suggests. Use the smallest box that safely fits what you’re sending.
Add-On Services for Proof of Mailing and Delivery
Basic tracking is free with every package. If you need legal proof that something was sent or received, add-on services carry their own fees on top of postage.
- Certified Mail: $5.30. Provides a mailing receipt and electronic verification of delivery or attempted delivery. Standard choice for landlord notices, contract cancellations, and demand letters.6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
- Return Receipt: $2.82 electronic, $4.40 physical. Provides confirmation the recipient received the item. The physical version returns a signed green card (PS Form 3811); the electronic version emails the delivery record.6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
- Signature Confirmation: $4.95 retail, $3.95 electronic. Requires someone at the address to sign. Adding Restricted Delivery ($13.35 retail) limits signing to the addressee only.6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
- Registered Mail: starting at $19.70. The most secure USPS service, with a documented chain of custody and coverage up to $50,000. Used for irreplaceable documents, jewelry, and high-value items.3United States Postal Service. Insurance and Extra Services
For most everyday situations requiring proof of mailing, Certified Mail plus an electronic Return Receipt runs $8.12 on top of postage.
Mail to Military and Diplomatic Addresses
Mail sent to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses ships at domestic rates even when the physical destination is overseas.12United States Postal Service. Sending Mail to APO/FPO/DPO Locations All standard mail classes are available, though delivery times to overseas military locations run longer than typical domestic windows. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are common for care packages since the price stays fixed regardless of weight.
Paying Less Through Online and Commercial Rates
Retail counter prices are the highest rates you’ll pay. Printing postage online through USPS.com or an authorized third-party platform automatically qualifies most shipments for commercial rates, which can save a few dollars per package on Priority Mail and Ground Advantage. Businesses that ship in volume get further discounts through commercial pricing accounts, with Priority Mail commercial rates running well below the counter prices listed above.