USPS has announced changes to both rates and rules taking effect July 12. Here's what's changing:


📦 Ground Advantage rates for under 1 pound are increasing

USPS is unifying ounce-based rates for Ground Advantage at the Commercial Pricing rate, making all shipments to non-continental destinations that weigh less than 15.99 oz cost the same as a 15.99 oz shipment. For example, a 2 oz Ground Advantage package will now cost the same as a 15.99 oz package.

These new Commercial Pricing rates will affect shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and military addresses—USPS has not announced rate changes for any other locations.

📐 Rounding and dimensional weight (DIM weight) are changing

USPS will now round up all fractional dimensions to the next whole inch, so it's more important than ever to measure your packages as accurately as possible.

USPS is also lowering its DIM weight divisor from 166 to 139. This means that the dimensional (DIM) weight of large packages will increase, and you could see dimensional weight charges more often.

Here's a quick refresher on dimensional weight: It's determined by multiplying Length * Width * Height, then dividing by the DIM divisor. If the resulting "dimensional weight" is higher than your actual weight, that's the weight you'll be charged for instead. So for example, a package that is 12x16x20 / 139 = 28 lb in dimensional weight. If the actual weight is less than 28 lb, you'll be charged the 28 lb rate.

Dimensional weight is why you should always try to use as small of a box as possible for your items, and always measure the outer dimensions of your packages as accurately as possible.

💡 Pro Tip: The dimensions that are printed on boxes are usually internal measurements. USPS verifies your package’s outer dimensions, so always measure the outside of your box before buying a label—don't rely on the number printed on the box 😉

📦 Max dimensions for Cubic are increasing & Softpack is changing

USPS is increasing the maximum allowable package length for Cubic pricing from 18 inches to 22 inches, allowing more shipments to qualify for Cubic pricing rates 🥳

USPS is also lowering the number of Ground Advantage Cubic pricing tiers for softpack envelopes from 10 tiers down to 5. Read more about that here.

⚠️ New fees for hazmat, oversized, and overweight shipments

USPS is introducing new fees for hazmat shipments and a $200 fee for oversized/overweight packages. For more information on these fees and whether they’ll apply to you, check out our article.

Use our Rates Calculator for the most up-to-date pricing

Our Rates Calculator is the quickest way to see how much your shipment will cost and compare all the different shipping methods 💰

Check out our article about this rate change for the full details, and reach out to our Support Crew if you have any questions. We’re here for ya matey!

I just shipped traps to NC.
Just cost me 25.00 at the post office.

Stamps are going up $0.04 too

Oh great! I guess USPS has figured since their service has been top notch it is time for another rate hike....grrrr

I do hope this is sarcasm.....

So long as it's USPS changing things I couldn't care less. The last time I processed a large package to go out USPS through Pirateship it rotated in place somewhere for two weeks before it moved on.

If things don't go out Speedee Delivery, they go out UPS ground processed through the Pirate ship.

I send all my packages USPS ground advantage. But I only charge the customer what it actually cost to send it to them.

Vic it is...34 bucks to ship large flat rate box and it MIGHT get there.

That's how I do it too.

IMO USPS is the worst place to ship large boxes. UPS is almost always cheaper. USPS is pretty good if you can use flat rate boxes.

Thank you Paul!

I ship Ground Advantage or Media Mail and I charge actual cost.

I ship anything under 20 pounds ground advantage. But it has to be a certain amount of cubic inches to be cheap.
An example a 8x8x8 box will cost $2 to $3 more than a 8x8x2 box. Don’t fill a box with filler cut it down.
Also boxes over 24” long (I think that’s the length) will get you a surcharge.

It costs more in shipping that most items are worth now.