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Quick answer
USPS shipping cost depends on service, weight, zone and where you buy the label. At the Post Office, Ground Advantage starts at $7.90, Priority Mail at $11.00, Priority Mail Express at $35.65, Media Mail at $4.39 and a Flat Rate Envelope is $12.90. Online labels are cheaper (Ground Advantage from $6.93). Example: a 1 lb package to zone 4 costs $10.60 by Ground Advantage ($8.15 online). A Forever stamp is 82¢.
Enter the weight, box size and zone to compare every USPS service at once — with the dimensional weight, Flat Rate boxes that fit, and the fees USPS adds for signatures, insurance and odd-sized parcels.
Last updated: · Prices: USPS Notice 123 (effective ) · Step-by-step USPS cost guide · dimensional weight · Flat Rate prices
Needed for boxes over 1 cubic foot (dimensional weight) or over 22" long.
Exact zone by ZIP: shipping zone calculator
Cheapest option
$9.95
USPS Ground Advantage online · $14.10 at the Post Office
Priced at 2 lb, zone 5
| Service | Post Office | Online |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage2–5 business days | $14.10 | $9.95 |
| Priority Mail1–3 business days | $16.85 | $13.17 |
| Priority Mail Express1–2 days (overnight to many areas) | $59.85 | $52.06 |
| Media Mail2–8 business days · books & media only | $5.13 | $5.13 |
Flat Rate
Your box is too big for Flat Rate packaging.
Prices from USPS Notice 123. Not affiliated with USPS — buy labels at usps.com or the Post Office.
Calculated with the July 12, 2026 price tables. Post Office price first, online label price in brackets.
1 lb package, 300–600 miles (zone 4)
$10.60
Ground Advantage ($8.15 online) · Priority Mail $11.90 ($10.40)
8 oz package, cross-country (zone 8)
$9.45
Ground Advantage ($8.40 online) · Priority Mail $16.95 ($15.22)
5 lb box 12×10×8, zone 5
$17.45
Ground Advantage ($13.48 online) · Priority Mail $22.10 ($21.52)
10 lb box 14×12×10, coast to coast
$39.45
Ground Advantage ($25.34 online) · Priority Mail $61.30 ($41.28)
Light but big: 4 lb in an 18×14×12 box, zone 6
$42.80
Ground Advantage ($28.52 online) · Priority Mail $67.35 ($50.58)
Priced at 19 lb dimensional weight
20 lb box 16×16×12, zone 3
$24.45
Ground Advantage ($18.03 online) · Priority Mail $27.55 ($23.54)
Every USPS package price comes from four things: the service, the rated weight, the zone and any extra services. Letters and Flat Rate items skip the zone — one price to anywhere in the U.S.
1. Rated weight
Round up to the next pound (Ground Advantage has 4, 8, 12 and 15.99 oz steps). Boxes over 1 ft³: L × W × H ÷ 166 if higher.
2. Zone
Distance between ZIP codes: zone 1 is local, zone 8 is 1,801+ miles. Look it up with the zone calculator.
3. Service
Ground Advantage is cheapest, Priority Mail is 1–3 days, Express 1–2 days. Media Mail is for books and media only.
4. Fees
Signature $4.15–$5.15, insurance over $100, and $4.50+ for parcels over 22" or odd shapes.
Post Office (retail) prices effective July 12, 2026. Delivery in 2–5 business days, $100 insurance included. Online labels cost less — see the comparison below.
| Weight | Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 oz | $7.90 | $8.05 | $8.15 | $8.30 | $8.60 | $8.75 | $8.95 | $9.45 |
| 1 lb | $9.55 | $9.95 | $10.20 | $10.60 | $10.95 | $11.35 | $11.95 | $12.90 |
| 2 lb | $10.80 | $11.50 | $12.20 | $13.00 | $14.10 | $15.10 | $16.45 | $19.05 |
| 3 lb | $11.30 | $12.00 | $12.65 | $13.70 | $14.95 | $16.45 | $18.95 | $22.40 |
| 5 lb | $12.95 | $13.55 | $14.55 | $15.80 | $17.45 | $19.60 | $22.40 | $26.05 |
| 10 lb | $15.95 | $16.30 | $17.25 | $19.40 | $22.85 | $27.50 | $33.30 | $39.45 |
| 15 lb | $19.65 | $19.75 | $20.40 | $23.20 | $28.95 | $36.75 | $46.65 | $57.35 |
| 20 lb | $22.75 | $22.95 | $24.45 | $27.30 | $35.15 | $44.25 | $55.50 | $69.40 |
| 30 lb | $37.25 | $40.55 | $45.40 | $56.55 | $68.80 | $83.15 | $97.30 | $112.80 |
| 50 lb | $52.75 | $57.20 | $64.00 | $81.80 | $102.55 | $123.35 | $142.90 | $163.75 |
| 70 lb | $64.10 | $68.45 | $75.20 | $98.60 | $127.20 | $151.85 | $174.15 | $196.80 |
Post Office prices, delivery in 1–3 business days. Priority Mail costs more than Ground Advantage at every weight and zone — pay for it when speed matters, or use a Flat Rate box for heavy items going far.
| Weight | Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 oz | $11.00 | $11.50 | $11.65 | $11.90 | $13.05 | $14.50 | $15.60 | $16.95 |
| 1 lb | $11.00 | $11.50 | $11.65 | $11.90 | $13.05 | $14.50 | $15.60 | $16.95 |
| 2 lb | $11.95 | $12.65 | $13.45 | $14.35 | $16.85 | $18.15 | $19.45 | $21.55 |
| 3 lb | $12.45 | $13.30 | $14.00 | $15.15 | $18.05 | $20.95 | $23.85 | $27.10 |
| 5 lb | $14.30 | $14.95 | $16.05 | $17.50 | $22.10 | $27.00 | $32.70 | $36.90 |
| 10 lb | $17.80 | $18.25 | $19.20 | $21.75 | $28.65 | $40.60 | $53.55 | $61.30 |
| 15 lb | $22.00 | $22.20 | $22.95 | $26.25 | $35.65 | $55.05 | $74.80 | $85.95 |
| 20 lb | $25.55 | $25.80 | $27.55 | $31.10 | $46.95 | $70.75 | $94.55 | $109.40 |
| 30 lb | $41.95 | $45.70 | $51.15 | $63.65 | $84.20 | $103.95 | $123.65 | $146.20 |
| 50 lb | $59.50 | $64.60 | $72.20 | $92.25 | $125.45 | $146.05 | $166.65 | $196.05 |
| 70 lb | $72.20 | $77.25 | $84.85 | $111.00 | $155.40 | $180.50 | $205.50 | $245.40 |
Labels bought on usps.com (Click-N-Ship), eBay, Etsy, Pirate Ship and other shipping software get commercial prices. The saving is biggest on heavy Ground Advantage packages going far.
| Package | Ground Advantage retail → online | Priority Mail retail → online |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lb, zone 4 | $10.60 → $8.15 (−23%) | $11.90 → $10.40 (−13%) |
| 5 lb, zone 5 | $17.45 → $13.48 (−23%) | $22.10 → $21.52 (−3%) |
| 10 lb, zone 8 | $39.45 → $25.34 (−36%) | $61.30 → $41.28 (−33%) |
| 20 lb, zone 8 | $69.40 → $40.39 (−42%) | $109.40 → $68.06 (−38%) |
One price to any U.S. address, up to 70 lb, if it fits in the USPS-supplied box or envelope. Boxes are free at the Post Office or usps.com.
| Packaging | Size | Post Office | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope | 12½" × 9½" | $12.90 | $11.12 |
| Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope | 15" × 9½" | $13.25 | $11.66 |
| Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope | 12½" × 9½" | $14.00 | $11.99 |
| Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box | 8⅝" × 5⅜" × 1⅝" inside | $13.65 | $12.10 |
| Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box | 11" × 8½" × 5½" or 13⅝" × 11⅞" × 3⅜" inside | $24.80 | $21.17 |
| Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box | 12" × 11¾" × 5½" inside | $34.00 | $31.00 |
| Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope | 12½" × 9½" | $35.90 | $31.11 |
| Priority Mail Express Legal Flat Rate Envelope | 15" × 9½" | $36.20 | $31.43 |
| Priority Mail Express Padded Flat Rate Envelope | 12½" × 9½" | $36.90 | $31.70 |
| Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box — APO/FPO/DPO | Military addresses | $32.55 | $29.59 |
Weight at which the Flat Rate box becomes cheaper than Ground Advantage (Post Office prices). Below that weight, Ground Advantage is cheaper.
| Box | Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small ($13.65) | 7+ lb | 7+ lb | 5+ lb | 3+ lb | 2+ lb | 2+ lb | 2+ lb | 2+ lb |
| Medium ($24.80) | 25+ lb | 25+ lb | 25+ lb | 20+ lb | 15+ lb | 10+ lb | 7+ lb | 5+ lb |
| Large ($34.00) | 30+ lb | 25+ lb | 25+ lb | 25+ lb | 20+ lb | 15+ lb | 15+ lb | 10+ lb |
First-Class Mail, same price to any U.S. address. Forever stamp 82¢, additional ounce 29¢, postcard 65¢, nonmachinable surcharge 49¢.
| Weight | Letter (stamps) | Letter (metered) | Large envelope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | $0.82 | $0.78 | $1.69 |
| 2 oz | $1.11 | $1.07 | $1.98 |
| 3 oz | $1.40 | $1.36 | $2.27 |
| 4 oz | — | — | $2.56 |
| 6 oz | — | — | $3.14 |
| 8 oz | — | — | $3.72 |
| 10 oz | — | — | $4.32 |
| 13 oz | — | — | $5.24 |
Letters max 3.5 oz ($1.69); large envelopes max 13 oz.
Same price to every zone, no dimensional weight. Books, printed music, CDs/DVDs, manuscripts and educational media only.
| Weight | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 lb | $4.39 |
| 2 lb | $5.13 |
| 3 lb | $5.86 |
| 5 lb | $7.34 |
| 10 lb | $11.02 |
| 15 lb | $14.71 |
| 20 lb | $18.39 |
| 30 lb | $25.76 |
| 50 lb | $40.49 |
| 70 lb | $55.23 |
Approximate distance from the origin ZIP code. Find your exact zone with the shipping zone calculator.
| Zone | Distance | 1 lb Ground Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to 50 miles (same area) | $9.55 |
| 2 | 51–150 miles | $9.95 |
| 3 | 151–300 miles | $10.20 |
| 4 | 301–600 miles | $10.60 |
| 5 | 601–1,000 miles | $10.95 |
| 6 | 1,001–1,400 miles | $11.35 |
| 7 | 1,401–1,800 miles | $11.95 |
| 8 | 1,801+ miles (coast to coast, Alaska, Hawaii) | $12.90 |
| 9 | Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands | $12.90 |
Length is the longest side; girth = 2 × width + 2 × height.
| Service | Max weight | Max size |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | 70 lb | 130" length + girth (oversized price over 108") |
| Priority Mail | 70 lb | 108" length + girth |
| Priority Mail Express | 70 lb | 108" length + girth |
| Media Mail | 70 lb | 108" length + girth |
| First-Class letter | 3.5 oz | 11½" × 6⅛" × ¼" |
| First-Class large envelope | 13 oz | 15" × 12" × ¾" |
Added per package. Media Mail does not pay these fees.
| Fee | Ground Advantage | Priority / Express |
|---|---|---|
| Length over 22" up to 30" | $4.50 | $4.50 |
| Length over 30" | $10.00 | $21.00 |
| Volume over 2 cubic feet (3,456 in³) | $21.00 | $35.00 |
| Tubes, rolls, cans, metal/wood boxes, liquids | $4.50 | $4.50 |
| Sunday/holiday delivery (Express only) | — | $12.50 |
Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Express include $100 insurance; the fee below covers the full declared value.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Insurance up to $200 | $4.50 |
| Insurance up to $300 | $4.55 |
| Insurance up to $500 | $7.55 |
| Insurance up to $1,000 | $15.05 |
| Insurance up to $2,000 | $30.05 |
| Insurance up to $5,000 | $75.05 |
| Signature Confirmation (Post Office / online) | $5.15 / $4.15 |
| Adult Signature Required | $9.70 |
| Certified Mail | $5.55 |
| Return Receipt (paper / electronic) | $4.65 / $2.91 |
Want the full walkthrough? Read the USPS shipping cost estimate guide, dimensional weight, or Flat Rate box prices.
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