Details for USPS 2023 rates for ShipStation users. Includes First Class, Priority Flat Rate, and Priority Mail services.
ShipStation subscribers have access to the lowest USPS rates in the industry! You can enjoy up to 84% discounts off of USPS retail rates and up to 15% discounts off of commercial USPS Priority Mail rates. These discounts apply whether you create labels with USPS from ShipStation or with your own Stamps.com or Endicia accounts.
This article provides information on the types of rates USPS provides, the discounts you'll receive when shipping USPS through ShipStation, and a sampling of the USPS commercial rates along with additional details about shipping using each type of service class.
Check Weight and Dimensions
To avoid rate adjustments, ensure that you are using appropriate dimensions and weight for the service. Postage providers may change weight and dimension requirements for service classes at any time.
Visit USPS Mail Classes Comparison for the most updated information.
The USPS uses a tiered-rate system. This table outlines each rating tier, and what it means.
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Rate Tier |
Definition |
|---|---|
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Retail |
The non-discounted rate you pay in person at the post office or on USPS.com. |
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Commercial Pricing |
Rates that are highly discounted from retail rates and available to shippers using ShipStation or high-volume shippers (if accessing directly from USPS, you must meet a minimum shipment threshold). |
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Cubic Pricing |
Highly-discounted rates available for packages under 20lbs that are no larger than .5 cubic feet. Cubic pricing is available to shippers using ShipStation or to high-volume shippers (if accessing directly from USPS, you must meet a minimum shipment threshold). |
|
Negotiated Rates |
If you have a negotiated service contract with your USPS postage provider (Stamps.com, Endicia, etc), these rates will automatically be available in ShipStation once you've connected the account. |
First Class Mail rates are based on both weight and zone. The rates listed below are FCM commercial rates.
If your package weighs less than 16oz and does not exceed 22" length x 18" width x 15" height (USPS measurement guide), it qualifies for First Class Mail.
Priority Mail packages or thick envelopes are a great way to quickly, yet efficiently, ship packages that are under 70 lbs and do not exceed 108" in combined length and girth (girth = the distance around its thickest part).
Incorrect dimensions or oversized packages with sides that exceed 20" or 30", or over 2 cubic feet, are subject to the USPS Nonstandard Fee and Dimensional Noncompliance Fee.
The rates listed below are Priority Mail commercial rates. When using ShipStation, you'll enjoy 15% off Priority Mail commercial rates!
The following rates are effective starting July 9, 2023.
Services that are eligible for an additional savings off of Commercial Rates with a ShipStation subscription are indicated with an * and a highlighted table cell.
USPS Domestic Services
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Service |
ShipStation Plans |
Post Office |
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Priority Mail Express, Flat & Weight* |
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Priority Mail, Flat & Weight* |
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First Class Mail |
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Ground Advantage (formerly First Class Package) |
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Ground Advantage (formerly Parcel Select) |
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Media Mail |
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Retail Ground |
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USPS International Services
Fees and surcharges may apply to Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Parcel Select Ground shipments based on the package volume and dimensions. Learn more about USPS Nonstandard Fees & Dimensional Noncompliance Fees.
Flat Rate packages are not affected.
If dimensions are not provided or if dimensions are inaccurate: A $1.50 fee will be added for packages that are greater than one cubic foot in volume or have a box length greater than 22 inches.
If packages have dimensions that exceed machinable sorting requirements, nonstandard sizing fees will apply as follows:
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Packages greater than 2 cubic feet in volume: $15.00 surcharge
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Packages with a box length over 22 inches: $4.00 surcharge
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Packages with a box length over 30 inches: $15.00 surcharge
These fees apply to shipping labels created through any online postage provider (for example, ShipStation).
Keep the following in mind when shipping with USPS services:
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Nonstandard Fee & Dimensional Noncompliance Fee: If you enter incorrect dimensions or a package has a side that exceeds 20" or 30" or is over 2 cubic feet, you will incur an added surcharge fee.
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Dimensional (DIM) Weight: When calculating dimensional weight, the weight divisor has been lowered to 166. The formula to determine dimensional weight is (Length x Width x Height) / 166.
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If DIM weight applies to your package, the carrier will compare the DIM weight and actual weight and charge the higher of the two. For this reason, ShipStation recommends that you always enter the correct package dimensions when you configure your shipments. Thus, the rate you see in ShipStation will be reflective of the correct weight.
If the label you print for your shipment reflects the incorrect rate as determined by USPS, you may be subject to the USPS Automated Package Verification (APV). APV can automatically deduct the difference in postage from your USPS postage provider account.
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The Large Package type will represent any package type over the default dimensional weight threshold of one cubic foot.
Dimensions are required if you use the Large Package type with the Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, or USPS Ground Advantage (formerly Parcel Select Ground) shipping services.
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The Package package type will represent any packages that are one cubic foot or less, and will not require adding dimensions in ShipStation. However, we recommend always adding dimensions to your shipments.
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The maximum weight for a USPS First Class International shipment that uses the Large Envelope or Flats package type with Documents as the contents type is 15.994 oz.
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The maximum weight for a USPS First Class International shipment that uses the Large Envelope or Flats package type with a contents type other than Documents is 4.4 lbs. These shipments will automatically use Global Advantage Program (GAP) labels.