Postal Information
Welcome to Rate Change Central
Starting June 23, the USPS will implement changes to how dimensional (DIM) weights are calculated. The DIM weight divisor will change from 194 to 166, which increases the price for packages subject to DIM weight pricing. The USPS is also changing the zones and postal products affected by DIM weight pricing.
2019 USPS® Rate Change went into effect on January 27, 2019. Mail with confidence and take advantage of unprecedented savings. Automatically save 5¢ on every letter and up to 40.4% on Priority Mail.
Automatically Save 5¢ on every letter
Save 5¢ on every First Class letter you send vs. stamps by using your Pitney Bowes Meter or SendPro Online to print postage.
Savings up to 40.4% on Priority Mail
Printing trackable labels using your Pitney Bowes solution to send larger envelopes and packages like Priority Mail and First Class Packages qualifies you for Commercial price discounts that you can’t get at the Post Office.
Rate and software updates
New USPS rates are available for download now!
Get instructions on how to download the new USPS rates and access our Confirm Your Rates tool.
Select the group that best describes your business to learn exactly what the rate change means for you and how to optimize savings
Overview of postal changes
First Class Mail and Commercial Base pricing – Your Pitney Bowes postage solution provides you more value than ever.
First Class® Mail – Metered Mail saves you even more.
The cost of First-Class Mail Letters will increase from 50¢ to 55¢. That’s a significant increase. The good news is that the discount for Metered Mail Letters (Meter and online postage users like SendPro) increases to 5¢ for every 1 oz. First Class Letter. The 5¢ savings for 1 oz. Metered First Class Letters represents a 9% savings that can add up quickly. For example, a small business sending 500 pieces of mail per month can save $300 a year.
| First Class Mail - 2019 Rates vs. 2018 Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail Single-Piece Prices | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
| Letters 1 oz. | $0.50 | $0.55 | +$0.05 |
| Single-Piece Additional 1 oz. | $0.21 | $0.15 | -$0.06 |
| Metered Mail Letters 1 oz. | $0.47 | $0.50 | +$0.03 |
| Flats/Large Envelope 1 oz. | $1.00 | $1.00 | $0.00 |
| Single-Piece Cards | $0.35 | $0.35 | $0.00 |
Priority Mail – Print a trackable label not postage tape.
Priority Mail rates will increase for most packages by an average of 6.2% and Priority Mail Express will increase by an average of 3.9%. Priority Mail Commercial will only increase by an average of 3.2%. This means you’ll save even more by printing a trackable (IMpb) label using SendPro Online, or your shipping app on SendPro C-series or SendPro P-series device (up to 40.4%). Printing a trackable label qualifies you for Commercial Base discounts without any volume requirements. Priority Mail Commercial Base, heavier items (11 lbs.+) traveling to all zones and medium weights (4 to 10 lbs.) sent to Zone 5 will see rate decreases vs. 2018.
| Priority Mail - 2019 Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Product | 2019 Retail | 2019 Commercial Base | CBP Savings |
| Flat Rate Envelope | $7.35 | $6.95 | $0.40 |
| Small Flat Rate Box | $7.90 | $7.50 | $0.40 |
| Medium Flat Rate Box | $14.35 | $12.80 | $1.55 |
| Large Flat Rate Box | $19.95 | $17.60 | $2.35 |
| 1lb. Package to Zone 2 | $7.35 | $6.95 | $0.40 |
| 10 lb. Package to Zone 4 | $19.60 | $11.69 | $7.91 (40.4%) |
| Priority Mail Express – 2019 Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express Product | 2019 Retail | 2019 Commercial Base | CBP Savings |
| Flat Rate Envelope | $25.50 | $22.68 | $2.82 |
| Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $25.70 | $22.80 | $2.90 |
| Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $26.20 | $23.18 | $3.02 |
| 1lb. Package to Zone 2 | $25.60 | $22.74 | $2.86 |
First Class Packages will be more complex.
In an effort to standardize its package services, the USPS plans to price First Class Packages based on weight and zone. First Class Packages were previously priced based on weight alone. This means First Class Package services will be more comparable to other USPS shipping products such as Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.
In 2018, a 12 oz. First Class Commercial Parcel was $3.82, regardless of where it was being sent. In 2019, that same 12 oz. package could be $3.82 to $4.33, depending on the zone where it’s being sent. Even with the change, First Class Package Services remains a cost-effective method for shipments that weigh less than 1 lb.
Prepare for the DIM Weighting Change planned for June 2019.
The USPS is decreasing its DIM weight divisor from 194 to 166. This makes it more important than ever to choose the right type of packaging for what you’re sending. DIM weight can make lighter packages in larger boxes, that take up more room, cost more than heavier items in smaller packaging. So if you send a 2 lb. item in a box that measures 12” x 12” x 12”, using the USPS cubic inches calculation of 12 x 12 x 12 divided by 166, the dimensional weight of this package becomes 11 pounds, or almost 6 times more than its actual weight. We will eliminate the guesswork by helping you to apply the accurate postage for your package no matter the weight and dimension.
To learn more about DIM weights and other helpful tips on shipping view our Guide to Office Shipping.
You can review the complete USPS price filings with the new prices here.