The USPS has announced the 2020 Holiday shipping deadlines to assure package delivery by December 24th.
For international packages, please be aware that some international carriers have experienced intermittent delays due to logistical challenges caused by COVID-19. As always, it is best to send your package as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery. For more information visit the Stamps.com Coronavirus Update Page.
Domestic Holiday Mail-By Deadlines
Domestic Mail Services
Mail-By Date
First-Class Mail
Dec 18
Priority Mail
Dec 19
Priority Mail Express
Dec 23
Alaska and Hawaii Holiday Mail-By Deadlines
Mail Addressed To
First-Class Mail
Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express
Alaska
Dec 18
Dec 19
Dec 21
Hawaii
Dec 19
Dec 19
Dec 21
Military Address (APO/FPO/DPO) Holiday Mail-By Deadlines
The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a temporary, holiday shipping rate increase to start on Sunday, October 18, 2020 and end on Sunday, December 27, 2020. Subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the proposed USPS holiday rate increase will impact five specific mail classes for shippers using Commercial Base pricing – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First Class Package Service, Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service. There will be no holiday rate increase for customers who purchase postage at the Post Office (retail).
The USPS has stated the temporary price increases are due to higher expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic and increased demand in holiday e-commerce activity.
Listed below are the proposed 2020 USPS holiday rate increases for customers buying postage online:
Priority Mail Express will see an average increase of 4.4%, with some cells going as high as 6.59% (0.5 lb., zone 1/2). Lower weights under 4 lbs. traveling to zones 1-4 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $39.55 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $38.05 currently.
All three options (regular, legal and padded) of Priority Mail Express Flat Rate envelopes are increasing by $1.50 per shipment in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020).
Priority Mail – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
Weight (lbs.)
Zones 1 & 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
0.5
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
1
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
2
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
3
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
4
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
5
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
$0.40
Priority Mail will see an average increase of 4.2%, with some cells going as high as 5.70% (1 lb., zone 1/2). Lower weights under 3 lbs. traveling to zones 1-5 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will cost $8.82 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $8.42 currently.
Priority Mail Regional Rate prices are increasing by $0.40 per shipment. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A will cost $12.50 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $12.10 currently.
All Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes (regular, legal and padded) and boxes (small, medium and large) are increasing by $0.40 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020).
First Class Package Service – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
Mailpiece Weight
Zones 1 & 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
1 ounce
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
2 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
3 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
4 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
5 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
6 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
7 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
8 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
9 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
10 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
11 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
12 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
13 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
14 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
15 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
15.999 ounces
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
$0.25
First Class Package Service will see an average increase of 7.0%, with some cells going as high as 9.12% (one ounce, zone 1/2). Lower weights under 4 ounces traveling to zones 1-5 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 15.999 ounce. package going to Zone 8 using First Class Package Service will cost $5.95 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $5.70 currently.
Parcel Select Ground will see an average increase of 3.0%, with some cells going as high as 5.78% (1 lb., zone 1/2). Lower weights under 5 lbs. traveling to zones 1-5 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Parcel Select Ground will cost $8.52 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $8.12 currently.
For large international shippers getting discounted USPS shipping through a consolidator, you may see a significant rate increase starting July 1, 2020 due to the USPS International price change. (Customers who use Stamps.com for single package international shipping labels will not see a rate increase on July 1 – most Stamps.com customers fall into this category.)
The rate increase is due to the U.S. agreement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) that was signed in September 2019. The United States had threatened to leave the UPU if they could not self-declare terminal dues (i.e. shipping rates) for countries that had inbound letter and small parcel volumes in excess of 75,000 metric tons. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is the governing body that helps postal services around the globe facilitate the delivery of mail and packages amongst each other.
Terminal dues are the fees that a national postal service is charged to have packages delivered in another country. Under the new UPU agreement, the USPS has increased its terminal dues to about 70% of the U.S. domestic rate, which experts believe will result in significantly increased postage rates from other countries, especially China where manufacturers were able to deliver a package from China to the U.S. cheaper than a domestic U.S. delivery.
According to Supply Chain Dive magazine, 31 countries will be reciprocating the U.S.’s self-declared rates for outbound shipments on parcels weighing 4.4 lbs. or less. The U.S. is negotiating new agreements with many additional countries, so other country shipping rates may change soon after July 1, 2020.
Stamps.com customers who are using international delivery through a consolidator will be contacted by a GlobalPost sales rep to discuss additional shipping options, including GlobalPost Economy (country to country tracking) and GlobalPost Standard (door-to-door tracking) where we offer the same shipping experience at rates that are protected from the USPS international rate increase starting on July 1, 2020.
About GlobalPost
The GlobalPost delivery network leverages partnerships with international postal operators as well as commercial carriers to offer worldwide delivery. GlobalPost services reach over 200 countries and territories and includes features not found in traditional international postal services, including:
• Global Address Verification: Improve deliverability with real-time address verification • No Customs Forms: Send Customs electronically – no forms to print • Ship Merchandise in Flats: Save money with international flats/large envelopes • Instant Refunds: No more tracking refund requests that can take up to 2 weeks • Free Pick-Up Service: Schedule pick-ups when it’s convenient for you (select markets only) • Parcel Coverage: $100 Included
Effective today, May 21, 2020, the USPS has restored mail service to 15 Military Mail ZIPs. These ZIPs were previously suspended on April 9 due to lack of transportation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Including the suspensions lifted today, the USPS has now restored service to a total of 23 Military Mail ZIPs in the past two weeks. For a full list of USPS service alterations due to coronavirus visit the Stamps.com Cornavirus Updates Page.
Mail service to the following ZIPs has been restored:
AE DPO 09175-9997 AE DPO 09614-9997 AE DPO 09836-9997 AA DPO 34011-9997 AA DPO 34020-9997 AA DPO 34024-9997 AA DPO 34030-9997 AA DPO 34031-9997 AA DPO 34032-9997 AA DPO 34033-9997 AA DPO 34034-9997 AA DPO 34035-9997 AA DPO 34036-9997 AA DPO 34039-9997 AA DPO 34068-9997
Additionally, the USPS has received notifications from the postal services of Honduras and Nepal detailing service suspensions.
Honduras Empresa de Correos de Honduras has extended the suspension of postal services until May 28, 2020.
Nepal Nepal Post has extended the suspension of all postal services until June 2, 2020.
Effective today, March 15, the USPS will resume service to four international destinations: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Moldova, and Montenegro. Service to these destinations was initially suspended on April 24, 2020 due to lack of transportation as a result of coronavirus.
Additionally, the USPS will suspend international service to The British Virgin Islands effective immediately. With these updates, the list of USPS suspended international destinations now stands at 108:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this blog is "as is" and carries no warranties. Stamps.com does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, completeness, usefulness, or quality of any content on the blogs, regardless of who originates that content.
