It’s commonplace to think about a destination in miles. You usually have an idea of how far you’re traveling, even if it’s only by the number of cities and states you’ll pass through. Shipping a package follows the same principle. You are aware of the distance between you and your customer, but you might not be familiar with how shipping carriers, such as USPS, calculate this distance to determine your shipping expenses.

What are shipping zones?

USPS divides the US into shipping regions called zones, and this mileage is used to determine the cost of certain packages. Depending on the carrier service used, the distance your package will travel is then used to help determine your shipping costs. TL;DR: the further your package is traveling, the higher the shipping cost. The USPS services that use zones to determine cost include: 

• Priority Mail^®
• Priority Mail Express^®
• USPS Ground Advantage™

However, flat-rate package costs are not determined by USPS zones. Instead, flat-rate packages can be used for shipments up to 70 pounds and will be charged the same price per box size, regardless of the destination. 

What are the USPS shipping zones?

USPS has broken down the US into nine zones called Zone 1-9. These zones range from within 50 miles to 1801+ miles. Each zone and the mileage it covers can be found below. 

• Zone 1: Non-local destinations within 50 miles 
• Zone 2: Destinations within 51-150 mile radius 
• Zone 3: Destinations within 151-300 mile radius 
• Zone 4: Destinations within 301-600 mile radius 
• Zone 5: Destinations within 601-1000 mile radius 
• Zone 6: Destinations within 1001-1400 mile radius 
• Zone 7: Destinations within 1401-1800 mile radius 
• Zone 8: Destinations within 1801 mile radius or farther 
• Zone 9: Destinations within Freely Associated States/Zip codes assigned for exceptional network circumstances*

*This doesn’t apply when shipping to between the three-digit zip codes of 962-969.

Tips to avoid shipping adjustments 

Shipping adjustments are additional fees added to your shipping costs. These fees can range from entering incorrect shipping dimensions to using the incorrect packaging for a shipping service. When it comes to zones, adjustments and penalties can be given if a package isn’t shipped through your local post office. There’s also the risk of a package being incorrectly routed if an incorrect address is entered or the address is ineligible, and ultimately, the package can even be returned. Here are a few tips to avoid adjustments: 

• Weight and measure packages multiple times before inputting them
• Enter package dimensions for shipments to avoid being charged for the wrong zone 
• Utilize the free USPS Domestic Zone Chart to confirm the mileage shown is accurate
• Confirm addresses for all customers and recipients whenever possible and keep addresses legible 

How does Stamps.com help me with USPS zones?

Fortunately, Stamps.com merchants don’t need to memorize and manually enter zones because zones are automatically accounted for when a label is created. However, it’s crucial to find the best shipping rate for your package, especially when packages are traveling long distances. Whenever you create a label on Stamps.com, simply select the Compare Rates and Services option from the Carrier drop-down menu. 

Once selected, you can browse rates through our rate advisor with three different categories: Cheapest, Recommended, and Fastest. The cheapest category filter lists the available rates and services from cheapest to most expensive. The recommended category shows the Stamps.com recommended shipping methods. And finally, the fastest category filters rates by the fastest available carrier rates. You can compare rates in real-time and find the best deal for your business, especially when it comes to long-distance shipping. 

Start your 30-day free trial at Stamps.com today!

Effective July 9, 2023, USPS will be implementing updates to various services. These updates will involve modifications to Hazardous Material (HazMat) labels and the introduction of a new service called USPS Ground Advantage™. Although these changes are quickly approaching, we are committed to providing you with all the essential details to ensure you are well-prepared.

What is USPS Ground Advantage™?

USPS Ground Advantage is a new service that combines domestic Parcel Select Ground, Retail Ground, and the domestic iteration of the First-Class Package Service. USPS Ground Advantage can be used for packages up to 70 pounds and 130 inches in length + girth but will compare actual and DIM weights like other USPS services. Other USPS Ground Advantage features include up to $100 in free insurance and a delivery window of 2-5 business days. 

Please note that if you have any outbound or return labels connected to the services that will no longer be available, USPS will continue to accept and process those labels until September 30, 2023.

HazMat label updates 

Back in April, we originally reported that some USPS HazMat changes would take effect in the spring. However, the Dangerous Goods Service Type Code (STC) updates and the new barcode banner text will now be implemented with the upcoming July 9th changes. As a reminder, USPS considers hazardous materials to be anything that can cause harm to people, property, or packages/mail. More information on USPS hazardous materials can be found on their website. 

USPS HazMat labels will include updated Dangerous Goods STCs, which are numerical sequences that categorize a package’s mail classification and attributes. This helps your package be handled properly and efficiently by the USPS. Additionally, the banner barcode text will now indicate that the package contains hazardous goods. 

Highlights of the July 2023 changes 

• USPS will raise the price of its first-class stamps to 66 cents, an increase of 4.8% from its current 63 cents.
• Parcel Select Ground, Retail Ground, and the domestic First-Class Package Service will become USPS Ground Advantage™. 
• HazMat labels will now include updated Dangerous Goods STCs and new banner barcode text.

For more information on the upcoming USPS changes, visit the Learning Center.

Also, if you missed the January 2023 USPS rate and service changes, you can find them below!

The United States Postal Service’s 2023 rate and service changes have been approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), and the updates will take effect on January 22, 2023. We’re going to address all of the upcoming changes, so you’ll have time to adjust accordingly and prevent negative shipping experiences for your customers.

Important USPS 2023 rate and service changes

More detailed highlights of the upcoming changes are: 

• Priority Mail® commercial rates will see an increase of 3.6%, keeping them below the rate of inflation
• Priority Mail Express® will see an increase of 6.7%
• First-Class Package Service will see an increase of 7.8%
• Priority Mail service prices will see an increase of around 5.5%
• USPS First Class Package International rates will see an increase of 6.2%
• USPS Priority Mail International® will see an increase of 5.9%
• USPS Priority Mail Express International® will see an increase of 5.9%
• Zone 1, Zone 2, and Local have traditionally seen the same shipping rates. However, Local will now be combined with Zone 1, and Zones 1 and 2 will have individual rates 
• The pricing for Parcel Select Ground won’t see any rate increases
• Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes® will no longer be available
• All Canadian Zones will be combined into one pricing zone for USPS Priority Mail International
• Commercial Base and Commercial Plus will be merged into one entity

Flat Rate Priority Mail changes

Flat Rate envelopes and boxes will be included in the 3.6% increase for Priority Mail services. USPS will continue offering Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes and boxes through their website. Also, you’ll be able to order some of these supplies directly from your Stamps.com account.

Local Zone changes

Previously, Local, Zone 1, and Zone 2 all had the same shipping rates. Moving forward, there will no longer be a Local Zone, and Zones 1 and 2 will have two different shipping rates. If your business ships to customers who live close by or in the same state, you’ll see the impact of this change. The changes will be more noticeable when you’re shipping to customers in Zone 2, which is a 51-150 mile radius. 

Regional Rate Boxes are being retired 

Regional Rate A & B Boxes, used for 15-20 pound shipments traveling a short distance, will be discontinued. If your business uses Regional Rate Boxes after January 23, 2023, USPS will accept your shipment, but the cost won’t be calculated in the same way Regional Rate Boxes were. For this reason, USPS recommends using these materials by January 22. Additionally, check the automation rules currently running on your Stamps.com Online account to ensure this service isn’t applied to any of your shipments. 

Priority Mail® Cubic will still be an option for shippers, as it has seen a rise in popularity, and sometimes even offers a lower rate than what was seen with Regional Rate Boxes. The biggest difference with Priority Mail Cubic is that supplies aren’t free. Parcel Select Ground offers: 

• An estimated delivery window of 2-5 days 
• A service for shipments up to 20 pounds 
• Uses the Commerical rates with your Stamps.com account 

How will the 2023 changes impact international shipping?

The biggest change to international shipments will involve your Canadian packages. Similar to the US Zones, Canada was previously broken down into 8 different pricing groups. Now, all of Canada will fall under Pricing Group 1. Also, USPS will change Turkey to Turkiye, so don’t be alarmed if the spelling of the country is updated on your labels to reflect this update. 

How can Stamps.com help?

In our recent study, 30.3% of customers stated that delivery costs were the most important factor in deciding whether or not they’d purchase from a business; the second most important factor was the speed of delivery. Rising USPS costs could mean raising shipping costs for your customers. However, you can still enjoy the discounted shipping rates included with your Stamps.com account to help offset these costs. 

Start your free 30-day trial today on Stamps.com.

As of Sunday, July 28, the USPS has made some significant changes to Priority Mail.  These changes DO NOT include any postage rate increases — they are operational changes only.

We’ve listed some FAQs below:

#1 Has the delivery service changed for Priority Mail?  I now see “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day” listed on the label.

Delivery service for Priority Mail is exactly the same as before — 1 to 3 day delivery. Keep in mind that Priority Mail is not a guaranteed date-specific delivery service. Since most Priority Mail packages are delivered within 2 days, the USPS has added estimated delivery dates on the shipping label to help communication between the shipper and the package recipient. Delivery date estimates are based on where the package is being shipped from and where it is being delivered to.

#2  Can I choose 1, 2, or 3-day delivery for Priority Mail?
No, you will not be able to choose 1, 2 or 3-day delivery.  The scheduled delivery date will be automatically determined by the zip code your package is being shipped from and the zip code where the package is being sent to.  If you need overnight delivery, you can use Priority Mail Express (formerly called Express Mail), which provides overnight delivery to most addresses in the U.S.

#3 Does Priority Mail now include insurance?
Yes, Priority Mail now includes package insurance.  You will receive $50 of coverage if you print your labels online through an approved PC Postage vendor that offers Commercial Base Pricing (such as Stamps.com).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of free coverage.

#4 How do I know how much insurance I receive with my Priority Mail package?
By default, Stamps.com prints all shipping rates using postage discounts known as Commercial Base Pricing.  Rates for Commercial Base Pricing includes rate discounts for the following mail classes:

• Priority Mail Express: Save up to 63% off retail rates on all Priority Mail Express shipments.
• Priority Mail: Save up to 20% of retail rates on all Priority Mail shipments, depending on weight and distance.
• First Class Package Service: Save up to 18% off retail rates on all First Class Parcels.
• International Shipping: Save up to 9% on Priority Mail International shipments, up to 10% for Priority Mail Express International and up to 10% on First Class Package International Service.

Commercial Plus Pricing is a program offered by the USPS that provides highly discounted postage rates for high volume shippers that meet a required number of shipments annually.  For Priority Mail, the minimum number of shipments starts at 75,000.

#5 What is Priority Mail Express?
Express Mail was renamed Priority Mail Express on July 28, 2013. Also, Express Mail International has been renamed Priority Mail Express International. Other then the name change, the Priority Mail Express service remains exactly the same as Express Mail.

The reason for the name change was due to USPS research showing that customers often got confused between Priority Mail and Express Mail.  So the USPS changed Express Mail to Priority Mail Express, bringing everything under the Priority Mail brand umbrella.

#6 I still have old Express Mail boxes.  Can I still use them to ship my packages?
Yes, you can still use your Express Mail boxes through January 2014.  The USPS will be introducing new packaging for Priority Express Mail in the coming weeks, but the old boxes will work with Priority Mail Express.

The U.S. Postal Service is making operational changes to select shipping services starting Sunday, July 28, 2013.  The changes being made include the following:

IMPORTANT! USPS postage rates are NOT INCREASING on Sunday, July 28, 2013 – these changes are operational only!!!

Express Mail Renamed to Priority Mail Express
Express Mail is being renamed Priority Mail Express and Express Mail International is being renamed Priority Mail Express International. USPS research shows that having two shipping product names is confusing to customers, and so the USPS will simplify everything under the Priority Mail brand name.

Example of the new Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Box

Delivery service for Priority Mail Express will remain the same (overnight for domestic, 3-5 day for international).  Also, older Express Mail boxes can still be used with the newly named Priority Mail Express through January 2014.

Estimated Delivery Date Included on Priority Mail Shipping Labels
The USPS will be printing the estimated delivery date on all Priority Mail shipping labels. The date will be displayed at the top of the shipping label in bold text and will contain either “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day.”

This is only an estimated delivery date and package shippers will not be able to choose a date-specific delivery service for Priority Mail.  Delivery dates will be determined by where you’re shipping your package from and where you’re sending it.

Example of new Priority Mail shipping label. Note the "Priority Mail 1-Day" in the top section, and the Carrier Route Code next to the delivery address.

Additionally, Priority Mail labels will now include a four-digit Carrier Route Code to help speed up package delivery.  The four-digit code will be printed just to the right of the delivery address.

Electronic Delivery Confirmation Now Available to 14 Countries
Along with Canada (added in January 2013), the USPS will be adding Electronic Delivery Confirmation to 13 additional countries for First Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes.  This service will be available for no additional cost.

New countries offering Electronic Delivery Confirmation include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.

Package Insurance is Being Added to Priority Mail
Priority Mail is now going to include $50 of insurance for FREE if you print postage online (Commercial Base Pricing).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of insurance coverage. This insurance coverage is provided automatically by the USPS and claims will be to protect shippers against loss, damage or missing contents.

Stamps.com Will Automatically Update on July 28, 2013
As a Stamps.com customer, you will not need to do anything — the Stamps.com software and website will automatically be updated with all necessary changes for this USPS update.