As the 2026 holiday season approaches, everyone who is getting ready to send gifts in the United States will have another charge to consider. The U.S. Postal Service is planning a temporary increase for many package-shipping services during the busiest part of the holiday season.

The planned adjustment is set to start at 12 a.m. Central time on October 4, 2026, and will be in effect through 12 a.m. Central time on January 17, 2027, subject to favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

The temporary adjustments will span retail and commercial shipments with Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. USPS notes that other products and services will not be impacted by this specific seasonal adjustment.

The amount included in a shipment will rely on several factors that include the service chosen, the package's weight and the distance it travels. USPS cited that the temporary change is intended to span additional handling charges during the peak holiday period and bring the amount in line with competitive methods.

For retail customers, Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage shipments traveling through Zones 1-4 will see increases from 50 cents for packages weighing up to 3 pounds to $3.90 for packages weighing 26-70 pounds or classified as oversized.

For Priority Mail shipments traveling via Zones 5-9, the increases range from $1 for packages weighing up to 3 pounds to $9.10 for packages weighing 26-70 pounds.

Retail Ground Advantage shipments traveling through Zones 5-9 will have increases ranging from 75 cents to $7.50, as per the package's weight and size.

Priority Mail Express will also obtain seasonal price adjustments. For retail shipments, the increase is from $1.40 for packages weighing up to 3 pounds traveling through Zones 1-4 to $20.80 for packages weighing 26-70 pounds traveling through Zones 5-9.

Flat-rate services will also be impacted. A retail Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box will cost $2.10 more, while other Priority Mail Flat Rate products will be increased by $1.

The proposed commercial charges vary from the retail increases, with adjustments will be regarding the service, weight, zone and, in some cases, cubic tier. Parcel Select commercial shipments will also get temporary increases from 40 cents for packages weighing up to 3 pounds to $2.35 for packages weighing 26-70 pounds or classified as oversized.

USPS says the temporary pricing change is made to help handle the extra handling demands created by the holiday shipping rush. The agency also cites that the adjustment will align its retail and commercial charges with competitive practices.

Alongside the planned price changes, USPS has revealed its advised mailing and shipping dates for the 2026 holiday season. For customers in the contiguous United States who need packages and mail to arrive by December 25, the recommended dates are December 17 for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express.

The recommended dates are slightly earlier for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. USPS advises December 16 for Ground Advantage, December 17 for First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express.

USPS said a complete list of recommended dates for military and international destinations is anticipated to be available through its holiday shipping resources starting in mid-October.

The temporary adjustment will not impact all types of mail sent through USPS. Instead, it is limited to the certain package services, with the specific additional cost determined by elements like weight and shipping zone.

For customers preparing holiday packages, both the October 4 rate-change date and the December mailing deadlines are significant dates to keep in mind. The seasonal rates are currently set to end on January 17, 2027, after the holiday and post-holiday shipping period.

Q1. When will the USPS holiday price changes begin?

The temporary USPS price adjustments are set to begin October 4, 2026.

Q2. Which USPS services are affected?

The seasonal adjustments apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select.