USPS 2022 Peak Shipping Surcharges
by EasyPost
The United States Postal Service has announced that it is instituting shipping surcharges during the upcoming holiday season. These surcharges help USPS cover the increased cost of handling holiday shipments during their busiest time of year.
USPS has filed the proposed price increase for final approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission to finalize this year's holiday season pricing. The proposed surcharges are expected to take effect on October 2, 2022.
What are peak season surcharges?
Peak season surcharges are additional fees that shipping carriers charge during the busiest time of year in the industry. They usually are in effect from October through December or January and help the carrier maintain high delivery standards as they manage increased volume and demand during peak shipping season. Most surcharges are applied as a flat fee per package, ranging from a few cents to a few dollars. Each carrier has different peak season surcharges, so it's important to check with your carrier for their specific rates.
2022 USPS peak season surcharges
This year's USPS rate adjustments are similar to those we have seen in years past, but there are always some changes. That's why we're publishing this article to break down the USPS peak season surcharges for 2022.
How long will the price change be in effect?
The USPS holiday peak shipping surcharges are expected to take effect at 12 am Central Time on October 2, 2022, and remain in place until 12 am Central Time on January 22, 2023. Whereas last year's peak season surcharges ran through December only, this year's peak season surcharges will run through most of January until USPS 2023 pricing goes into effect on January 23, 2023. This eliminates the need to return to pre-peak season prices for just a few days before the new year's pricing goes into effect.
Which parcels are impacted by peak season surcharges?
The following commercial domestic competitive parcels will be affected by the 2022 peak season surcharges:
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- First-Class Package Service
- Parcel Select Ground
Please note that international products will be unaffected by these surcharges.
What are the USPS rate increases?
The planned 2022 peak season surcharges include the following:
Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express
Commercial
- $0.75 increase for PM and PME Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes.
- $0.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-10 lbs.
- $0.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-10 lbs.
- $0.75 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
- $2.80 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $3.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
- $6.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
First-Class Package Service and Parcel Select Ground
Commercial
- $0.25 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-10 lbs.
- $0.40 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-10 lbs.
- $0.75 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
- $1.60 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
- $3.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
- $5.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Managing peak season with EasyPost
The holiday season is always a busy time for ecommerce businesses. As more and more shoppers turn to online shipping, businesses need a powerful and reliable logistics operation - and that's where EasyPost comes in.
EasyPost's suite of shipping APIs remove the technical complexities of shipping so you can focus on your business. With our industry-leading 99.99% uptime, you can be confident that you will be able to find the best shipping rates, track packages, verify addresses, and more all peak season long.
The PC Postage advantage
If you're looking to get the lowest rates on USPS postage, shipping with EasyPost is a no-brainer. As one of three authorized PC Postage providers in the world, EasyPost users can access USPS Commercial Pricing for free and print USPS labels even when their servers are down.
Get started today
Get started in minutes by signing up for a free EasyPost account. To learn even more about how EasyPost can support your business through peak season and beyond, schedule some time to meet with one of our shipping experts.