USPS Shipping Cost Estimator
Estimate USPS domestic shipping cost across Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and First-Class Package by ZIP-to-ZIP zone and package weight, using approximate 2026 retail rates.
BUSINESSEstimate what USPS will charge to ship a domestic package. Enter the weight in pounds and ounces, the origin and destination ZIP codes, and the tool returns approximate 2026 retail rates and delivery windows for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and First-Class Package side by side so you can pick the cheapest service that meets your speed requirement.
USPS prices domestic parcels by service tier, weight, and zone. The zone (1-9) is derived from the distance between the origin SCF (the first 3 digits of the origin ZIP, which identifies a Sectional Center Facility) and the destination SCF. Zone 1 is the same SCF area; zone 8 is transcontinental; zone 9 is non-contiguous (Alaska, Hawaii, US territories). The four main service tiers are Ground Advantage (2-5 day economy, up to 70 lb, replaced First-Class Package over 1 lb and Retail Ground in 2023), Priority Mail (1-3 days, with free flat-rate boxes), Priority Mail Express (1-2 days, money-back guarantee), and First-Class Package (sub-16 oz envelopes and lightweight items only). Worked example: a 2 lb package from Los Angeles (90001) to New York City (10001) is roughly zone 8. At 2026 retail, Ground Advantage runs about $11-13, Priority Mail around $18-22, and Priority Mail Express around $50-60. First-Class Package does not apply because the parcel exceeds 16 oz. If you ship more than a few packages a month, do not pay retail - platforms like Pirate Ship, Shippo, and Stamps.com unlock commercial pricing 30-50% below counter rates.
USPS Shipping Cost Estimator
Estimate USPS domestic shipping cost across Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and First-Class Package. Uses approximate 2026 retail rates by zone (1-9) and weight tier.
All services comparison
| Service | Rate | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | $13.40 | 2-5 days |
| Priority Mail | $25.46 | 1-3 days |
| Priority Mail Express | $48.09 | 1-2 days (guaranteed) |
| First-Class Package | Not eligible (must be under 16 oz) | 1-5 days |
How USPS Pricing Works
USPS divides the country into 9 shipping zones based on distance between the origin SCF (the first 3 digits of the ZIP code, which maps to a Sectional Center Facility) and the destination SCF. Zone 1 means same SCF area, zone 2 is adjacent, and zones step outward up to zone 8 transcontinental and zone 9 for non-contiguous (AK, HI, territories). The further the SCF prefix delta, the higher the zone and the higher the rate.
In 2023 USPS replaced both First-Class Package (over 1 lb) and Retail Ground with a single product called Ground Advantage. Ground Advantage delivers in 2-5 business days for up to 70 lb at a price point usually below Priority Mail. Priority Mail (1-3 days) and Priority Mail Express (1-2 days, guaranteed with refund) remain the faster premium tiers. First-Class Package only exists now for items under 16 oz.
Retail rates are what you pay at the post office counter. If you print labels online through a commercial platform like Pirate Ship, Shippo, Stamps.com, or USPS Click-N-Ship, you get commercial pricing which can save 30-50% off retail, especially on Priority Mail. For any regular shipping volume, never pay retail.
Estimates use approximate 2026 retail rates. Real USPS rates change yearly (typically January and July) and depend on package dimensions, dimensional weight rules, and surcharges. Verify exact pricing at usps.com or your shipping platform.