Prepare for July's USPS Postage Increase
Beginning July 12, 2026, the United States Postal Service will implement its latest postage rate adjustments, with mailing services increasing by an average of 4.8%. While these changes aren't unexpected, they're an important reminder for organizations that rely on direct mail to review budgets and plan upcoming campaigns accordingly.
What's Changing?
Some of the most common postage increases include:
| Mail Piece | Current | New (July 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Forever Stamp | $0.78 | $0.82 |
| Metered Letter (1 oz.) | $0.74 | $0.78 |
| Domestic Postcard | $0.61 | $0.65 |
| International Letter/Postcard | $1.70 | $1.75 |
While these consumer-facing prices receive the most attention, businesses should know that USPS Marketing Mail, Nonprofit Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and Special Services will also see pricing adjustments. Depending on your mail class, piece size, weight, presort level, and entry point, your actual increase may vary.
To view all rate changes, visit the USPS Postal Rate page.
What This Means for Your Organization
Whether you're mailing invoices, fundraising appeals, healthcare communications, customer statements, or direct-mail marketing campaigns, postage represents a significant portion of your overall project costs.
Even a few cents per piece can add up to hundreds—or thousands—of dollars over the course of a large mailing. The good news? Higher postage doesn't always mean your campaign costs have to increase by the same percentage.
Ways to Reduce the Impact
Before your next mailing, consider a few simple opportunities to offset the increase:
- Clean your mailing lists to eliminate undeliverable addresses.
- Run NCOA and CASS processing to improve deliverability.
- Take advantage of USPS presort and automation discounts.
- Review your mailpiece format, size, and weight for additional savings.
- Consider destination entry or other USPS workshare programs.
- Schedule campaigns early to evaluate the most cost-effective production and mailing options.
These adjustments may seem small individually, but together they can significantly reduce overall mailing costs.
Plan Ahead Before Your Next Campaign
If you already have a mailing scheduled for July or later, it's worth reviewing your project now. Depending on your timeline, there may be opportunities to enter mail before the new rates take effect or identify efficiencies elsewhere in the production process.
At Aradius Group, we help clients navigate USPS changes every year. From postage optimization and list hygiene to production planning and mail preparation, our team works to keep your campaigns running efficiently—even as rates continue to evolve.
