Tag: postage rate

USPS Postage Rates Are Rising Again This July. Here’s What You Need to Know.

The First-Class stamp is about to rise by another five cents starting on July 13, 2025.

Here’s What You Need to Know

It’s happening again. Starting July 13, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will raise its postage prices. Luckily, this is the first increase of the year. In the past, USPS has been known to raise its prices twice in one year (both in January and July), but this year, they surprised us and gave us all a bit of a break in January. However, we couldn’t get too comfortable.

Bummer, we know.

So, if you’re mailing statements, notices, compliance letters, or Certified Mail, this change affects your bottom line. The good news? We’re being completely transparent with the cost, making it easy to understand and even easier to manage.

July 2025 USPS Postage Rate Increase: What’s Changing?

First, let’s look at what the USPS is changing this July:

  • First-Class Letters (1 oz): $0.73 → $0.78 (5¢ increase)
  • First-Class Metered Mail: $0.69 → $0.74 (5¢ increase)
  • International Letters (1 oz): $1.65 → $1.70 (5¢ increase)
  • First-Class Flats: $1.50 → $1.63 (13¢ increase)
  • Certified Mail: $4.85 → $5.30 (45¢ increase)
  • Certified ERR (Electronic Return Receipt): $2.62 → $2.82 (20¢ increase)
  • Extra Ounces (Letters): $0.28 → $0.29 (1¢ increase)
  • Extra Ounces (Flats): $1.50 → $1.63 (13¢ increase)
  • Postcards: $0.56 → $0.62 (6¢ increase)
  • Registered Mail: $21.75 → $23.40 ($1.65 increase)
  • Registered Mail International RR: $6.10 → $6.70 (60¢ increase)
  • Certificate of Mailing (firmbook): $2.20 → $2.40 (20¢ increase)
  • Marketing Mail: 37¢ increase

LetterStream’s New Pricing Effective July 13, 2025

Now, keep in mind, LetterStream isn’t raising service prices, but we will be increasing the rate of postage. Our updated pricing list includes the new postage rates only, nothing more, nothing hidden.

LetterStream’s pricing list with new postage rates included:

  • First-Class Letter: New price starting at $1.23
  • Flats: New price starting at $2.67
  • Certified Mail (no ERR): New price starting at $8.34 (Certified Mail includes Certified Mail postage increase of 45¢ plus First-Class postage increase of 5¢, making the total postage increase 50¢)
  • Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt: New price starting at $11.16 (Certified Mail ERR includes Certified Mail postage increase of 45¢ plus First-Class postage increase of 5¢, making the total postage increase 50¢, along with the 20¢ ERR increase, putting the total postage increase at 70¢ per letter)
  • Express Postcards: New price starting at $0.87
  • PRO Postcards: New price starting at $1.25 (Pro Postcards get the same amount as First-Class postage, which increased by 5¢)
  • International Letters: New price starting at $2.73
  • Marketing Mail: New price starting at $ 1.41
  • Registered Mail: New price starting at $35.88 (Registered mail always goes up by the Registered base increase, plus Registered International Return Receipt, and First-Class International (so this time around, first class int’l is going up by .05, int’l return receipt is going up by .60, and registered base is going up by 1.65, so the Registered Mail cost is going up by a total of 2.30)
  • Extra Ounces (Letters): New price going up to $0.29
  • Extra Ounces (Flats): New price going up to $1.63

To view a breakdown by product type, visit our products page.

Why This Matters for Your Business

If you’re sending hundreds—or thousands—of pieces of mail a month by snail mail, even a five-cent increase per item adds up. Here’s why now is the time to review your mailing operations:

  • Budget Smarter, Not Harder – Postage may seem like a minor line item—until it suddenly isn’t. A few cents here and there can quietly add thousands to your annual spend if you’re mailing at scale. This mid-year increase gives you a chance to reforecast your mailing budget, adjust client billing (if applicable), and avoid end-of-year sticker shock. The businesses that stay ahead of these changes are the ones that don’t lose sleep over them.
  • Reassess the Way You Mail – If your team is still printing documents, folding them by hand, stuffing envelopes, applying postage, and hauling bins to the post office—you’re not just paying more in postage now. You’re also spending time, labor, and resources on a process that could be handled in minutes. Higher USPS rates only amplify the cost of inefficiency. Now’s the perfect time to ask: Is your mailing strategy working for you, or slowing you down?
  • Communicate Across the Board – Postage hikes affect more than just your mailroom—they ripple through your budget, operations, and customer relationships. If you pass along mail costs to clients, it’s essential to communicate the new rates clearly and proactively. And internally, make sure your teams are aligned so there are no surprises when the next invoice goes out. A little transparency now builds a lot of trust later.
  • Shift to Smarter Delivery (Without Losing Control) – You don’t have to overhaul your business to modernize your mail. Whether you’re outsourcing Certified Mail, exploring First-Class automation, there are ways to mail smarter without reinventing the wheel. Let your team focus on high-value work, and let us handle the envelopes, postage, mailing and even tracking. You’ll gain time, control, and peace of mind.

Let LetterStream Handle the Heavy Lifting

Unfortunately, we can’t stop USPS from raising prices, but we can make sending mail a lot easier, faster, and more reliable.

Here are some benefits of having an account with LetterStream:

  • Upload a document and send it in under 2 minutes
  • Track Certified Mail right from inside of your account
  • No minimums, no monthly fees
  • Store and access all your job history and PDFs digitally
  • Add multiple users and manage accounts easily
  • Get fast, accurate and reliable mailing, every time
  • Trips to the Post Office are a thing of the past

Considering Email Instead? We’ve Got That Too.

We get it—when postage goes up (again), the idea of going digital gets a little more appealing. If you’re rethinking how you send statements, notices, or other business-critical documents, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to leave LetterStream to make the switch.

In addition to our full suite of print and mail services, we also offer eDoc Delivery, a simple way to send your documents via email, straight from your LetterStream account. This service can be done in place of or in addition to your regular UPSP mailings.

To learn more visit our free 24/7 online Chatbot for pricing and next steps.

 Don’t Let the Postage Hike Slow You Down

Mail is still essential for business and it doesn’t have to be a burden. With LetterStream, you can send smarter, stay ahead of pricing changes, and focus on what actually moves your business forward.

For more information regarding the July 2025 price increase, visit the USPS website or you can download the list of rate changes here.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so here.

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A New Postage Increase Begins in July

The United States Postal Service will increase prices for the second time this year. On July 14, 2024, the cost of a First-Class stamp will rise by five cents.

Unfortunately, this was inevitable as the timing of the new prices is consistent with the USPS twice-a-year postage increase. If you recall, back in January the first 2024 postage increase took place and now here we are again, mid-year, with another. This also happened back in 2021, 2022 and 2023 so it’s not surprising that 2024 is any different.

July 2024 USPS Postage Price Increase

Effective July 14, 2024, the cost of mailing letters, packages, and other USPS services will climb. This next postage increase is part of USPS’s ongoing efforts to balance its budget and cover rising operational expenses. While the exact changes will depend on the type of mail you send, it’s clear that everyone from businesses to individual mailers will feel the impact. It’s crucial to stay informed about these changes so you can adjust your budget and mailing strategies accordingly. By planning ahead for the United States Postal Service postage increase and exploring cost-saving options, you can minimize the financial impact and keep your mailing operations running smoothly.

Postage Prices

Let’s start by talking about how this will look for our current customers. Since USPS postage is rising, we’ve updated our pricing to reflect that. Below you will find what each type of mailing will cost you going forward.

LetterStream’s New Postage Price Increase:

  • First-Class postage is increasing by $0.05, meaning a First-Class letter will start at $1.18
  • Flats are going up $0.21 and will now start at $2.54
  • Certified Mail (without Electronic Return Receipt) is going up $0.45, plus an extra $0.05 for the First-Class postage increase and that will result in a new price of 7.84 (without ERR) per letter
  • Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt Add-On is going up $0.30 which puts our total increase of $0.80 more per letter. New base price of Certified Mail with ERR is $9.96
  • Express Postcards are increasing by $0.03 making the new price $0.81
  • PRO Postcards will increase the same amount as First-Class postage, which is $0.05, making the new price $1.20 per postcard
  • Marketing Mail will go up by $0.03, making the new starting price $1.04
  • International Letters are going up $0.10, along with a $0.05 surcharge making the new starting price $2.68
  • Registered Mail will have a new starting price of $33.58
  • Extra Ounces (Letters) is going up to $0.28
  • Extra Ounces (Flats) is going up to $0.27

Other Notable Postage Price Increases in July:

  • First-Class postage increase for letters (1 oz.) is going from $0.68 up to $0.73
  • First-Class Flats postage is going up from $1.39 up to $1.50
  • Certificate of Mailing per letter is going from $2.00 up to $2.20
  • First-Class Mail Forever Stamp is going from $0.68 up to $0.73
  • First-Class Metered Mail is going from $0.64 up to $0.69

Why Is It Important to Know About the USPS Postage Rate Increase?

Being in the know about the upcoming US postage stamp increase is crucial for smart planning and smooth operations. Here are some reasons why:

  1. Budget Planning: For businesses that rely heavily on sending physical mail for billing or communication purposes, postage costs are a significant budget line item. Understanding the new rates allows you to adjust your budget accordingly and avoid unexpected expenses.
  2. Mailing Strategy: Higher postage rates might impact the volume and frequency of your mailings. Knowing about the increase ahead of time gives you the opportunity to reassess your mailing strategy. You might even consider exploring bulk mailing options.
  3. Customer Communication: Transparency is key in customer relationships. If your business will be passing on some of the increased costs to your clients, it’s important to communicate these changes clearly and in advance to maintain trust.
  4. Operational Adjustments: Organizations that send a large volume of mail might need to make operational adjustments to accommodate the increased costs. This could involve exploring printing and mailing solutions that can help utilize the entire process for you, which in the end can save you time and money, even with USPS prices increasing.

LetterStream’s Commitment to Your Mailing Needs

LetterStream is dedicated to helping you navigate these changes with ease and no we’re not just saying that. We know it’s frustrating with the cost of just about everything still on the rise and our advanced mailing solutions and expert team are here to ensure your mailing operations remain smooth and cost-effective. We offer a range of services designed to optimize your mailing processes, from the ability to easily upload your job in 2 minutes or less with no trips to the post office through First-Class Mail, flat envelope mailing and postcards to easily being able to track Certified Mail or FedEx 2Day from right inside of your account.

Send Your Mail Electronically

Ok, so let’s look at another angle. With the cost of postage rising bi-annually, you may be thinking about sending your statements, notices and other forms of mail communication electronically. Well, if that’s something you’re considering you’re in luck. Not only is LetterStream experts in the industry of snail mail but we also offer eDoc Delivery, which is a way to send your documents via email directly through your LetterStream account. This service can be done in place of or in addition to your regular UPSP mailings. To learn more visit our free 24/7 online Chatbot for pricing and next steps.

For more information regarding the July 2024 price increase, visit the USPS website or you can download the list of rate changes here.