Cheat Sheet to
Postage Rate Increases

A guide to the major rate changes from the U.S. Postal Service and tips to reduce the impact.

Price changes. Effective October 2024

Stamps increased nearly 7%

The retail price of a stamp increased 5 cents to 73¢ from 68¢. If your small business uses stamps or purchases postage directly at the Post Office, this price hike will significantly impact your bottom line. Don't miss out on a 5% meter discount!

  • New Stamp Price: 73¢
  • New Discounted Meter Price: 69¢

Tip:

Using a meter gets you the discount on postage, which really adds up annually. Going to the post office is costing you time and money. If you need a meter, order now and receive a special offer for new Quadient customers! 

 

I need a meter

Metered rate increased 5 cents

Metered postage rates for First-Class letters will go up 5 cents per letter to $0.69. But, there's good news for meter users. You can get a meter discount and save 5% on every mail piece with our solutions.

  • Previous Meter Price: 64¢
  • New Meter Price: 69¢

Tip:

It's more important than ever to make sure all of your postage is updated regularly. Rates can change once or twice each year, and even seasonally. With our newest iX meters, postage rates are updated for you AUTOMATICALLY!

 

See the iX Series

Certified Mail® with Return Receipt is more expensive 

The Certified Mail fee increased an additional 50 cents per mail piece, while Return Receipt will increase by 55 cents (hard copy). The silver lining: With an electronic Return Receipt, you’ll save $1.48 on every Certified Mail piece. 

  • Certified Mail fee: from $4.35 to $4.85
  • Return Receipt (hard copy) cost: from $3.55 to $4.10
  • Return Receipt (electronic) cost: from $2.20 to $2.62

Tip:

We highly recommend using electronic Return Receipt. You can upgrade your entire process with a digital workflow and save when you send Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt using a online solution like e-Certify.

 

Check out e-Certify

It's time to think about presort prices

With the right mail volume, you can take advantage of the USPS presort discounts. First-Class presorted postage will increase nearly 4 cents, but sorting invoices, bills and statements by zip code is still advantageous and cost-effective. Now might be the time to make it part of your mail prep process.

  • Presort pricing : $0.545 (5- Digit Automation Letter - 1 oz.)
  • Presort postcards: $0.560 (Postcard Machinable Presorted)

Tip:

You can get access to postage discounts with presort prices using our mail automation software Impress®.

 

Learn about Impress

Let's not forget shipping rates!

The shipping prices of the three primary carriers, USPS®, FedEx®, and UPS®, have all increased in January 2024. Here's a list of the rate increases this summer:

  • Parcel Select® service : +25%
  • No price increases are being proposed for USPS Ground Advantage, as well as Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express® services. 

Tip:

Using Priority Mail flat rate envelopes is still the most affordable way to ship! Shipping rates are on the rise, but rate shopping is one of the best ways to help save your budget. You can rate shop, compare pricing and get discounts all year long with shipping software. In fact, you can save up to 47% on Priority Mail costs!

 

Check out shipping software

USPS® Increases Prices for Peak Holiday Shipping Season

The USPS is increasing postage rate prices to cover extra handling costs during the busy holiday shipping season. The pricing applies to all domestic mail and packages, regardless of weight or destination.

Peak period: October 6 - December 31, 2024
Services affected: Ground Advantage™, Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express®
Average rate increases:

  • Ground Advantage: +6.4%
  • Priority Mail: +5.5%
  • Priority Mail Express: +4.9%

Tip:

FedEx and UPS are also increasing the pricing, fees and surcharges. Visit our blog to get a list of the seasonal prices and time periods for all major shipping carriers.

Check out shipping software

Is your postage meter being decertified?

The USPS decertified postage meters that do not use the new Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) standard on June 30. For most businesses, the last day to use your non-IMI postage meter is December 31, 2024. After this date, non-IMI compliant postage meters will be considered “inactive.” Quadient is a trusted USPS® Partner, and already offers IMI-compliant postage meters. And can we do more than just replace your machine: we can help your business run better.

Learn more about IMI

 

Solutions to help reduce the impact of new rates:

Automatic postal rate updates with the iX-3!

For small and mid-sized businesses that don't have time to think about the mail. Get the mailing and shipping capabilities you need without the large machine...and large price tag. Easily process letters, postcards, envelopes and packages.

  • Access to postage discounts 
  • Option to add Neoship online shipping software
  • Apply postage and seal mail—all with a touch of a button!

GET THE iX-3 >

Get access to presort pricing with Impress® 

Depending upon your mail volume, you can use Impress to get access to postage discounts with presort prices while transforming the entire process of preparing and sending mail!

  • Save time and prevent errors during processing
  • Send invoices and payment reminders using online channels
  • Speed up invoicing and payment time

LEARN ABOUT IMPRESS >

Save on Certified Mail costs with e-Certify

This year the Certified Mail fee and cost of Return Receipt have both increased. With ConnectSuite e-Certify you can save money on Certified Mail with Return Receipt and improve the entire process by using an online solution.

  • Address and print Certified Mail labels online
  • Track mail pieces online and get delivery confirmations
  • Upgrade the entire process of sending Certified Mail

GET E-CERTIFY >

Overcome rate changes with Impress® 

Avoid the hassle of new mailing rates with Impress! Access discounted rates and eliminate mail processing entirely with outsourcing. You can even have your mail sent digitally and steer clear of all the new prices. 

  • Have all your mail prep handled for you
  • Lower operating costs by adding delivery channels
  • Leave the stress of new rates behind!

LEARN ABOUT OUTSOURCING >

Save on Priority Mail and on Priority Mail Express

Don't miss out on significant discounts using USPS shipping services! They still offer a great value in shipping. Multicarrier shipping software helps you unlock the best rates and takes the guesswork out of your day-to-day  process. Get advanced tracking and create a digital workflow your entire company will benefit from!

  • Get discounted Commercial rates
  • Access 24/7 for real-time tracking of every package
  • Rate shop to choose the best cost and delivery options 

CHECK OUT NEOSHIP >

 
 

Let's stay ahead of rates.

Contact a Quadient expert to talk about cost-saving strategies. They can help you explore the best solutions for your business.

 

 

Contact a Quadient Expert!
We're here to help you get the right solutions for your business.