USPS Ups Package Sizes to 22 Inches Starting July
Published Date: 5/15/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting July 12, 2026, the Postal Service is updating prices and rules for some popular shipping options like Priority Mail Cubic and USPS Ground Advantage. They’re keeping most prices steady but making packages bigger by increasing size limits from 18 to 22 inches. These changes help businesses and customers ship smarter without surprise costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 5 costs, 3 mixed.
Cubic Size Limits Raised to 22 Inches
Starting July 12, 2026, the Postal Service increases the maximum longest dimension for Priority Mail Cubic and USPS Ground Advantage Cubic pieces from 18 inches to 22 inches. This change applies to cubic-priced pieces and is written into the Domestic Mail Manual.
Dimensional Weight Rule Updated (Divisor 139)
The Postal Service changes how dimensional weight is calculated for retail and commercial Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select: the dimensional weight divisor is set to 139 and each length, width, and height is rounded up to the nearest whole inch. These procedural rules take effect in the Domestic Mail Manual.
New Hazmat Handling Fee Introduced
The Postal Service will assess a nonrefundable Hazmat Handling Fee on pieces containing hazardous matter entered at retail and commercial Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, Parcel Select, and on USPS Returns pieces. The fee is nonrefundable once the piece is entered into the network and will be listed in Notice 123 (Price List).
Hazmat Compliance Category and Noncompliance Fee
The Postal Service adds a new 'Hazmat Quality' compliance category with eight validations and a 100 percent compliance threshold. Pieces failing the threshold will be subject to a new Hazmat Noncompliance Fee; a mailpiece will be charged either the Package Quality Noncompliance Fee or the Hazmat Noncompliance Fee, whichever is higher.
Parcel Select Forward/Return and ACS Fees Rise
The Parcel Select forward and return-to-sender fee increases from $3.80 to $6.00, and the Parcel Select address correction service with Shipper Paid Forwarding/Return fee increases from $3.20 to $5.40. These fee changes are reflected in the Domestic Mail Manual and Notice 123 (Price List).
Post Office Box Prices Increase 3.0%
The Postal Service will increase competitive Post Office Box service prices by 3.0 percent. This change is included in the Domestic Mail Manual price updates effective July 12, 2026.
Addresses API Introduced (Monthly Tiered Price)
The Postal Service is introducing an Addresses API that validates and corrects address information using integrated USPS databases. The Addresses API is charged per month based on a tier determined by the number of events.
Package Intercept Relabeling and Charge Rule Changed
When Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, or USPS Ground Advantage pieces are intercepted and redirected to a new address or to a Post Office as Hold For Pickup, they will now be relabeled and charged the original commercial product price (for example, Priority Mail Express pieces charged as Priority Mail Express) along with any extra-service fees. This replaces the prior practice of relabeling and charging the commercial Priority Mail price.
USPS Ground Advantage Ounce Price Points Aligned
The Postal Service revised USPS Ground Advantage commercial ounce price points (4, 8, 12, and 15.999) so that each ounce price point within a zone reflects the same price, aligning them with Parcel Select Destination Entry ounce price points.
Ground Advantage Cubic Soft Pack Tiers Reduced
The Postal Service reduces USPS Ground Advantage Cubic soft pack pricing tiers from ten tiers to five tiers and makes the soft pack tier measurements consistent with Priority Mail Cubic soft pack tiers. The new Exhibit lists length-plus-width breakpoints (e.g., mailpieces measuring 0'' up to 21'', 21'' up to 27'', etc.).
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Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
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