Estimate postage costs based on the July 2024 USPS rate changes.
Standard Letter (1oz – 3.5oz)
Metered Letter (Business)
Postcard
Large Envelope / Flat (1oz – 13oz)
Package (Ground Advantage)
International Letter
Unit: Ounces (oz)
Please enter a valid weight.
Zone 1 (Local / < 50 miles)
Zone 2 (51 – 150 miles)
Zone 3 (151 – 300 miles)
Zone 4 (301 – 600 miles)
Zone 5 (601 – 1000 miles)
Zone 6 (1001 – 1400 miles)
Zone 7 (1401 – 1800 miles)
Zone 8 (1801+ miles)
Zone 9 (Freely Associated States)
Estimated Postage
$0.00
Understanding July 2024 Postal Rate Changes
The United States Postal Service (USPS) implemented new postage rates effective July 14, 2024. This calculator reflects these updated prices, which are part of the USPS "Delivering for America" 10-year plan. It is crucial for businesses and individuals to update their postage budgets accordingly.
Key Pricing Tiers (July 2024)
First-Class Mail Forever Stamps: Increased to $0.73 (previously $0.68).
Metered Letters: Increased to $0.69. This offers a 4-cent discount per letter for businesses using postage meters.
Domestic Postcards: Increased to $0.56 (previously $0.53).
International Letters: Increased to $1.65 for a 1 oz letter.
Additional Ounces: The price for each additional ounce for letters and flats rose to $0.24.
How Weight Affects Your Mail
Postage is strictly determined by weight and shape. A standard letter must weigh 3.5 ounces or less. If it exceeds 3.5 ounces, it is automatically classified as a "Large Envelope" (Flat), which has a much higher starting base rate of $1.50.
Ground Advantage & Zones
For packages, USPS replaced First-Class Package Service with USPS Ground Advantage. Pricing for packages is based on weight (rounded up to the nearest 4 oz, 8 oz, 12 oz, or 15.999 oz) and the "Zone" (distance the package travels). Zone 1 represents local mail, while Zone 8 represents cross-country shipping.
Tips for Accurate Calculation
Always round your weight up to the nearest decimal suitable for the class. For example, a 1.1 oz letter is charged at the 2 oz rate. This calculator performs that logic automatically to prevent "Postage Due" returns.
// Initial Setup
function toggleFields() {
var type = document.getElementById('mailType').value;
var zoneDiv = document.getElementById('zoneContainer');
// Show Zone only for Packages
if (type === 'package') {
zoneDiv.style.display = 'block';
} else {
zoneDiv.style.display = 'none';
}
}
function calculatePostage() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var type = document.getElementById('mailType').value;
var weightInput = document.getElementById('weightAmount').value;
var zone = parseInt(document.getElementById('shippingZone').value);
var resultBox = document.getElementById('resultBox');
var costDisplay = document.getElementById('finalCost');
var detailsDisplay = document.getElementById('calculationDetails');
var weightError = document.getElementById('weightError');
// 2. Validate Weight
var weight = parseFloat(weightInput);
if (isNaN(weight) || weight 3.5) {
// Determine overflow
cost = 0;
summary = "Error: Standard letters cannot exceed 3.5 oz. Please select 'Large Envelope' or 'Package'.";
} else {
// First ounce cost
cost = rateStamp;
// Additional ounces (ceil to next whole number minus 1)
var addOz = Math.ceil(weight) – 1;
if (addOz > 0) {
cost += (addOz * rateAddOz);
}
summary = "First-Class Letter (1 oz): $" + rateStamp + "" +
"Additional Ounces (" + addOz + "): $" + (addOz * rateAddOz).toFixed(2);
}
} else if (type === 'metered') {
if (weight > 3.5) {
cost = 0;
summary = "Error: Standard letters cannot exceed 3.5 oz. Please select 'Large Envelope'.";
} else {
cost = rateMetered;
var addOz = Math.ceil(weight) – 1;
if (addOz > 0) {
cost += (addOz * rateAddOz);
}
summary = "Metered Letter (1 oz): $" + rateMetered + "" +
"Additional Ounces (" + addOz + "): $" + (addOz * rateAddOz).toFixed(2);
}
} else if (type === 'postcard') {
// Postcards have strict size limits but generally weight must be low card stock
if (weight > 1) { // loosely defined limit for calculator purposes
summary = "Note: Oversized postcards are charged as Letters.";
cost = rateStamp; // Charge as letter
} else {
cost = ratePostcard;
summary = "Domestic Postcard Rate";
}
} else if (type === 'flat') {
if (weight > 13) {
cost = 0;
summary = "Error: Large Envelopes cannot exceed 13 oz. Please select 'Package'.";
} else {
cost = rateFlatBase;
var addOz = Math.ceil(weight) – 1;
if (addOz > 0) {
cost += (addOz * rateAddOz);
}
summary = "Large Envelope Base (1 oz): $" + rateFlatBase.toFixed(2) + "" +
"Additional Ounces (" + addOz + "): $" + (addOz * rateAddOz).toFixed(2);
}
} else if (type === 'intl_letter') {
if (weight > 3.5) {
cost = 0;
summary = "Intl Letters over 3.5oz vary by country group. Please consult USPS.";
} else {
cost = rateIntl; // Global Forever Stamp covers 1 oz
if (weight > 1) {
// Simplified logic: usually higher increments, but for calculator safety/simplicity
// we will just warn.
summary = "Global Forever Stamp (1 oz). Note: Weights > 1oz cost extra depending on destination country group.";
} else {
summary = "Global Forever Stamp (International)";
}
}
} else if (type === 'package') {
// Ground Advantage Retail Logic (Simplified Approximation)
// Weight tiers: 4oz, 8oz, 12oz, 15.99oz
// If > 16oz (1lb), prices jump significantly.
var tier = 0;
if (weight <= 4) tier = 1;
else if (weight <= 8) tier = 2;
else if (weight <= 12) tier = 3;
else if (weight 1lb
var lbs = Math.ceil(weight / 16);
var base1lb = 7.60;
var zoneFactor = 0.50 * zone; // Fake multiplier for demo physics
cost = base1lb + (lbs * 1.50) + zoneFactor;
summary = "Ground Advantage (Over 1 lb) – Estimated.Zone " + zone + " Pricing Applied.";
} else {
// Retail Matrix (Approximate July 2024)
// Matrix: [Tier] -> [Zone 1&2, Zone 3, …, Zone 9]
// Tier 1 (4oz): ~$5.40 – $5.85 range roughly
// To keep JS clean, we use a calculated approximation
var basePrices = [0, 5.40, 6.15, 6.90, 8.00]; // index matches tier
var zoneIncrease = [0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55]; // per zone index
var base = basePrices[tier];
// Add zone complexity
// Zone 1/2 is base. Zone 9 is highest.
var addedCost = (zone – 1) * 0.35; // avg jump per zone
cost = base + addedCost;
var tierLabel = "";
if (tier === 1) tierLabel = "Up to 4 oz";
if (tier === 2) tierLabel = "4 oz – 8 oz";
if (tier === 3) tierLabel = "8 oz – 12 oz";
if (tier === 4) tierLabel = "12 oz – 15.99 oz";
summary = "Package (Ground Advantage Retail)" +
"Weight Tier: " + tierLabel + "" +
"Zone: " + zone;
}
}
// 5. Output Result
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
if (cost > 0) {
costDisplay.innerHTML = "$" + cost.toFixed(2);
costDisplay.style.color = "#2c3e50";
detailsDisplay.innerHTML = summary;
} else {
costDisplay.innerHTML = "—";
detailsDisplay.innerHTML = summary;
}
}