On July 12, 2026, the United States Postal Service (USPS) implemented another round of postage rate increases. While much of the public messaging focused on an average 4.8% increase, many businesses using Marketing Mail will see significantly larger increases.
For organizations that rely on direct mail to generate leads, retain customers, or drive sales, understanding these changes is essential for planning future campaigns and protecting marketing ROI.
The good news? With the right mailing strategy, many businesses can reduce the impact of these increases.
The Biggest Takeaway: Marketing Mail Is Increasing More Than Expected
The USPS announced an average price increase of approximately 4.8%, but that number doesn’t tell the full story.
For many Marketing Mail customers, actual postage increases will fall closer to 7–9%, depending on mail preparation, entry point, and presort qualifications.
Several changes contribute to these higher costs, making it more important than ever to optimize how your mail is prepared and entered into the postal system.
Marketing Mail Changes
Businesses using USPS Marketing Mail will notice several significant updates.
5-Digit Marketing Mail Letter Rates
The 5-digit Marketing Mail letter rate is increasing by approximately 6.5%.
For organizations mailing high volumes, even small percentage increases can have a meaningful impact on overall campaign costs.
AADC Pricing Has Been Eliminated
One of the most significant structural changes is the elimination of the AADC (Automated Area Distribution Center) pricing category.
It has been replaced by a new 3-digit pricing tier.
While this may sound like a simple terminology change, it affects postage costs in several ways.
The new 3-digit rate is approximately 7.1% higher than the previous AADC rate.
Additionally, some mail that previously qualified for AADC pricing may no longer qualify for the new 3-digit category. Those pieces may instead fall into mixed (Mixed ADC) pricing, resulting in even larger postage increases.
For many mailers, this change will have a greater financial impact than the headline rate increase itself.
Entry Discounts Matter More Than Ever
USPS has also widened the pricing gap between:
- Mail entered at the local Sectional Center Facility (SCF)
- Mail entered without destination entry discounts
In practical terms, businesses that qualify for destination entry discounts will see substantially better postage pricing than those that do not.
This makes proper mail preparation and logistics increasingly valuable.
First-Class Mail Changes
Businesses sending invoices, statements, notices, and other transactional mail will also see increased postage costs beginning July 12.
First-Class Cards
Expected increase:
Approximately 6.6–7%
First-Class Letters
Expected increase:
Approximately 5%
Although these increases are more moderate than some Marketing Mail categories, they still represent higher operational costs for organizations sending frequent customer communications.
EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)
Businesses using Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) will also see higher postage.
The DDU Entry rate increases from:
- Previous: $0.242 per piece
- New: $0.259 per piece
While EDDM remains one of the most cost-effective ways to reach local neighborhoods, businesses should account for the increased postage when budgeting future campaigns.
What These Changes Mean for Your Business
Postage is an important part of every direct mail campaign—but it shouldn’t dictate whether you continue investing in a channel that delivers measurable results.
Instead of reducing mail volume, many organizations are responding by improving campaign efficiency.
That includes:
- Better audience targeting
- Improved list hygiene
- Stronger presort qualification
- Destination entry optimization
- Eliminating duplicate or low-performing records
- Refining campaign timing
- Maximizing available USPS discounts
A well-planned campaign can often offset increased postage costs by improving response rates and reducing waste.
How to Minimize the Impact of Rising Postage Costs
As postage rates continue to climb, operational efficiency becomes just as important as creative strategy.
Businesses should review whether they are:
- Taking advantage of all available postal discounts
- Qualifying for 5-digit or 3-digit presort rates whenever possible
- Optimizing mailing lists before every campaign
- Removing duplicate or undeliverable records
- Entering mail at the most cost-effective USPS facilities
- Evaluating campaign performance by audience segment
Small improvements in mail preparation can create significant savings across multiple campaigns throughout the year.
PrintComm Can Help You Navigate USPS Changes
Postage increases don’t have to mean higher acquisition costs or reduced marketing performance.
At PrintComm, we work with clients to identify opportunities to improve mailing efficiency before a campaign enters production. From list optimization and presorting to postal strategy and operational planning, our team helps businesses maximize available discounts and reduce unnecessary postage expense.
Whether you’re mailing thousands of pieces or millions, understanding how USPS rate changes affect your campaigns can help you make smarter marketing decisions.
Let’s Make Your Mail Work Harder
If you’re concerned about how the latest USPS postage changes will impact your marketing budget, we’re here to help. PrintComm can review your current mailing strategy, identify opportunities for postal savings, and help you maximize every campaign.Contact PrintComm today to learn how we can help you reduce postage costs while keeping your direct mail programs effective and efficient
