Sending Holiday Gifts? Why It’ll Cost More This Year—and How to Ship for Less

If you’ve already started collecting wrapping paper, checking your gift list, and planning those homemade holiday gifts, here’s one more reason to get a head start this year: shipping costs are increasing.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) introduced temporary rate increases on Oct. 5, which will be in effect through the holiday season. These price adjustments are meant to keep deliveries moving smoothly during the high-volume months of November and December. Still, they’ll make sending your gifts slightly more expensive this holiday season.

Why You’re Paying More to Ship

Every year, the holiday rush puts extra strain on mail carriers. With millions of additional packages moving through the system daily, the USPS temporarily raises prices to offset higher transportation, labor, and fuel costs. It’s essentially the USPS’s way of balancing the holiday rush.

The USPS isn’t the only one adjusting rates. UPS and FedEx have also announced seasonal surcharges that will continue through late December. Those fees vary depending on size, distance, and demand, but the pattern is the same: the closer you get to Christmas, the more you’ll pay to ship.

How Much More You’ll Pay

The price bump isn’t dramatic on every package, but it can add up, especially if your gifts travel far. USPS bases its shipping rates on distance “zones,” meaning the farther your box goes, the higher the cost. It might not sound like much at first, but if you’re mailing to multiple loved ones across the country, those few extra dollars per box can quickly snowball into a noticeable holiday expense.

Smaller packages moving within a few hundred miles will only increase by about 40 cents, but larger boxes or long-distance deliveries could add as much as $7 for standard shipping. If you’re sending something overnight with Priority Mail Express, expect an even steeper increase, up to $16 more for the fastest delivery speeds.

The USPS says the temporary increase will end Jan. 18, after the return-and-exchange window winds down. The rates will then return to their regular levels, although postal officials have hinted that modernization efforts and ongoing cost changes could bring future adjustments.

How to Keep Shipping Costs in Check

If sending beautifully wrapped packages is one of your favorite traditions, there’s no need to cut it out this year, just plan ahead. The earlier you ship, the more flexibility you’ll have to use slower, less expensive delivery options.

Keeping your packaging compact helps, too. Even when they're light, oversized boxes can add unexpected surcharges. And if your gifts are on the heavier side, think homemade treats, books, or candles; flat-rate boxes can be your best friend since the price stays the same no matter how far the package travels.

Retailers are also feeling the impact; some may quietly factor higher shipping expenses into their prices. It’s worth watching for early-season deals or free shipping promotions in November and early December. Some major stores launch special shipping weekends to encourage early shopping, and taking advantage of those can stretch your holiday budget further. For example, Target, Walmart, and Amazon often host free shipping weekends or lower delivery minimums in late October and November.