It will cost more to use your Missouri post office. Here’s when & how much
At least once a year, the United States Post Office updates prices to keep up with market conditions. The organization has announced two major changes so far for 2026 that will affect customers moving forward.
The USPS reported a net loss of $9 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, down $542 million from the previous year, according to a Nov. 14 news release.
“To correct our financial imbalances, we must explore new revenue opportunities and public policy changes to improve our business model,” Postmaster General David Steiner said in the release.
Here’s what to know in Missouri.
What’s new this year at the USPS?
- New rule impacting delivery timing of documents, effective Dec. 24
- Increase to shipping fees, effective Jan. 18
- Potential postage stamp increase
How could new postmark rule impact timing of documents?
A postal service rule change which went into effect Dec. 24 clarifies that the date on postmarks match the date on which the mail piece was processed, according to a Jan. 2 news release by the organization.
This means that the postmark date won’t necessarily match the date when the mail was dropped off at a retail location or collected by a letter carrier, USPS officials said.
This means that Missourians mailing time-sensitive documents like mail-in ballots, tax payments, bills and legal documents could get a later postmark date than when they’ve dropped off their mail.
Customers can make sure that a postmark is applied to their mail piece and that it matches the date of mailing by visiting a post office and requesting a manual postmark at no additional cost, USPS officials said.
This new rule doesn’t change how mail is handled; it simply clarifies what the postmark actually means, according to the organization.
How much will USPS shipping costs increase in 2026?
In December, the postal service announced that shipping prices will increase starting Jan. 18 to keep the organization “competitive,” according to a news release. Shipping costs are calculated by weight, dimensions, destination and service type.
Here’s how much prices will increase, according to the release:
- Priority Mail service: 6.6%
- Priority Main Express service: 5.1%
- Ground Advantage: 7.8%
- Parcel Select: 6%
Will the USPS raise the cost of postage stamps in 2026?
Mailing services will not increase in January, meaning the cost of a postage stamp won’t change, the postal service said in a Dec. 22 news release.
That doesn’t mean stamp prices won’t increase at all this year. The USPS typically increases stamps twice a year, in January and July, so a price increase may be announced closer to July.
The last time mail stamp prices increased was in July, up from 73 cents to 78 cents, according to an April news release by the organization.
What else is the USPS doing to offset financial losses?
The postal service is seeking the following reforms to help balance finances, USPS officials said:
- Changes in retiree pension benefit funding rules for Civil Service Retirement System benefits
- Diversification of pension assets
- Raising the statutory debt ceiling
- Workers’ compensation administration changes
Where to send mail in Missouri
Missouri has 837 active post offices, while also having 527 discontinued offices, according to worldpopulationreview.com.
You can find the USPS location closest to you on the USPS website.
