USPS 2022 dimensional surcharges – FEES!

Nerd out! This is a post just for me to remember the details on how big a box can be before they hit you with the new extra fees. See here for info. To sum up:

• Parcels with any side longer than 22 inches but less than 30 inches will see a $4.00 surcharge.
• Parcels with any side that exceeds 30 inches in length will incur a $15.00 surcharge.
• Parcels that measure greater than 2 cubic (3456 cubic inches) feet will also see a $15.00 fee added.

When measuring, round UP to the nearest quarter inch. So the old days of Pete finding the biggest box they would allow and filling it with cereal and clothing and mailing it – that’s over due to the $34 surcharge it would get hit with, taking the postage cost from around $24 to $58.

I did some experimenting, and the biggest cube you can mail without the extra fees is 15x15x15 (1.95 cubic feet) costs $25.45. Then it goes up by $15. It stays at this tier until you hit 22x22x22. 21x21x21 costs $40 for 40 pounds. 28x20x20 is the same price as 21x21x21. 30x20x20 costs $71.35.

A home depot “small” box is 17x11x11.5 (1.24 cubic feet), and at 40 pounds costs $25.45. A Lowe’s “medium” box is 18x18x16 (5,184 cubic inches and 3 cubic feet, and therefore costs $40.45 for 40 pounds. You would have to cut it down to 18x18x10 to avoid the $15 surcharge for 2+ cubic feet.

Eyes peeled for a stash of boxes that are 1.95 cubic feet. : – )