Effective July 12, 2026, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to reflect price adjustments to Postal Service Market Dominant products.
On May 27, 2026, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) found that price adjustments proposed by the Postal Service to become effective July 12, 2026, may take effect as planned. Final prices are available under Docket No. R2026-1 (Order No. 9584) on the PRC website at prc.gov.
These revisions will not be published in the DMM until July 12, 2026, which is when these standards will become effective.
Below is a summary of the structural changes. Information on the full DMM revisions is available on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com/DMMIMMUpdates/Index.
Eliminating ADC Rate Category From Market Dominant Mail Classes
The Postal Service will replace area distribution center/automated area distribution center (ADC/AADC) rates for First-Class Mail®, USPS Marketing Mail®, and Periodicals with 3-digit rates. In addition, nomenclature will be revised to label “Mixed ADC,” “Mixed AADC,” and “Mixed NDC” (network distribution center) as “Mixed” for First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail, and Periodicals.
Restructuring Periodicals Outside-County Rates
Currently, mailers of Outside-County Periodicals are charged piece, pound, bundle, and container rates. The Postal Service will simplify the Periodicals pricing structure to more closely resemble the USPS Marketing Mail pricing structure. This will include eliminating bundle rates and container rates and expanding the sectional center facility (SCF) Pallet and 5-digit/Direct Container discounts to include Periodicals.
Nonmachinable barcoded/nonbarcoded flats will be priced the same as parcels. ADC entry will be eliminated.
Adjusting Marketing Mail Weight Requirements and Adding Heavy Printed Matter
The Postal Service is increasing the maximum allowable weight for Marketing Mail automation and non-automation flat-shaped pieces from 16 ounces to 20 ounces and increasing the maximum allowable weight for Carrier Route (CR) flats to 24 ounces.
Heavy Printed Matter (HPM) will be introduced for Marketing Mail parcels with a weight limit of 15 pounds for Commercial /Nonprofit non-fulfillment pieces.
Adding 5D/Direct Container and SCF Pallet Discounts to USPS Marketing Mail Heavy Printed Matter
The Postal Service will extend the 5-digit Direct Container and SCF Pallet discounts to Heavy Printed Matter Presorted and Carrier Route parcels. Nonpresorted parcels will not be eligible for these discounts.
Changing Minimum-Volume Requirement for First-Class Mail Cards and First-Class Mail Letters when Combined in a Mailing
Currently, First-Class Mail (FCM) cards and FCM letters that are combined in the same mailing are subject to separate minimum presort volume criteria of 500 mailpieces of each mail type (card and letter). As part of the new standards, the Postal Service will allow any combination of FCM cards and FCM letters that total 500 or more pieces to be combined into a mailing and presented for mailing at the presort price.
This mail must be presented at the same time and on the same postage statement.
Implementing Package Barcode Quality Noncompliance Fee for Market Dominant Parcels
Currently, commercial Competitive-product parcels are subject to a noncompliance fee when a published set of package barcode quality criteria is not met. The Postal Service will implement a package barcode quality noncompliance fee for Market Dominant parcels, excluding Periodicals parcels and Heavy Printed Matter, that mirrors the existing fee for Competitive-product parcels.
Restructuring Price for Bound Printed Matter Flats and Parcels Presorted and Carrier Route
Currently, Bound Printed Matter (BPM) presorted, and Carrier Route flats and parcels are priced using both a piece and a pound rate. The Postal Service is changing the price structure for these pieces to better align with the price structure for nonpresorted BPM.
This will eliminate the pound pricing, and piece prices would apply in weight increments from 1 to 15 pounds based on entry of None (Origin), destination sectional center facility (DSCF), or destination delivery unit (DDU).
Eliminating Bundling Requirement for Marketing Mail Flats Prepared in Flat Trays
Currently, mail preparation and presort options for USPS Marketing Mail flats presented in flat trays allow for bundling. The Postal Service is eliminating bundling for USPS Marketing Mail automation and nonautomation flats prepared in flat trays to align with current processing operations.
The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer at pe.usps.com.
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