Upcoming changes to USPS shipping on Whatnot

Starting in early August 2026, shipping costs for USPS packages between 1–5 lbs will decrease for U.S. sellers and buyers.

As part of these updates:

• Ground Advantage will become the default USPS shipping service on Whatnot
• Flat Rate shipping will no longer be supported
• Priority Mail will still be available as an optional shipping service

Most sellers won't need to take any action before these changes take effect. 

If you currently use Flat Rate packaging, you'll need to switch to alternative packaging. If you use Priority Mail packaging, review the packaging guidance below before shipping with Ground Advantage. Using Flat Rate or Priority Mail packaging with a Ground Advantage label may result in a USPS fee of up to $20, which will be charged to your Whatnot account balance.

In this article:

• What's changing
• What you need to do
• FAQs

What’s changing

Ground Advantage will become the default shipping option

Ground Advantage will become the default USPS shipping service for all orders on Whatnot because it offers the lowest rates for most shipments.

Packages weighing 1–5 lbs will use new USPS Ground Advantage rates, with shipping costs expected to decrease by about 20% in August.

Priority Mail will still be available if you prefer it, and you can switch to it anytime in your shipping settings. We'll notify you a few weeks before Ground Advantage becomes the default so you have time to review and adjust your settings. Keep in mind that Priority Mail costs significantly more than Ground Advantage, while typically arriving only about one day sooner.

Flat Rate shipping will no longer be supported

USPS Flat Rate shipping and packaging will no longer be supported on Whatnot.

If you currently use Flat Rate packaging, you'll need to switch to alternative packaging before these changes take effect. Learn more. 

If you ship packages weighing more than 5 lbs, you may see higher shipping costs than you did with Flat Rate shipping. Heavier packages weighing 5–70 lbs will be charged USPS commercial rates based on shipping service, package weight, distance, and any additional fees. 

If you frequently ship packages over 5 lbs, here's how you can help manage shipping costs and take advantage of the new, lower Ground Advantage rate: 

• Weigh your products to understand how many items will fit within a 5 lb shipment.
• Use custom shipping profiles with bundle limits to keep shipments at or below 5 lbs whenever possible.

Packages under 1 lb will use simplified pricing

Packages under 1 lb will move to a simplified pricing model based on shipment weight only, instead of shipment weight and shipping distance. 

Expected new rates in August:

What you need to do 

Most sellers don't need to make any changes before these updates take effect.

If you currently use Flat Rate shipping

• Replace Flat Rate packaging with alternative packaging materials.
• Review your item weights and shipping profiles. Accurate weights will be more important once Flat Rate shipping is removed.
• If you regularly ship heavy packages, consider using custom shipping profiles with max bundle limits to keep shipments under 5 lbs. 

If you currently use Priority Mail shipping

• Replace Priority Mail packaging if you plan to ship with Ground Advantage.

Which packaging can I use after these changes? 

FAQs

When will these changes take effect?  

We expect these updates to go live no earlier than August 1, 2026. 

You’ll have time to review and update your shipping setup before anything changes.

Do I need to update my shipping settings?

Most sellers won't need to manually update their shipping settings. Ground Advantage will automatically become your default shipping option when these changes take effect.

Before that happens, you'll be notified on Whatnot and have time to review your shipping settings.

Can I still use Priority Mail service?

Yes. Priority Mail will still be available as an optional shipping service.

However, it'll cost more than Ground Advantage while typically arriving only about one day sooner.

Can I still use USPS Flat Rate boxes?

No. USPS Flat Rate packaging will no longer be supported on Whatnot after these changes.

• If you plan to ship with Ground Advantage, use your own packaging materials instead.
• If you plan to ship with Priority Mail, use Priority Mail packaging that’s not marked "Flat Rate," or your own packaging materials.

If you use USPS Flat Rate packaging with a non-Flat Rate label, USPS may charge a carrier fee up to $20 that will be deducted from your account.

Are there changes to Media Mail or First-Class Mail Letter (FCML)?

These updates do not directly affect USPS Media Mail or FCML shipping services.

FCML will incur a separate $0.04 annual increase effective July 12th, 2026, but will remain the lowest-cost shipping option for eligible lightweight shipments, including trading cards.

Does this affect sellers outside of the United States? 

No. These changes apply only to USPS shipping within the United States. 

If you're a seller based outside the U.S., your shipping settings are not affected. For shipping information specific to your country, see the shipping guides by country.