What Fabric & Quilt Shops Need to Know
Shipping costs continue to evolve in 2026, with both UPS and the United States Postal Service (USPS) implementing changes that may affect how independent fabric and quilt shops ship products to customers.
While many of the adjustments are incremental, it’s worth taking a few minutes to review your shipping settings, packaging practices, and customer communications to ensure you’re not surprised by unexpected costs.
UPS Updates (Effective July 2026)
UPS continues to adjust rates and service charges throughout the year, with updates taking effect in July 2026. Depending on the services your shop uses, you may notice changes to:
- Shipping rates for select domestic and international services
- Fuel surcharges
- Additional handling and oversized package fees
- Value-added services and accessorial charges
UPS recommends reviewing its current rate charts and service guides to understand how these changes may impact your shipping costs and pricing strategy. Businesses that regularly ship larger or irregularly shaped packages should pay particular attention to surcharge updates.
USPS Updates (Effective July 12, 2026)
The USPS implemented several pricing and operational changes beginning July 12, 2026. In addition to mailing price adjustments, several shipping-related changes may be especially relevant for retailers.
Package Dimension Changes
One of the most significant updates is how package dimensions are calculated.
USPS now rounds all package dimensions up to the next whole inch when determining postage. Even small fractional measurements can result in a larger dimensional size and potentially higher shipping costs.
Dimensional Weight
USPS has also aligned its dimensional weight calculation with other major carriers by lowering its dimensional weight divisor from 166 to 139 for applicable services. This means lightweight but bulky packages may cost more to ship than they did previously.
USPS Ground Advantage
Commercial USPS Ground Advantage pricing has been simplified by eliminating ounce-based pricing for packages under one pound. This change may affect shops using commercial postage platforms or shipping software.
Hazardous Materials
USPS has introduced new fees and stricter requirements for shipments containing hazardous materials, including products with lithium batteries or other regulated items. Shops shipping these products should review the updated packaging and labeling requirements to avoid additional charges.
What Shop Owners Should Do
As shipping costs continue to change across carriers, now is a great time to:
- Review your shipping settings on your website and marketplace platforms.
- Double-check package dimensions before purchasing postage.
- Reevaluate packaging to minimize dimensional weight charges.
- Compare UPS and USPS rates for your most common package sizes.
- Update customer shipping policies if necessary to reflect any pricing changes.
Small adjustments to packaging and shipping workflows can often offset much of the impact of carrier rate increases.
Learn More
For complete details on the July 2026 updates, visit:
Staying informed about carrier changes can help your shop maintain competitive shipping rates while avoiding unexpected expenses.