Shipping Glossary

USPS Commercial Plus Pricing (CPP)

What USPS Commercial Plus Pricing is, how to qualify, and how much you can save.

Definition

Commercial Plus Pricing (CPP) is the highest USPS discount tier, offering the lowest available postage rates to qualifying high-volume shippers and shipping platforms. CPP rates are typically 5-15% lower than standard commercial rates and significantly lower than retail post office prices.

What Is Commercial Plus Pricing?

USPS offers several pricing tiers: retail (counter prices), commercial (available through most shipping software), and Commercial Plus (the deepest discount). CPP was historically reserved for shippers sending tens of thousands of packages monthly, but many shipping platforms now aggregate volume across their customers to qualify for CPP rates and pass those savings along. The discount varies by service and weight but is most significant on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Ground Advantage. Starting in 2024, USPS simplified its pricing structure, but discounted commercial tiers remain available through authorized resellers.

Why It Matters

Accessing Commercial Plus Pricing can reduce your shipping costs by 10-40% compared to retail post office rates. Even small shippers can benefit by using platforms that have negotiated CPP-level access on behalf of their users.

How Each Carrier Handles Commercial Plus Pricing

USPS

USPS offers CPP as its deepest discount tier. Qualification traditionally required high monthly volume, but authorized shipping platforms like I'd Ship That provide CPP-equivalent rates to all users regardless of individual volume.

FedEx

FedEx does not have a 'Commercial Plus' equivalent. FedEx offers negotiated volume discounts directly through account representatives, with rates varying by contract.

UPS

UPS does not have a 'Commercial Plus' equivalent. UPS offers negotiated volume discounts directly through account representatives, with rates varying by contract.

Tips

You don't need to be a high-volume shipper to get CPP-level rates -- platforms like I'd Ship That pass their volume discounts to you

CPP savings are greatest on Priority Mail and Ground Advantage shipments

Always compare your current shipping costs against CPP rates to see how much you could save

If you ship more than 50 packages per month, ask your shipping platform about their USPS discount tier

Related Terms

Cubic Pricing • Ground Advantage • Flat Rate Shipping

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I qualify for Commercial Plus Pricing?

Traditionally, you needed to ship thousands of packages monthly to qualify directly with USPS. However, most shippers access CPP rates through authorized shipping platforms that have negotiated volume discounts and pass the savings to their users.

How much cheaper is CPP than retail rates?

CPP rates are typically 20-40% lower than retail post office rates and 5-15% lower than standard commercial rates. The exact discount varies by service type, package weight, and shipping zone.

Can small businesses get Commercial Plus Pricing?

Yes. While small businesses usually can't qualify directly with USPS, they can access CPP-level rates through shipping platforms like I'd Ship That that aggregate volume across all their customers to unlock the deepest discounts.

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I'd Ship That automatically handles commercial plus pricing calculations so you always get the best rate.

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