Australia Post domestic parcel rates 2026
July 25, 2026
Michael Tippett
This reference page consolidates Australia Post domestic parcel rates for 2026 across the two main services used to send parcels within Australia: Parcel Post and Express Post. Rates are shown in Australian dollars for both flat-rate satchels and own-packaging parcels priced by weight and delivery zone. Australia Post reviews its domestic pricing each year, typically with effect from 1 July; the figures below reflect the schedule effective after that date and are approximate. Always confirm the live price on auspost.com.au before lodging a parcel.
This page covers sending parcels within Australia. For sending overseas, see our companion reference: Australia Post international postage rates 2026.
Australia Post domestic parcel services: overview
For parcels sent inside Australia, Australia Post offers two core retail services. Both can be bought either as a fixed-price satchel (any weight up to the satchel's limit ships for one flat price) or using your own packaging (priced on the greater of actual and cubic weight, plus your delivery zone).
| Service | Delivery speed | Tracking | Signature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parcel Post | 2-8 business days (varies by distance) | Yes | Optional (add-on) | Everyday parcels where cost matters more than speed |
| Express Post | Next business day within the Express Post network | Yes | Optional (add-on) | Urgent parcels between eligible metro locations |
Parcel Post flat-rate satchel prices 2026
Prepaid satchels are the simplest option: buy the satchel, fit your item inside, and it ships for the fixed price regardless of the destination anywhere in Australia. Satchels come in set sizes with a maximum weight per satchel.
| Satchel size | Max weight | Price (AUD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Small satchel | Up to 500 g | ~$9.70 |
| Medium satchel | Up to 1 kg | ~$12.50 |
| Large satchel | Up to 3 kg | ~$16.75 |
| Extra large satchel | Up to 5 kg | ~$19.90 |
Express Post flat-rate satchel prices 2026
Express Post satchels work the same way as Parcel Post satchels but deliver next business day for addresses within the Express Post network. Outside that network, Express Post is delivered as fast as the network allows but the next-day timeframe is not guaranteed.
| Satchel size | Max weight | Price (AUD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Small satchel | Up to 500 g | ~$13.35 |
| Medium satchel | Up to 1 kg | ~$16.60 |
| Large satchel | Up to 3 kg | ~$21.90 |
| Extra large satchel | Up to 5 kg | ~$27.50 |
How domestic delivery zones affect own-packaging prices
When you use your own box rather than a flat-rate satchel, Australia Post prices the parcel on two factors: its chargeable weight (the greater of actual weight and cubic/volumetric weight) and the delivery zone between the lodgement and destination postcodes. Broadly, the zones step up with distance:
- Zone 1 — same city / same metro area (local delivery)
- Zone 2 — same state, metro to country or country to country
- Zone 3 — interstate to a neighbouring state
- Zone 4 — long-haul interstate (for example, Perth to the east coast)
Cubic weight is calculated as length × width × height in metres, multiplied by 250. For a light but bulky parcel, the cubic weight can exceed the actual weight, in which case the cubic figure is what you pay for. This is the single most common reason an own-packaging parcel costs more than expected.
Parcel Post own-packaging prices 2026 (indicative)
The table below gives an indicative Parcel Post price for a compact, regularly-shaped box at each weight tier, from a metro origin. Because cubic weight and zone both apply, treat these as a ballpark only and confirm your exact parcel using the Australia Post postage cost calculator.
| Chargeable weight | Zone 1 (local) | Zone 2 (same state) | Zone 3 (interstate) | Zone 4 (long-haul) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 g | ~$9.30 | ~$10.30 | ~$11.30 | ~$12.30 |
| Up to 1 kg | ~$10.60 | ~$13.00 | ~$15.40 | ~$17.80 |
| Up to 2 kg | ~$13.90 | ~$17.80 | ~$22.60 | ~$27.40 |
| Up to 3 kg | ~$16.90 | ~$22.40 | ~$29.60 | ~$36.60 |
| Up to 5 kg | ~$21.90 | ~$30.40 | ~$41.60 | ~$52.60 |
| Up to 10 kg | ~$33.90 | ~$49.40 | ~$70.60 | ~$91.60 |
| Up to 22 kg | ~$62.90 | ~$95.40 | ~$139.60 | ~$183.60 |
Express Post own-packaging prices follow the same weight-and-zone structure but sit roughly 30–45% above the Parcel Post figures above, in exchange for next-business-day delivery within the Express Post network.
Extra services and add-ons
- Signature on delivery. An optional add-on (a few dollars per parcel) that requires the recipient to sign, useful for higher-value items.
- Extra Cover. Transit insurance beyond the small amount included by default, priced per $100 of declared value.
- Parcel lockers and PO Box delivery. Both services can deliver to a 24/7 parcel locker or PO Box rather than a street address, which suits people who are not home during the day.
Annual rate refresh: check the July schedule
Australia Post typically updates domestic parcel pricing with effect from 1 July each year. The figures on this page are aligned with the July 2026 schedule and are approximate. If you are reading this after 1 July 2027, treat the numbers as indicative only and verify the current price on the Australia Post postage calculator. We refresh this reference each July.
How HotSnail uses domestic parcel rates
When mail or a parcel arrives at your HotSnail address, you decide what happens to it from your online portal: have it scanned, held in storage, forwarded on, or returned. If you ask HotSnail to forward an item to another address within Australia, it ships under the Parcel Post or Express Post rates on this page, and HotSnail can consolidate several items into one satchel or box to keep the total postage down.
To price a specific forward before you sign up, use the parcel forwarding calculator, which quotes your exact weight and destination live. If your parcel is heading overseas rather than staying in Australia, compare carriers first with our AusPost vs DHL Express comparison, then check the international postage rate table.
Sign up to HotSnail and forward your mail and parcels