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Mailing Information
Make sure your pieces meet the post offices' compatibility requirements for automation mail and they receive the lowest possible postage rates. The following information provides you with the postage rates, sizes and information necessary to get your mail moving in the right direction. The charts below provide examples of some of the new rates and fees:
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Postcard |
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| Dimension |
Minimum |
Maximum |
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| Height |
3-1/2 inches |
4-1/4 inches |
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| Length |
5 inches |
6 inches |
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| Thickness |
0.007 inch |
0.016 inch |
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Rate: $0.28
Any item smaller than the minimum dimensions is not mailable.
For postcards, length is the dimension parallel to the address.
Postcards must be rectangular and be made of unfolded and uncreased paper
or card stock.
Large cards that exceed the maximum dimensions of a postcard pay the First-Class
Mail Letter rate or First-Class Mail Large Envelope rate.
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Letter |
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| Dimension |
Minimum |
Maximum |
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| Height |
3-1/2 inches |
6-1/8 inches |
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| Length |
5 inches |
11-1/2 inches |
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| Thickness |
0.007 inch |
1/4 inch |
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First-Class Mail Letter Rates
Weight
Not Over
(ounces) |
Rates |
1 |
$0.44 |
2 |
$0.61 |
3 |
$0.78 |
3.5 |
$0.95 |
Any item smaller than the minimum dimensions is not
mailable.
For larger items, see Large
Envelope or Package.
For envelopes, length is the dimension parallel to the address.
Letters that meet
one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics below are subject
to the $0.20 nonmachinable surcharge. For items over 3.5 ounces,
see large
envelope (flat) prices.
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It is too rigid – does
not bend easily |
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It has clasps, string,
buttons, or similar closure devices |
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It has an address parallel
to the shorter dimension of the letter |
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It contains items such
as pens that cause the surface to be uneven |
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The length divided by
height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (calculate this below) |
Square Envelope
The minimum
size for a square envelope is 5 x 5 inches.
Square letters are subject to the $0.17 nonmachinable
surcharge.
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Large Envelope |
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| Dimension |
Minimum* |
Maximum |
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| Height |
6-1/8 inches |
12 inches |
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| Length |
11-1/2 inches |
15 inches |
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| Thickness |
1/4 inch |
3/4 inch |
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Large Envelopes that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick pay package rates.
For Large Envelopes, length is the longest dimension.
For larger items, see Package.
*Large envelopes exceed at least one of these dimensions. |
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RETAIL MAILING SERVICES
With retail mailing services, you can easily send any quantity of mail at full
postage rates without special preparation. Address, add postage, and
send —it’s fast and easy.
- Easy mail preparation
- Convenient drop-off options
- Expedited services available
DISCOUNT MAILING SERVICES
With discount or “bulk” mailing services, you can receive significant
postage discounts for larger mailings by preparing and sorting your mail according
to Postal Service guidelines and depositing it at designated locations.
- Reduced postage costs
- Many options available
- Promote your business and create a professional image
ADVANTAGES
- A proven, cost-effective business tool
- Offers a lower price on postage for the work you perform
- Can accommodate a variety of business needs
- Gives your business or organization a professional image
with customers
- Can promote your business or organization name through
use of permit imprint, postage meter, or PC Postage technology
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Your discount depends on the mailing service you choose and the work you do.
For example, if you mail 1,000 letter-sized flyers to everyone in your ZIP
Code advertising your business's sale, it would cost $0.44 per piece for
retail First-Class postage, or $440.
If you mail 1,000 flyers using Standard Mail to everyone in
your ZIP Code by adding a barcode, sorting them by carrier
route, and depositing them at the Post Office designated by your Business Mail Entry Unit, you might pay as little as $0.135 per piece,
or $135.
COST
- The postage depends on the mailing service you choose and
the characteristics of your mailpiece.
- For any discount mailing, you must do some of the work
the Postal Service would otherwise do. The work you do, such
as preparing, sorting, and entering your mailing, can lower
your postage costs.
- You must pay an annual mailing fee at each facility where
you enter mail. Different mailing services may require separate
fees. For example, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Package
Services require separate $175 annual presort mailing fees.
- Other optional aspects of a discount mailing, such as using
permit imprints, business reply mail, or mailing endorsements,
may require additional fees.
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Nonprofit Standard Mail Eligibility
Are Nonprofit Organizations Different From Business
Mailers?
Nonprofit organizations and businesses use discount mailing
in the same way. Nonprofit organizations authorized by
the Postal Service are eligible for additional savings
on Standard Mail rates. Eligibility to use nonprofit
rates is based on both the organization ’s eligibility
and the content of the mailpiece as established by federal
statutes. You can find complete rate information online.
Identifying Your Mailpiece
For Nonprofit Standard Mail, the name and return address
of
the authorized nonprofit organization must be printed
on the outside of the mailpiece
or prominently displayed on
the material being mailed.
How Do I Apply?
Organizations apply for authorization to mail at Nonprofit
Standard Mail Rates by submitting Form 3624, Application
to Mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates, at the
Post Office where the organization intends to mail.
For information about nonprofit rate eligibility and
how to apply, see Publication 417, Nonprofit
Standard Mail Eligibility, online or
pick up a copy at your local Post Office.
To apply for authorization to
mail at Nonprofit Periodicals rates,
see Handbook
DM-204, Applying
for Periodicals
Mailing Privileges,
at pe.usps.com.
Organization Eligibility
Only certain types of nonprofit organizations may qualify for
authorization to mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Nonprofit
rates are considerably less than regular Standard Mail rates.
Typically, there are eight categories of organizations that
may be eligible:
- Agricultural
- Philanthropic
- Educational
- Labor
- Scientific
- Veterans
- Religious
- Fraternal
More recently, Congress authorized nonprofit rates for voter
registration officials and national and state committees
of political parties.
Simply being an IRS-approved nonprofit organization does
not qualify an organization for these rates. The following
types
of organizations are typically ineligible for nonprofit authorization:
- Automobile clubs
- Business leagues
- Chambers of commerce
- Individuals
- Mutual insurance associations
- Political organizations
- Service clubs
- Social and hobby clubs
- Trade associations
- Citizens’ and civic improvement associations
- Associations of rural electric cooperatives
Mailpiece Eligibility
As an authorized nonprofit organization, you can send only
your own mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Additionally,
the material that you send must meet certain content standards.
Advertising Content
Advertisements cannot be mailed at Nonprofit Standard Mail
rates if they promote any of the following:
- Credit, debit, or charge cards
- Insurance policies, unless they are promoted to
members, donors, supporters, or beneficiaries of your organization
and the policy
coverage is not otherwise generally commercially available
- Any travel arrangement, unless the arrangement is promoted
to members, donors, and supporters of your organization,
and the travel contributes substantially to your organization’s
qualifying purpose
- Advertising for products or services that are not substantially
related to your organization’s qualifying purpose
Product Content
The following products are mailable at Nonprofit Standard
Mail rates:
- A low-cost item. Cost is based on the price your
organization pays to acquire the product and not the sale
price. Because
the value is adjusted each year, you should see the Domestic
Mail Manual on pe.usps.com (section 703.1.6.11) to find
the current value of a low-cost item.
- An item donated to your organization
- Certain periodical publications
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