Domestic Rates and Fees for Consumers

Effective March 14, 1999

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Contents

First-Class Mail

Priority Mail

Express Mail

Parcel Post

Bound Printed Matter

Special Standard Mail (Book Rate)

Special Services

Sizes for Domestic Mail

Additional Information

First-Class Mail

First-Class Mail includes all personal correspondence, all bills and statements of accounts, all matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection, and matter wholly or partly in writing or typewriting. Any mailable items may be sent as First-Class Mail. Each piece must weigh 13 ounces or less. Pieces over 13 ounces can be sent as Priority Mail.

Single-Piece Rates

First ounce

$0.33

Each additional ounce

  0.22

Weight not over (oz.)

1*

$0.33

2

  0.55

3

  0.77

4

  0.99

5

  1.21

6

  1.43

7

  1.65

8

  1.87

9

  2.09

10

  2.31

11

  2.53

12

  2.75

13

  2.97

Over 13 ounces (see Priority Mail)

* Nonstandard Size: An additional $0.11 is required if 1 ounce or less and (a) over any of these dimensions: 11-1/2" long, 6-1/8" high, 1/4" thick; or (b) the length divided by the height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.

Postcard and Stamped Card Rates

Postcard

$0.20

Stamped card (sold by USPS)

  0.21

Postcard Rate Dimensions:

Minimum: 3-1/2 by 5 inches by 0.007 inch thick.

Maximum: 4-1/4 by 6 inches by 0.016 inch thick.

Priority Mail

Priority Mail offers 2-day service to most domestic destinations. Items must weigh 70 pounds or less and measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth.

Features

Priority Mail envelopes, labels, and boxes are available at no additional charge at post offices or by calling 1-800-222-1811. Pickup service is available for $8.25 per stop, regardless of the number of pieces.

Weight

Up to 2 pounds

$3.20

Up to 3 pounds

  4.30

Up to 4 pounds

  5.40

Up to 5 pounds

  6.50

For packages over 5 pounds, rates are based on the weight of the piece and the zone (distance from origin to destination ZIP Code). Complete information is available from the Domestic Rate Calculator.

The Zone Chart Program provides a 1 page zone chart for your origin ZIP Code.

Parcels that weigh less than 15 pounds but measure more than 84 inches in combined length and girth are charged the applicable rate for a 15-pound parcel.

Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope

$3.20, regardless of weight or destination, for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the Postal Service.

Express Mail

Express Mail is our fastest service, with next day delivery by 12 noon to most destinations. Express Mail is delivered 365 days a year—with no extra charge for Saturday, Sunday, or holiday delivery. All packages must use an Express Mail label. Items must weigh 70 pounds or less and measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth.

Features

Express Mail envelopes, labels, and boxes are available at no additional charge. Features include merchandise and document reconstruction, tracking and tracing, delivery to post office boxes and rural addresses, domestic rates for APO and FPO addresses, money-back guarantee, COD, return receipt service, and waiver of signature. Insurance is provided at no additional cost up to $500. Additional merchandise insurance is available up to $5,000. Pickup service is available for $8.25 per stop, regardless of the number of pieces.

Customer Service 1-800-222-1811

Order Express Mail supplies and labels, arrange pickup service, obtain delivery information between ZIP Codes, and determine delivery status.

Post Office to Addressee Service

Up to 8 ounces

$11.75

Over 8 ounces up to 2 pounds

  15.75

Up to 3 pounds

  18.50

Up to 4 pounds

  21.25

Up to 5 pounds

  24.00

Up to 6 pounds

  26.75

Up to 7 pounds

  29.40

Up to 8 pounds

  30.60

Up to 9 pounds

  31.80

Up to 10 pounds

  33.00

 Over 10 pounds see the Domestic Rate Calculator orpdf icon Notice 123, Ratefold.

Express Mail Flat-Rate Envelope

$15.75, regardless of weight or destination, for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the Postal Service.

Parcel Post

Used for mailing certain items—books, circulars, catalogs, other printed matter, and parcels—weighing 16 ounces or more. Packages must weigh 70 pounds or less and measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth. Pieces exceeding 108 inches but not more than 130 inches in combined length and girth are mailable at Parcel Post oversized rates.
Mark each package "Parcel Post" in the postage area.
Rates are based on the weight of the piece and the zone (distance from origin to destination ZIP Code). For rate information, see the Domestic Rate Calculator.

Bound Printed Matter

Description

Bound Printed Matter must weigh at least 1 pound but not more than 15 pounds. Rates are based on the weight of the piece and the zone (distance from origin to destination ZIP Code). Packages must measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth.

Mark each package "Bound Printed Matter" in the postage area.

Bound Printed Matter must:

a. Consist of advertising, promotional, directory, or editorial material (or any combination of such material).

b. Be securely bound by permanent fastenings such as staples, spiral binding, glue, or stitching. Looseleaf binders and similar fastenings are not considered permanent.

c. Consist of sheets of which at least 90% are imprinted by any process other than handwriting or typewriting with words, letters, characters, figures, or images (or any combination of them).

d. Not have the nature of personal correspondence.

e. Not be stationery, such as pads of blank printed forms.

Bound Printed Matter Single-Piece Rates

Weight
Not Over (pounds)

 

 

Local

 

 

1&2

 

 

3

Zones

 

4

 

 

5

 

 

6

 

 

7

 

 

8

1.5

$1.14

$1.54

$1.57

$1.63

$1.72

$1.81

$1.92

$2.02

2.0

1.16

1.57

1.61

1.69

1.81

1.93

2.08

2.21

2.5

1.18

1.60

1.66

1.76

1.90

2.06

2.24

2.40

3.0

1.20

1.63

1.70

1.82

1.99

2.18

2.40

2.60

3.5

1.22

1.66

1.74

1.88

2.08

2.30

2.56

2.79

4.0

1.24

1.70

1.79

1.94

2.18

2.42

2.72

2.98

4.5

1.26

1.73

1.83

2.01

2.27

2.55

2.88

3.17

5.0

1.28

1.76

1.88

2.07

2.36

2.67

3.05

3.37

6.0

1.31

1.82

1.96

2.20

2.54

2.92

3.37

3.75

7.0

1.35

1.89

2.05

2.32

2.73

3.16

3.69

4.14

8.0

1.39

1.95

2.14

2.45

2.91

3.41

4.01

4.52

9.0

1.43

2.02

2.22

2.57

3.10

3.65

4.33

4.91

10.0

1.47

2.08

2.31

2.70

3.28

3.90

4.65

5.29

11.0

1.51

2.14

2.40

2.83

3.46

4.15

4.97

5.68

12.0

1.55

2.21

2.48

2.95

3.65

4.39

5.29

6.06

13.0

1.59

2.27

2.57

3.08

3.83

4.64

5.61

6.45

14.0

1.63

2.34

2.66

3.20

4.02

4.88

5.93

6.83

15.0

1.67

2.40

2.75

3.33

4.20

5.13

6.26

7.22

The Domestic Rate Calculator calculates rates based on weight and destination.

The Zone Chart Program provides a 1 page zone chart for your origin ZIP Code.

Special Standard Mail (Book Rate)

Description

Generally used for books (at least eight pages), film (16 mm or narrower), printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Advertising restrictions apply.

Packages must measure 108 inches or less in combined length and girth.

Mark each package "Special Standard Mail" in the postage area.

Special Standard Mail Rates

Weight

Not Over

Single-

(pounds)

Piece

1

$1.13

2

1.58

3

2.03

4

2.48

5

2.93

6

3.38

7

3.83

8

4.11

9

4.39

10

4.67

11

4.95

12

5.23

13

5.51

14

5.79

15

6.07

16

6.35

17

6.63

18

6.91

19

7.19

20

7.47

21

7.75

22

8.03

23

8.31

24

8.59

25

8.87

26

9.15

27

9.43

28

9.71

29

9.99

30

10.27

31

10.55

32

10.83

33

11.11

34

11.39

35

11.67

36

11.95

37

12.23

38

12.51

39

12.79

40

13.07

41

13.35

42

13.63

43

13.91

44

14.19

45

14.47

46

14.75

47

15.03

48

15.31

49

15.59

50

15.87

51

16.15

52

16.43

53

16.71

54

16.99

55

17.27

56

17.55

57

17.83

58

18.11

59

18.39

60

18.67

61

18.95

62

19.23

63

19.51

64

19.79

65

20.07

66

20.35

67

20.63

68

20.91

69

21.19

70

21.47

 

Special Services

Certificate of Mailing
Certified Mail
Collect on Delivery (COD)
Delivery Confirmation
Insured Mail
Money Order
Return Receipt for Merchandise
Registered Mail
Restricted Delivery
Return Receipt

Certificate of Mailing

Provides evidence of mailing (but nor evidence of receipt). Must be purchased at time of mailing.

Fee in addition to postage—$0.60

Certified Mail

Provides the sender with a mailing receipt. A record is kept at the post office of delivery. A return receipt can also be purchased for an additional fee. Available only with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail.

Fee in addition to postage—$1.40

Collect on Delivery (COD)

Allows mailers to collect the price of goods and/or postage on merchandise ordered by addressee when it is delivered. COD service can be used for merchandise sent by First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Standard Mail (B). May be combined with registered mail. This service is not available for international mail or for mail addressed to APO and FPO addresses.

Fees include insurance. Maximum amount is $600.

 

Amount to be collected or insurance desired

Fee in Addition
to Postage

$0.01 to $ 50.00

$4.00

50.01 to 100.00

  5.00

100.01 to 200.00

  6.00

200.01 to 300.00

  7.00

300.01 to 400.00

  8.00

400.01 to 500.00

  9.00

500.01 to 600.00

10.00

 

 

Restricted delivery

$2.75

Notice of nondelivery

  3.00

Alteration of COD charges or designation of new addressee

  3.00

Registered COD

  4.00

 

Delivery Confirmation (Retail)

Provides information about the date and time of delivery or attempted delivery. Mailers may retrieve delivery status through the Internet or the toll-free number 800-222-1811. Available for Priority Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Special Standard Mail, and Library Mail.

Fee in addition to postage:
Priority Mail - $0.35
Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Special Standard Mail, and Library Mail - $0.60

 

Insured Mail

Provides coverage against loss or damage. Coverage up to $5,000 for Standard Mail (B) as well as Standard Mail matter mailed at Priority Mail or First-Class Mail rates. Items must not be insured for more than their value. For items insured for more than $50, restricted delivery and return receipt service are also available. The amount of insurance coverage for loss will be the actual value, less depreciation. No claim payments are made for sentimental losses or for any expenses incurred as a result of the loss.

 

Insurance Coverage Desired

Fee in addition to postage

$0.01 to $50.00

$0.85

50.01 to 100.00

  1.80

100.01 to 200.00

  2.75

200.01 to 300.00

  3.70

300.01 to 400.00

  4.65

400.01 to 500.00

  5.60

500.01 to 600.00

  6.55

600.01 to 700.00

  7.50

700.01 to 800.00

  8.45

800.01 to 900.00

  9.40

900.01 to 1,000.00

10.35

1,000.01 to 5,000.00

10.35
plus $0.95 for each $100 or fraction thereof over $1,000 in desired coverage

 

Money Order

Provides safe transmission of money. Available in amounts up to $700.

Fee per money order—$0.80

 

Return Receipt for Merchandise

Provides the sender with a mailing receipt and a return receipt. A delivery record is kept at the post office of address, but no record is kept at the office of mailing.

Fee in addition to postage:

Showing to whom delivered, signature, date, and addressee’s address (if different)—$1.40

Delivery record—$7.00

 

Registered Mail

Provides maximum protection and security for valuables. Available only for items paid at Priority Mail and First-Class Mail rates. May be combined with COD, restricted delivery, or return receipt. Postal insurance is provided for articles with a declared value up to a maximum of $25,000. Only items with no declared value may use registry service without insurance.

 

Declared value without postal insurance

Fee in addition to postage

$ 0.00

$6.00

 

 

Declared value with postal insurance

Fee in addition to postage

$0.01 to $100.00

$6.20

100.01 to 500.00

6.75

500.01 to 1,000.00

7.30

1,000.01 to 2,000.00

7.85

2,000.01 to 3,000.00

8.40

3,000.01 to 4,000.00

8.95

4,000.01 to 5,000.00

9.50

5,000.01 to 6,000.00

10.05

6,000.01 to 7,000.00

10.60

7,000.01 to 8,000.00

11.15

8,000.01 to 9,000.00

11.70

9,000.01 to 10,000.00

12.25

10,000.01 to 11,000.00

12.80

11,000.01 to 12,000.00

13.35

12,000.01 to 13,000.00

13.90

13,000.01 to 14,000.00

14.45

 For higher values see the Domestic Rate Calculator orpdf icon Domestic Mail Manual R Module.

 

Restricted Delivery

Permits a mailer to direct delivery only to the addressee or addressee’s authorized agent. The addressee must be an individual (or natural person) specified by name. Available only for certified mail, COD, mail insured for more than $50, or registered mail.

Fee in addition to postage—$2.75

 

Return Receipt

Provides a mailer with evidence of delivery. Also supplies the recipient’s actual delivery address if it is different from the address used by the sender. A return receipt may be requested before or after delivery. Available only for Express Mail, certified mail, COD, mail insured for more than $50, or registered mail.

Fee in addition to postage:

Requested at time of mailing: Showing to whom delivered, signature, date, and addressee’s address (if different)—$1.25

Requested after mailing: Showing to whom and date delivered—$7.00

Sizes for Domestic Mail

Postcard Rate Dimensions:

All mail must meet these standards:

Keys and identification devices are exempted from these requirements.

Additional standards apply to bulk mail and mail addressed to APOs and FPOs.

Additional Information

For complete rate information for all classes of mail, seepdf icon Domestic Mail Manual R Module andpdf icon Notice 123, Ratefold.

Information Provided by the U.S. Postal service.