Priority mail is a fairly economical and expedient method of shipping for U.S. residents. Most items mailed from one United States address to another will arrive in two or three days, and rates are significantly less than those for equivalent service from UPS or FedEx.
What Can be Sent via USPS Priority Mail?
Most packages less than seventy pounds can be sent using USPS priority mail. In fact, letters or packages that otherwise qualify for lower first class mail rates can be sent via priority mail in order to achieve a potentially faster delivery. (Note that priority mail is not necessarily faster than first class mail when the beginning and final destination are in close proximity to one another). Priority mail is delivered on Saturdays, just like first class mail, and can also be delivered to residential addresses.
How Much Does Priority Mail Cost?
Priority mail rates currently start at $4.80 for packages weighing one pound (16 ounces) or less and start at $32.45 for a 70-pound parcel. Note, however, that special charges may apply depending on the package’s shipping destination, so total applicable postage rates should be pulled from the USPS website or obtained in person at the post office.
Awesome Feature of USPS Priority Mail: Free Shipping Supplies
A neat, yet not widely-known fact is that priority mail shipping supplies are available for free from the post office. Individuals can order free priority mail shipping boxes or tubes in many sizes (typically in quantities of 10 or 25) and have them delivered by the post office to their office or home. Those boxes can then be used to mail packages at priority mail rates. It’s a win-win for both parties, and an excellent deal for USPS customers. Other than boxes, USPS free shipping supplies include priority mail address labels, stickers, return and certified mail receipts, and signature or delivery confirmation forms. All of these free shipping supplies are available on the USPS website; just click on “Order Supplies” on the home page, then click on the priority mail icon.
Interesting Priority Mail Postage Rate Concept: Flat Rate Boxes
Several years ago, the United States Postal Service unveiled a new concept – flat rate shipping using priority mail. Under this program, individuals pay a flat rate for a single priority mail envelope or box and mail anything (non-hazardous, of course) that they can fit in that box, up to a maximum weight limit of 70 pounds, for a flat price. The postal service offers one flat rate envelope and three different sizes of flat rate boxes. The envelope is 12.5” x 9.5,” and the boxes have the following dimensions:
- Small box #1: 11" x 8.5" x 5.5"
- Small box #2: 13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375"
- Large box: 12" x 12" x 5.5"
The standard cost for the flat rate letter is $4.80. Both small boxes are $9.80, and the large box is $12.95.
Whether or not regular priority mail rates or flat rate shipping is more economical depends on the weight of the package and the shipping destination. Both options are worth considering as economical methods of shipping packages within short delivery timeframes, especially since the shipping supplies are available for free.
Related articles:
Historical First Class Stamp Price Increases
2009 Postal Holidays, U.S. Post Office Closings
Resource:
United States Postal Service website
Lena Gott - Lena Gott is a Certified Public Accountant who gives practical financial advice to her readers.
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