USPS Service Descriptions

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Express Mail

This money-back guaranteed overnight to two-day service includes tracking, proof of delivery, and insurance up to $100. Delivery to most destinations is available 365 days a year with no extra charge for Saturday, Sunday, and holiday delivery. Express Mail envelopes, and boxes are available at many post offices.

Priority Mail

This service is typically used to send documents, gifts, and merchandise. Priority Mail envelopes and boxes are available at many post offices.

First-Class Mail

This service (or Express Mail or Priority Mail) is required for personal correspondence, handwritten or typewritten letters, and bills or statements of account. It also may be used for any mailable item, including advertisements and lightweight merchandise.

Parcel Post

Items such as gifts and merchandise can be sent using Parcel Post.

Bound Printed Matter

Contents are limited to permanently bound sheets of directory, advertising, or editorial matter, such as catalogs or phone books. Bound Printed Matter is less expensive than Parcel Post.

Media Mail

Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, recorded videotapes, and computer-readable media (not blank). Formerly called "Book Rate," Media Mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books. Media Mail is less expensive than Parcel Post.


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Unusual Shapes and Sizes

Sometimes a mailpiece requires additional postage because it is a certain shape or size that is difficult to process on mail sorting machines.

The following are examples of mail that will require extra postage, known as a "nonmachinable surcharge":

Parcel Post:
Parcels larger than 34 inches long, 17 inches wide, or 17 inches high
Parcels less than 6 inches long, or 1/4 inch thick, or 3 inches high
Parcels weighing more than 35 pounds
Parcels weighing less than 6 ounces
Books or printed material weighing more than 25 pounds
Tubes and rolls

First-Class Mail Envelopes (1 ounce or less):
Square or flat-size envelopes
Envelopes on which the address is written parallel to the shorter edge