POSTAGE RATES 

Effective Monday 14 May 2007.
Revised 7May08, 26Spet08

Inspired by the friendliest home town post office in the USA, Lafeyette, TN http://www.lafayettetn.com/post_office.htm

Note: mail that can’t get through a sorting machine costs more.  

A flat, flexible business-sized envelope is cheaper than flat, flexible manila envelopes that need bigger sorting machines and they are cheaper than thick, inflexible envelopes of the same size and weight that are UNMACHINABLE.  

Letters 1st Class 41¢ + 17¢,  &  42¢ + 17¢ after 12May08

Add a penny on 12May08:

1 oz         $0.41                        $0.42 after 12May08.
2 ounces $0.58                       
$0.59 after 12May08.
3 ounces $0.75                        $0.76 after 12May08.
3.5 oz       $0.92   heavier? Go to “Flats”.        $0.93 after 12May08.

 Rigid object inside?  Metal clasp?  Button & closure string? 
Add $0.17 “non-machinable” penalty and $0.20 after 12May08.  
Square?  Goes though their machines but they can’t tell which way?  Add $0.17 and $0.20 after 12May08.
Almost square (less than 30% height-width difference)? Add $0.17 and $0.20 after 12May08.

Too skinny? (long length more than 2.5x short)?  Add $0.17 and $0.20 after 12May08.
Length over 11 ½ ? Go to “Flats”.

Height over 6 1/8”? Go to “Flats”.
(A Size 14 envelope is OK; Size 10 is normal)

Thicker than ¼”?  Go to “Flats”.

Tired?  Sorry, we will change rates every May from now on.

“Flats  (Large 1st Class Envelopes)

Effective 12May08:

1 oz         $0.83           and add17 cents each additional ounce
2 ounces $1.00
3 ounces $1.17            (fold it in half and go in a business envelope for 76 cents)
4 ounces $1.34
5 ounces $1.51
6 ounces $1.68
7 ounces $1.85             (7 oz & over: cheaper than prior rate)
8 ounces $2.02
9 ounces $2.19
10 ounces $2.36
11 ounces $2.53
12 ounces $2.70
13 ounces $2.87

FLATS:

Over 13 oz?  Consider Priority Mail flat-rate envelope.
Your envelope is inflexible, lumpy, not rectangular?  Add 34 cents, go to “Packages”. 

(No cardboard to prevent creased photos, sorry.)
Length over 15  ? Go to “Packages”.
Height over 12”? Go to “Packages”.
Thicker than ¾” Go to “Packages”

Prior  12May, it was 3 cents less:

  1 oz         $0.80 and add17 cents each additional ounce
 2 ounces $0.97
 3 ounces $1.14 (fold it in half and go in a business envelope for 75 cents)
 4 ounces $1.31
 5 ounces $1.48
 6 ounces $1.65
 7 ounces $1.82  (7 oz & over: cheaper than prior rate)
 8 ounces $1.99
 9 ounces $2.16
10 ounces $2.33
11 ounces $2.50 
12 ounces $2.67 
13 ounces $2.84 

First Class 42¢ +17¢           Flats            padded envelopes and small pkgs       
International and Postcards                    PRIORITY         
ExpressMail $$$ and insurance             MediaMail (bookrate)       


Packages / Parcels / Lumpy envelopes 1st class

(Padded envelopes, rigid photo mailers, medical samples)

Effective 12May08:

1 oz $1.17 and add 17 cents each additional ounce
2 ounces $1.34
3 ounces $1.51
4 ounces $1.68
5 ounces $1.85
6 ounces $2.02
7 ounces $2.19
8 ounces $2.36
9 ounces  $2.53
10 ounces $2.70
11 ounces $2.87
12 ounces $3.04
13 ounces $3.21

Delivery confirmation is offered online for about 18 cents vs $0.75 at the counter.  

If over 13 oz, your online postage purchase for "First Class Pkgs" will be rejected.
Try instead  Priority Mail or Parcel Post

Length plus girth over 108”       Go to Parcel Post.
(Parcel Post maximum length + girth is 130 inches.)


Prior 12May, it was 4 cents less:

  1 oz          $1.13 and add 17 cents each additional ounce
 2 ounces  $1.30
 3 ounces  $1.47
 4 ounces  $1.64
 5 ounces  $1.81
 6 ounces  $1.98
 7 ounces  $2.15
 8 ounces  $2.32
 9 ounces  $2.49
10 ounces $2.66
11 ounces $2.83 
12 ounces $3.00 
13 ounces $3.17

Delivery confirmation is offered online for 18 cents vs $0.75 at the counter.  
If over 13 oz, your online postage purchase for "First Class Pkgs" will be rejected.
Try instead  Priority Mail or Parcel Post

Length plus girth over 108”       Go to Parcel Post.
(Parcel Post maximum length + girth is 130 inches.)

First Class 42¢ +17¢           Flats            padded envelopes and small pkgs       
International and Postcards                    PRIORITY         
ExpressMail $$$ and insurance             MediaMail (bookrate)       

   

International Airmail

1 ounce, Canada & Mex  $0.72 (about 5 sheets +  thin envelope)  
            + 24¢ each additional oz up to 3.5oz  to
Canada and
            + 55¢ each additional oz up to 3.5oz  to Mexico. 

1 ounce, ROW (Rest Of World)  $0.94 
             + 80
¢ each additional oz up to 3.5oz for European and EU countries
             + 80¢ each additional oz up to 3.5oz for ROW including Japan, Australia, NZ     

             Please double-check your country at http://postcalc.usps.gov/        
             To make it impossible to mail a letter without going online, 
             we have expanded the number of country categories from 5 to 9.  
            With 100 major nations in the world, we still have a long way to go.  Stay tuned.  

NOTE: "each additional oz up to 3.5oz"  means that you pay a full oz for the next half-ounce after three.
After 3.5 oz, try Priority Mail flat rate envelopes or the two smaller flat rate boxes.  
Service up to 64 oz was dropped on 12May08. 
Not a standard-sized envelope?  Go online or to Priority.

Prior to 12May08:
1 ounce, Canada & Mex  $0.69 (about 5 sheets +  thin envelope)    $0.72 after 12May08
            + 31¢ each additional oz up to 8oz  to
Canada and
            + 43¢ each additional oz up to 8oz  to Mexico. 

1 ounce, ROW (Rest Of World)  $0.90                                                   $0.94 after 12May08
            + 90
¢ each additional oz up to 8oz for  ROW

4 lbs (64 oz) max.  
After 8oz, add $0.90 for each 4 oz increment to Canada.  
After 8oz, add $1.40 for each 4 oz increment to Mexico.
After 8oz, Australia, NZ and Japan and much of the RestOfWorld are cheaper than the European Union countries, which are now the most expensive in the world for our heavier airmail items to get into.
Please double-check your country at http://postcalc.usps.gov/ 

Postcard  26¢,  27¢ after 12May08

4 ¼ x 6’ max, 0.016  max (16 mills; typical business card is 12 mills)
Too big?  Mail under letter rates for 41 cents domestic . 

International Postcards 94¢ after 12May08

Canada & Mexico: 72 cents
RestOfWorld:          94 cents

Aerograms / Air Letter Sheets  are discontinued by the postal service of the United States. .  Was $0.75 to any country.

If you have old aerograms, you can use them at the current First-Class "Regular" Letters rate by adding additional stamps.  Or save them for eBay.

First Class 42¢ +17¢           Flats            padded envelopes and small pkgs       
International and Postcards                    PRIORITY         
ExpressMail $$$ and insurance             MediaMail (bookrate)       

 Priority Mail  

After 12May08 everything varies by zone.

To cope with the complexity and to obtain a discount that is usually 3%,  purchase Priority postage online at:

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

$4.80 flat rate envelope domestic, any zone, any weight
as long as you can seal the envelope without extra tape.

$9.80 regular  flat rate box any zone, any weight. 
Two regular-size boxes are available:

11" x 8.5" x 5.5" and
            13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375


$12.95  large-size box  to any zone, any weight
$10.95 to an APO/FPO address, but no international service.

  12" x 12" x 5.5"  

The regular-size boxes box may be used internationally (20 pound maximum )

                 —
   Canada and Mexico, ask
                 —    
 All other countries, ask  
If not a flat rate shipment, you can use your own packaging.

PRE-MAY 12, 2008:

$4.60 flat rate envelope domestic, any zone, any weight
as long as you can seal the envelope without extra tape.

The same envelope may be used internationally ( 4 pound maximum )

  —Canada and Mexico, $9.00

  — All other countries, $11.00

  

$8.95 flat rate box

The same box may be used internationally (20 pound maximum )

 —    Canada and Mexico, $23.00

 —    All other countries, $37.00

Two boxes available:

11" x 8.5" x 5.5" and
            13.625" x 11.875" x 3.375".

 If not a flat rate shipment, you can use your own packaging.
Above 1 lb, pricing varies by zone -- cheaper than a flat rate box if in only one state or two away.  
Insurance up to $500 available on-line; up to $5,000 if you present the package to a Post Office clerk. 

 Priority “Dimensional Pricing”:
packages larger than 1 cubic foot traveling far  (Zones 5 through 8) are priced by size because such trips use air transportation.  Or rather, you use the same old  tables that price everything by weight, but you must use an imaginary weight calculated from your package size as  8.9 lbs per cubic foot.  This works out to  LxWxH in inches divided by 194.  Trying to have something both ways at once (size or weight? Decide!!  No, wait, don't decide, FUDGE!)  means accepting complexity and lies (your box surely does not weight exactly 8.9 lbs/cubic foot).  Complexity, lies, and indecision might be some people's definition of "bureaucracy".    

First Class 42¢ +17¢           Flats            padded envelopes and small pkgs       
International and Postcards                    PRIORITY         
ExpressMail $$$ and insurance             MediaMail (bookrate)       

Express Mail 

After 12May08 everything varies by zone.

To cope with the complexity and to obtain a discount that is usually 3%,  purchase Express postage online at:

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Any Express shipment up to 1/2 lb must use a "Flat Rate Envelope".  If not a flat rate shipment, you can use your own packaging, but, if it fits, a flat-rate mailer is usually cheaper, because:
a $16.25 flat rate envelope takes
any weight to any zone.  

Order  flat rate envelopes in cardboard or Tyvek here.  1, This complex page may not display in browsers not sold by Microsoft or not favored by the USPS.  2. To find the page if it has been moved, search on  Express mail maximum order  like this:  sample search.  

PRE-MAY 12, 2008:

$16.25 flat rate envelope any weight, any zone.

 Any Express shipment up to 1/2 lb must use a "Flat Rate Envelope" for $16.25

 If not a flat rate shipment, you can use your own packaging.
1 lb, $19.50

1 lb & over now varies by zone, 70 lb max

 Declared Value Insurance Fee 

Available on most domestic services, but you would want it only for trackable shipments like Priority or Express.  

$0.01 to $50: $1.65
$50.01 to $100: $2.05
$100.01 to $200: $2.45
$200.01 to $300: $4.60
$300.01 to $400: $5.50
$400.01 to $500: $6.40
$500.01 to $600: $7.30
$600.01 to $5,000: $7.30 plus $0.90 for each $100 or fraction over $600 in declared value.

Maximum liability is $5,000.00.
Restrictions apply to foreign mail – try a wired bank to bank transfer instead.  Banks charge $25 or $50 per transaction. 

First Class 42¢ +17¢           Flats            padded envelopes and small pkgs       
International and Postcards                    PRIORITY         
ExpressMail $$$ and insurance             MediaMail (bookrate)       

Media Mail Rates 
Books, DVDs, etc.
  Be sure to follow postal regulations exactly as to what can go into the box.

After 12May08:

Domestic Rates
Up to 1 pound:   $2.23
Up to 2 pounds: $2.58
Up to 3 pounds: $2.93
Up to 4 pounds: $3.28
Up to 5 pounds: $3.63

It goes higher, see  http://postcalc.usps.gov/  and expect about $7.13 for 15 lbs,  $12.38 for 30, and $26.38 for the max which is 70 lbs. 

Before 12May:

Up to 1 pound: $2.13
Up to 2 pounds: $2.47
Up to 3 pounds: $2.81
Up to 4 pounds: $3.15
Up to 5 pounds: $3.49

 
Domestic Money Orders 

Up to $500 -- $1.05

$500.01 to $1000.00 -- $1.50

 

Domestic Delivery Confirmation 

First Class Mail $0.60 at the counter (?), less if you mail electronically. 
Priority Mail $0.65 at the counter, free if you mail electronically. 
Parcel Post $0.55;  $1.80 for Signature Confirmation

First Class 42¢ +17¢           Flats            padded envelopes and small pkgs       
International and Postcards                    PRIORITY         
ExpressMail $$$ and insurance             MediaMail (bookrate)       

POSTAL ZONES 

from my town McLean to ZIP XXXxx

Try http://postcalc.usps.gov/Zonecharts/ (a U.S. Postal Service link) for your own town.  You can get a chart like the one below.

This zone chart is handy  for Priority boxes that are not flat rate, and essential for Parcel Post if you insist on killing yourself instead of using the on-line calculator at  http://postcalc.usps.gov/

 

 

 

 

 

Postal Zone Charts   (Effective Date: December 14, 2005)
Enter another 3-digit ZIP Code prefix to check:        

3-digit ZIP Code prefix is 221. The first 3-digits of your destination ZIP Code determine the zone.
(* - Indicates zones eligible for Intra-BMC Rates)

ZIP Code
Prefix


Zone

ZIP Code
Prefix


Zone

ZIP Code
Prefix


Zone

ZIP Code
Prefix


Zone

005

3

254

1*

456..457

3

710..714

5

006..009

7

255..261

3

458..497

4

716..717

5

010..059

4

262..265

2

498..509

5

718

6

060..079

3

266

3

510..513

6

719..729

5

080..087

2

267..268

2*

514

5

730..731

6

088..119

3

270..286

3

515..516

6

733..741

6

120..123

4

287..296

4

520..528

5

743

6

124..127

3

297

3

530..532

5

744

5

128..129

4

298..315

4

534..535

5

745..748

6

130..132

3

316..317

5

537..551

5

749

5

133..136

4

318..319

4

553..561

5

750..768

6

137..154

3

320..342

5

562

6

769

7

155..159

2

344

5

563..564

5

770..784

6

160..165

3

346..347

5

565..567

6

785

7

166

2

349..352

5

570..577

6

786..796

6

167

3

354..355

5

580..587

6

797..816

7

168

2

356..358

4

588

7

820..831

7

169

3

359..361

5

590..595

7

832..838

8

170..176

2

362

4

596..599

8

840..844

8

177

3

363..369

5

600..609

4

845..847

7

178..179

2

370..374

4

610..617

5

850

8

180..188

3

375

5

618..619

4

852..853

8

189..199

2

376..379

4

620

5

855..857

8

200..212

1*

380..383

5

622..631

5

859..860

8

214

1*

384..385

4

633..641

5

863..864

8

215

2*

386..398

5

644..658

5

865

7

216..223

1*

399..410

4

660..662

5

870..875

7

224..225

2*

411..412

3

664..668

5

877..885

7

226..227

1*

413..414

4

669..672

6

889..891

8

228..239

2*

415..416

3

673

5

893..895

8

240..241

2

417..418

4

674..681

6

897..898

8

242

3

420

5

683..693

6

900..908

8

243

2

421..427

4

700..701

5

910..928

8

244

2*

430..436

4

703..704

5

930..986

8

245

2

437..447

3

705..706

6

988..999

8

246..253

3

448..455

4

707..708