Usps Parcel

Scott Hochberg

These are the four main size categories that USPS uses to classify mail and determine postage. Is your mail a postcard, letter, flat or parcel? Here's the quick answer:

Parcel Labeling Guide This document has been developed to make it easier to create and use labels on parcels shipped via the United States Postal Service® (USPS® ). While some flexibility exists in design of shipping labels, using these standards will make label certification easier and make processing your parcels more efficient.

• USPS tracking uses an end-to-end item tracking system. This means that USPS helps track almost all domestic mail commodities (letters, parcels, etc.) sent to domestic locations only. After items are sent out for delivery, USPS allows customers to track their parcels or letters on their website using the tracking number assigned to the parcel.
• Parcels offer some of the best value for your postage dollars. Parcel Dimensions Generally, commercial parcels must measure: At least 3 inches high x 6 inches long x 1/4 inch thick. Except for USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Select, no mailpiece may measure more than 108 inches in length and girth combined.
• 200 Commercial Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels. 201 Physical Standards; 202 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece; 203 Basic Postage Statement, Documentation, and Preparation Standards; 204 Barcoding Standards; 207 Periodicals; 210 Priority Mail Express; 220 Priority Mail; 230 First-Class Mail; 240 USPS Marketing Mail; 250 Parcel Select; 260.
• Parcel Return Service (PRS) - USPS.

(Click on the links for more detailed information.)

Usps Parcel Select Ground

A postcard

is a card (not an envelope) that fits ALL THREE of the following:

• 3½ - 4¼ inches tall; and,
  
• 5 - 6 inches wide; and,
  
• 0.007 - 0.016 inches thick.
  For Marketing Mail (bulk mail) and Periodical Class (newspapers and magazines), postcard-size pieces are classified as letters, not postcards.
  

A letter is a rectangular card or envelope that fits ALL THREE of the following:

• 3½ - 6⅛ inches tall; and,
  
• 5 - 11½ inches wide; and,
  
• 0.007 - ¼ inches thick
  (except at least 0.009' thick if the piece is larger than 4¼' x 6').
  
• weighs no more than 3½ ounces (applies to First Class letters only).
  If your letter is an unusual size, shape or material, or have unusual content, find out if you have to pay a surcharge. For First Class mail only (including regular mail and Presorted First Class), a card that is postcard-sized is a postcard, not a letter.

A flat is a rectangular card or envelope that is larger or heavier than a letter, meeting AT LEAST ONE of the following:

• more than 6⅛ inches on its shorter side; or,
  
• more than 11½* inches on its longer side; or,
  
• more than ¼ inches thick.
  * 10½ inches for Every Door Direct Mail.

AND, meeting ALL of the following:

• no more than 12 inches on its shorter side; and,
• no more than 15 inches on its longer side; and,
• no more than ¾** inches thick.
  ** 1¼ inches for Periodical Class nonmachinable pieces.

To be classified as a flat, a mail piece must also:

• be flexible enough to go through postal sorting equipment. For example, a carton, hard-bound book, or an envelope with contents that cannot bend is a 'parcel' even if it fits the dimensions for a flat.
  
• not be 'lumpy'. The thickness may not vary more than ¼' except within 1' of the edges.

A parcel

Usps Parcel Post Rates Calculator

is an envelope, carton, tube, or anything else that fits ANY one of the following:

• longer than 12 inches on its shorter side; or,
  
• longer than 15 inches on its longer side; or,
  
• more than ¾ inches thick (except more than 1¼ thick for Periodical Class nonmachinable pieces); or,
  
• fits the dimensions for a flat, but is not flexible, or is too lumpy.
  

Read on if you need more details on postcards, letters, flats and parcels.

Ancillary Service Endorsements

Overview (507.1.4)

General Information (102.4.0)

Proper placement of the endorsement is required. If the endorsement cannot be seen or understood, you might not receive the service requested. A return address as presented in 602.1.6 must be used and placed in the upper left corner of the address side of the mailpiece or the upper left corner of the addressing area. If a return address is a multiple delivery address, it must show a unit designation (e.g., apartment number) The 'Electronic Service Requested' ancillary service endorsement is available for participants of Address Change Service (ACS) or OneCode ACS (used with mailpieces bearing Intelligent Mail barcodes). Mailers using Intelligent Mail barcodes may encode ancillary service requests into mailpiece barcodes, but must also include a printed endorsement on USPS Marketing Mail pieces. Information about traditional ACS and OneCode ACS is located in Publication 8a, Address Change Service.

Physical Standards (102.4.0)

Placement of Endorsement (202.4.0)

The exhibit below shows the options for placing an endorsement. The endorsement shown (ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED) is just one of several options. See DMM 507.1.5 for a complete list of endorsements, treatment, and fee consequences according to the class of mail.

For a detailed description of USPS actions, see 507.1.5.

For Periodicals, see 507.1.5.2. For Parcel Select, see 507.1.5.4

Electronic Service Requested 1	See DMM 507.1.5.1 for more information.	See DMM 507.1.5.3 for more information.	See DMM 507.1.5.4 for more information.
Address Service Requested 2 (Except for Shipper Paid Forwarding participants-see DMM 507.1.5.4)
Forwarded as postage due. 3
Weighted fee charged. 4	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Weighted fee charged. 2	Returned if undeliverable or if addressee refused to pay postage due. Forwarding (where attempted) and return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Change Service Requested 1, 5
See Notice 123—Price List	See Notice 123—Price List	See Notice 123—Price List
Forwarding Service Requested 6
Project plan template google sheets. Forwarded as postage due at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Weighted fee charged. 2	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3 Gps on car.
Weighted fee charged. 2	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Same treatment as 'Forwarding Service Requested.' USPS Retail Ground, Media Mail and Library Mail forwarded as postage due to the addressee. If refused or being returned, mailer pays postage at the appropriate single-piece price 3 (507.1.5.4). USPS disposes of Bound Printed Matter (BPM) flat-sized pieces with no mailer endorsement that does not have an eligible extra service, and BPM parcels with USPS Tracking, Signature Confirmation, or Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery, but with no other eligible extra service.

2. For Address Change Service with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, see 507.1.5.1, for ACS with USPS Marketing Mail see 507.1.5.3a.

is a card (not an envelope) that fits ALL THREE of the following:

• 3½ - 4¼ inches tall; and,
  
• 5 - 6 inches wide; and,
  
• 0.007 - 0.016 inches thick.
  For Marketing Mail (bulk mail) and Periodical Class (newspapers and magazines), postcard-size pieces are classified as letters, not postcards.
  

A letter is a rectangular card or envelope that fits ALL THREE of the following:

• 3½ - 6⅛ inches tall; and,
  
• 5 - 11½ inches wide; and,
  
• 0.007 - ¼ inches thick
  (except at least 0.009' thick if the piece is larger than 4¼' x 6').
  
• weighs no more than 3½ ounces (applies to First Class letters only).
  If your letter is an unusual size, shape or material, or have unusual content, find out if you have to pay a surcharge. For First Class mail only (including regular mail and Presorted First Class), a card that is postcard-sized is a postcard, not a letter.

A flat is a rectangular card or envelope that is larger or heavier than a letter, meeting AT LEAST ONE of the following:

• more than 6⅛ inches on its shorter side; or,
  
• more than 11½* inches on its longer side; or,
  
• more than ¼ inches thick.
  * 10½ inches for Every Door Direct Mail.

AND, meeting ALL of the following:

• no more than 12 inches on its shorter side; and,
• no more than 15 inches on its longer side; and,
• no more than ¾** inches thick.
  ** 1¼ inches for Periodical Class nonmachinable pieces.

To be classified as a flat, a mail piece must also:

• be flexible enough to go through postal sorting equipment. For example, a carton, hard-bound book, or an envelope with contents that cannot bend is a 'parcel' even if it fits the dimensions for a flat.
  
• not be 'lumpy'. The thickness may not vary more than ¼' except within 1' of the edges.

A parcel

Usps Parcel Post Rates Calculator

is an envelope, carton, tube, or anything else that fits ANY one of the following:

• longer than 12 inches on its shorter side; or,
  
• longer than 15 inches on its longer side; or,
  
• more than ¾ inches thick (except more than 1¼ thick for Periodical Class nonmachinable pieces); or,
  
• fits the dimensions for a flat, but is not flexible, or is too lumpy.
  

Read on if you need more details on postcards, letters, flats and parcels.

Ancillary Service Endorsements

Overview (507.1.4)

General Information (102.4.0)

Proper placement of the endorsement is required. If the endorsement cannot be seen or understood, you might not receive the service requested. A return address as presented in 602.1.6 must be used and placed in the upper left corner of the address side of the mailpiece or the upper left corner of the addressing area. If a return address is a multiple delivery address, it must show a unit designation (e.g., apartment number) The 'Electronic Service Requested' ancillary service endorsement is available for participants of Address Change Service (ACS) or OneCode ACS (used with mailpieces bearing Intelligent Mail barcodes). Mailers using Intelligent Mail barcodes may encode ancillary service requests into mailpiece barcodes, but must also include a printed endorsement on USPS Marketing Mail pieces. Information about traditional ACS and OneCode ACS is located in Publication 8a, Address Change Service.

Physical Standards (102.4.0)

Placement of Endorsement (202.4.0)

The exhibit below shows the options for placing an endorsement. The endorsement shown (ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED) is just one of several options. See DMM 507.1.5 for a complete list of endorsements, treatment, and fee consequences according to the class of mail.

For a detailed description of USPS actions, see 507.1.5.

For Periodicals, see 507.1.5.2. For Parcel Select, see 507.1.5.4

Electronic Service Requested 1	See DMM 507.1.5.1 for more information.	See DMM 507.1.5.3 for more information.	See DMM 507.1.5.4 for more information.
Address Service Requested 2 (Except for Shipper Paid Forwarding participants-see DMM 507.1.5.4)
Forwarded as postage due. 3
Weighted fee charged. 4	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Weighted fee charged. 2	Returned if undeliverable or if addressee refused to pay postage due. Forwarding (where attempted) and return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Change Service Requested 1, 5
See Notice 123—Price List	See Notice 123—Price List	See Notice 123—Price List
Forwarding Service Requested 6
Project plan template google sheets. Forwarded as postage due at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Weighted fee charged. 2	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3 Gps on car.
Weighted fee charged. 2	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece price. 3
Same treatment as 'Forwarding Service Requested.' USPS Retail Ground, Media Mail and Library Mail forwarded as postage due to the addressee. If refused or being returned, mailer pays postage at the appropriate single-piece price 3 (507.1.5.4). USPS disposes of Bound Printed Matter (BPM) flat-sized pieces with no mailer endorsement that does not have an eligible extra service, and BPM parcels with USPS Tracking, Signature Confirmation, or Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery, but with no other eligible extra service.

2. For Address Change Service with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, see 507.1.5.1, for ACS with USPS Marketing Mail see 507.1.5.3a.

Usps Parcel Tracking

3. USPS Retail Ground, Media Mail or Library Mail pieces are charged at the single-piece price for the class of mail. Parcel Select pieces are charged the Parcel Select Ground price plus the additional service fee. See Notice 123—Price List. (DMM Exhibit 507.1.5.4 )

4. Weighted fee is the appropriate single-piece First-Class Mail or Priority Mail price for the piece plus the nonmachinable surcharge if it applies (101.1.2), multiplied by 2.472 and rounded up to the next whole cent. For letter-size weighted fee prices, see 243.1.5.2.

Usps Parcel Return Service