A comprehensive understanding of the rules and regulations of shipping is essential whenever you are shipping items to avoid surprises and surcharges. The USPS has a clearly defined weight and dimension policy when it comes to packages. The classification of various shipments is determined by the range of weight and dimensions specified by the USPS regulations, and it is crucial to understand it for the most economical way to ship your items. Let us see about the USPS Minimum Package Size requirements.
According to the current regulations, commercial parcels being mailed by USPS must have minimum dimensions of 3″x 6″x ¼” and maximum dimensions of 108″ x 108″, and must weigh less than 70 pounds. Packages having smaller dimensions than the minimum requirements can be shipped by USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Small and USPS First Class Package, with prices starting at $4.50 for USPS First Class (maximum weight of package allowed is 16 ounces) and at $8.70 for Priority Mail shipments. The maximum dimensions for USPS Retail Ground are 130 inches. The sender has to use the proper postage to meet the minimum size guidelines. There are many service providers which provide discounted rates for USPS shipping services.
Size Requirements Of USPS
The dimensions of your package must be at least 6 inches long, 3 inches high/wide, and 0.25 inches thick.
- The type of package being sent determines the minimum size requirements. USPS offers five different package shipping types: package, Flat Rate Small Box, Flat Rate Medium Box, Flat Rate Large Box, and 2 different Regional Rate boxes.
- USPS also uses different package services like Priority Mail, First Class Mail, Parcel Select Ground, etc. to post mail, each with its size requirements.
- Mailpieces that are less than 0.25 inches thick must be rectangular and have a height of a minimum of 3.5 inches and a length of 5 inches. They also must have a minimum thickness of 0.007 inches.
- Most shipping services of USPS have a maximum size limit of 108 inches for Mailpieces in both girth and length. However, you can send packages measuring up to 130 inches combined if you use USPS Retail Ground. All Mailpieces must weigh less than 70 pounds.
How Do Dimensions Affect The Cost Of Shipping?
- USPS uses dimensional weight and cubic pricing to determine the cost of shipping and the amount of space the package will occupy in the Dimensional (cubic) pricing and dimensional (DIM) weight pricing to determine the cost of shipping and the volume that will be occupied by the package being shipped.
- While doing dimensional analysis of a package, length is taken as The longest size, Width is the shortest distance between two sides of the package, and Height is taken as the distance between the top and the bottom of a package if it is placed vertically. Girth is calculated by doubling and adding the width and height of a package together.
USPS Flat Rate Shipping And Its Features
- USPS provides Priority Flat rate offering 72 hours shipping services charging a single flat rate. It is an ideal option for senders shipping goods internationally with overspending.
- Priority Flat Rate charges you with a single flat rate for all your shipments, regardless of the destination location, provided the package weighs below 70 pounds. This helps you save considerably when sending packages with different addresses and weights globally.
- A flat rate implies that the cost of shipping packages is independent of the shape, size, or weight of the shipped packages. There are many flat rate boxes available at your local USPS, which you can buy according to your shipping needs, pack all the items to be shipped in the box, and be charged a flat rate for the box, given that it weighs 70 pounds at most.
- Flat rate shipping packages are traceable by their serial number and also come with automatic insurance of up to $50. They can be dropped off at any USPS store for delivery without any extra fees.
Conclusion
Whether you are a small business owner looking to expand your business, or you want to send packages to your friends and family all over the world, USPS has it covered. While shipping with USPS, you must follow the proper size requirements of the package to ensure maximum efficiency and the lowest cost. You can also use several different shipping services available under USPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are “Machinable” packages?
“Machinable” packages are packages that can be handled and sorted by a machine. Machinable packages cost less and take lesser delivery time compared to Non-Machinable packages.
- What is the cost of USPS flat rate shipping?
Charges incurred when shipping via USPS Priority Flat Rate Mail depends on the size of the box The cost of flat rate shipping in the United States depends on the size of the box, starting at $6.95 for a Flat Rate Envelope, and ranging up to $17.60 for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
- How long does delivery take while shipping via USPS flat rate?
Flat rate packages are delivered within 72 business hours of being shipped. The exact time of shipping is determined by the destination location and the type of package being delivered.
