USPS Flat Rate Box Sizes, Prices, and How it Works (2024)

FAQs

USPS Flat Rate Box Sizes, Prices, and How it Works? ›

For shipments traveling shorter distances, Zones 1-4, and weighing less than 20 lbs, using your own packaging for weight-based rates may be a better value. Across all zones, though, shipments weighing over 16 lbs will ship for less in a Flat Rate Medium Box.

For shipments traveling shorter distances, Zones 1-4, and weighing less than 20 lbs, using your own packaging for weight-based rates may be a better value. Across all zones, though, shipments weighing over 16 lbs will ship for less in a Flat Rate Medium Box.

How does flat rate shipping work? To use USPS flat rate shipping, you need to get a USPS flat rate box from your local USPS office (small, medium, or large size), add no more than 70 pounds of contents that fit inside the box, label an address, and ship the box at a USPS office using Priority Mail.

If you are primarily shipping products locally across short distances, opting for Priority Mail services rather than Fixed Rate might make sense. If your shipments generally cover a long distance or you are shipping all across the US, Flat Rate envelopes and boxes will often work out to be cheaper.

Effective January 22, 2023, Regional Rate Box pricing has been discontinued. Remaining Regional Rate Boxes can still be used for shipping, but they will be treated as weight and rate packages.

Can customers use the flat-rate box for other mailing services? No. The flat-rate box is clearly marked and can be used only for Priority Mail items at the $7.70 Priority Mail flat- rate box rate.

USPS offers their priority mail boxes and envelopes for free. There is no cost for picking up these priority boxes, but you must use them for the proper form of priority mail shipping. You can pick up flat rate boxes in-person from any post office. Authorized USPS shippers may also have the boxes available.

The cheapest way to ship a package will depend on factors such as package size and weight, as well as distance and delivery speed. Generally, USPS Ground and Priority Mail are the most affordable shipping options.

USPS Flat Rate is a class of packaging that provides specific-sized boxes and envelopes for use with USPS Priority Mail services. They can be shipped anywhere in the US for one flat fee regardless of weight, so long as the parcel weighs fewer than 70 lbs.

Do I need to print a label for a flat rate box? ›

Once your label is generated, you need to print it out (no special printer or paper usually required), attach it to the package and drop it off at a post office or schedule a pickup. It is important that your shipping label matches the flat rate box you've chosen.

Free packaging: You can get flat rate packaging free of charge at your local post office or order online from the Postal Store. USPS flat rate envelopes are offered in packs of 10 and boxes are available in packs or 10 or 25. Forever prepaid boxes and envelopes are also available.

Priority Mail® Medium Flat Rate Box

Available in two sizes: 11 inches x 8½ inches x 5½ inches (top-loading) - Perfect for model cars, shoes, and taller items. 13⅝ inches x 11⅞ inches x 3⅜ inches (side-loading) - Ideal for garments, board games, books, and other relatively thin items.

Weight restrictions for domestic Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes, and Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes are 70 pounds. Weight restrictions for Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate Envelopes are 4 pounds.

If you use your own envelope or box for Priority Mail, identify it with the marking, "Priority Mail." Priority Mail packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for Priority Mail.

First-Class Mail^® is an affordable mail service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes weighing up to 3.5 oz and large envelopes weighing up to 13 oz. Prices start at $0.68 at a Post Office.

However, using a UPS box can often result in lower shipping rates compared to using your own box, as UPS offers discounts on shipping when you use their boxes. Another benefit of using UPS boxes is that they come in a variety of sizes and shapes, making it easier to find the perfect fit for your shipment.

You'll pay for USPS shipping (or shipping with other carriers) based solely on the actual package weight. However, if you ship something relatively light in a large box, you may pay more than you expected. Read on for examples of how DIM weight pricing can affect your USPS shipping costs.

If possible, it's often better to ship two smaller boxes rather than one large, heavy box. This will spread the weight of your cargo over two smaller parcels, which can significantly reduce your shipping costs especially if the large box would qualify for large or oversized pricing.