What is USPS Priority Mail?

Priority Mail® Flat Rate Pricing

USPS has a line of Flat Rate envelopes and boxes with pre-priced shipping costs between $7.99 and $19.51 if you purchase postage online via Stamps.com. The post office’s only requirement is that all items fit reasonably inside the container. With flat rate pricing, you don’t have to worry about paying more to send your item further. Everything is included in one flat rate.

Priority Mail® Retail Pricing

If you prefer to ship an item in your own box, the post office will weigh your package and determine the Priority Mail® rate. If you are a Stamps.com customer, the digital scale will weigh the item and automatically calculate the postage rate into the software. The Priority Mail® retail pricing rate depends on how far the packages are being sent. The USPS has split the country into nine zones and charges more as the distance between you and your package’s destination increases. Rates for this type of shipping service are priced at $8.70 and up through the Post Office and From $9.25 if you are a Stamps.com customer.

How to Send Packages with Priority Mail®

You can get Priority Mail® boxes, stickers, and forms sent to you free of charge at any USPS Post Office nationwide or through the Stamps.com software. Order free USPS Shipping Supplies now.

To prepare your package, place the address labels flat on the box and affix the postage label on the upper right corner of the box. The post office provides free Priority Mail® stickers for plain boxes to further indicate their shipping status. Add any additional services, such as Signature Confirmation™ or USPS Tracking®, and insurance before mailing your packages.

If your package weighs less than 20 pounds but is between 84 and 108 square inches, USPS will charge you for a 20-pound package if you’re mailing your package locally or between zones 1 and 4. Packages that are larger than a cubic foot and destined for zones 5 through 8 will cost you either the actual weight or dimensional weight, whichever price is higher. Stamps.com customers will have all of these complex rate calculations automatically performed by the software based on package size and delivery destination.

If you can’t get to the post office right away, USPS will come pick up your Priority Mail® package at home. Just go online and schedule a pickup. Your postal carrier will come to your home or business to get your packages as long as you’ve paid for and attached online postage through a company such as Stamps.com.

If you require pickup of your Priority Mail® item before your carrier’s normal arrival time, USPS offers Pickup On Demand for $20.00 per package load. Your carrier will collect your item in a two-hour time frame. This service also is available for Priority Mail Express® Parcel Select Ground and Global Express Guaranteed®.

Stamps.com Discounts – Get Up to 52% Off Priority Mail® Retail Rates

Stamps.com customers automatically get a discount of up to 52% on the Post Office price of Priority Mail® for all packages. These discounts are automatically calculated by the Stamps.com software as long as you use the “Package” section.

Also, USPS Tracking® is FREE when you print a Priority Mail® shipping label with Stamps.com.