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About USPS
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the oldest government agency providing postal service in the United States. The USPS is responsible for delivering mail and packages to over 160 million addresses in the US and operates more than 31,000 post offices across the country. It also offers various shipping and mailing services and financial services such as money orders and savings bonds.
Cut your USPS shipping rates on ShipVista
Enjoy discounted and Negotiated USPS Rates from the USA On ShipVista: As a Shipvista customer, you have automatic access to discounted shipping rates for USPS up to 89% off the retail price as well as up to 15% off CPP. ShipVista live shipping rates calculator will find the cheapest pricing for USPS postage costs and allows you to compare them to other couriers.
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All backed by award-winning support
- Ship USPS Connect Local and Connect Local Mail for same day and next day delivery across the country with destination entry for a lower price
- Ship USPS Connect Regional with Package Delivery (1-2 day) through our Nationwide Network with destination entry for a lower price
- Ship Domestic packages with Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select, Parcel Select Lightweight, Library Mail, Media Mail, and Bound Printed Matter products
- Ship International packages with Priority Mail International, Priority Mail Express International, and First-Class Package International Service products
- Ship USPS Returns with Priority Mail (1–3 days), Ground (2–9 days) and First-Class Package (2–4 days)
ShipVista offers the following USPS API services:
- Address Information (Address Verification)
- Tracking & Delivery Information
- Price Calculator
- Print Shipping Labels
- Package Pickup
- Postage / Label Purchasing
A brief about USPS Shipping Services:
The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers shipping services for domestic and international mail and packages. Some of the most commonly used shipping services are:
These services vary in delivery time, cost, and package size, and the USPS provides detailed information on each on its website.
You can manage all USPS shipment aspects within ShipVista. Our all-in-one shipping platform enables you to compare your USPS rates to other couriers, access pre-negotiated discounted rates, and optimize your shipping experience with powerful automation.
Service Levels:
USPS has eleven service levels supported by ShipVista. Service levels have to do with both the speed and type of shipments. Each service level is detailed below. For reference, Girth is 2 times (Width + Height).
| Service | Transit Time | Max Dimensions | Max Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class (Letters and Flats) | 1-3 days | 22" x 18" x 15" (55 cm x 45 cm x 38 cm) | 13 oz (368 g) |
| First Class Package Service | 1-3 days | 22" x 18" x 15" (55 cm x 45 cm x 38 cm) | 15.99 oz (453 g) |
| Priority | 2-3 days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| Express | 1-2 days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| Parcel Select | 2-8 business days | Combined Length and Girth < 130" (330 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| Library Mail | 2-8 business days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| Media Mail | 2-8 business days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| First Class Package International | 7-21 days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 64 oz (1814 g) |
| Priority Mail International | 6-10 business days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| Express Mail International | 3-5 business days | Combined Length and Girth < 108" (274 cm) | 70 lbs (31 kg) |
| Domestic Prices Service | Prices |
|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express® | From $28.75 at the Post Office™ From $24.90 for Commercial Pricing |
| Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope | $28.75 at the Post Office $24.90 for Commercial Pricing |
| Priority Mail Express Open & Distribute® Service | See your USPS® sales agent for Commercial pricing |
| Priority Mail® | From $9.35 at the Post Office From $7.64 for Commercial Pricing |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate® Envelope | $9.65 at the Post Office $8.05 for Commercial Pricing |
| Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate | See pricing online |
| Priority Mail Open & Distribute® Service | See your USPS® sales agent for Commercial pricing |
| Priority Mail Return® Service | From $7.64 for Commercial Pricing |
| First-Class Mail® | From $0.63 at the Post Office From $0.471 for Commercial Pricing |
| First-Class Package Service® | From $4.75 at the Post Office From $3.59 for Commercial Pricing |
| First-Class Package Return® Service | From $3.59 for Commercial Pricing |
| USPS Marketing Mail® | From $0.183 for Commercial Pricing |
| Every Door Direct Mail - Retail® | $0.189 for Flats up to 3.3 oz |
| Parcel Select® | From $3.78 for Commercial Pricing |
| Parcel Select Lightweight® | From $2.46 for Commercial Pricing |
| USPS Connect™ Local (available in select ZIP Codes™) | From $3.95 online with Click-N-Ship® service |
| USPS Retail Ground® | From $8.95 at the Post Office |
| Ground Return Service | From $6.99 for Commercial Pricing |
| Media Mail® | From $3.65 at the Post Office From $2.32 for Commercial Pricing |
| Bound Printed Matter | Varies |
| Library Mail | From $3.47 at the Post Office From $2.20 for Commercial Pricing |
| Periodicals | Varies |
USPS Pickups
If you have one of the following package types ready for transportation, USPS will pick it up free of charge:
- Express Mail
- Priority Mail
- Returned Merchandise
- International
- First Class Package Service
To be picked up that day, requests must be made before 2:00 AM CST. The USPS will pick up your packages the following business day after 2:00 AM CST. Before shipping, packages must be properly sealed.
Carrier Pick up:
Schedule a package pickup at no additional cost (Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays).
Schedule Carrier Pickup:
- Provide a location to determine if the address is available for a Carrier Pickup.
- Schedule a Carrier Pickup
Pickup appointment as needed.
Mail classes supported for Carrier Pickup:
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- First Class Package Service
- International
- First-Class Package Return Service
- Ground Return Service
- Priority Mail Return Service
- Parcel Return Service
USPS Tracking®
Track packages anytime anywhere on the ShipVista platform.
Enter your tracking number to obtain near-real-time visibility of shipments as packages move throughout the USPS network from induction to delivery.
FAQ about Tracking
| SERVICE | SAMPLE NUMBER |
|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express International® | EC 000 000 000 US |
| Priority Mail Express® | 9270 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 EA 000 000 000 US |
| Priority Mail International® | CP 000 000 000 US |
| Registered Mail™ | 9208 8000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
| Signature Confirmation™ | 9202 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 |
Your tracking number can be found in the following places:
- Your Post Office™ shipping receipt
- Your sales receipt if you bought insurance at the Post Office™
- Your email confirmation if you shipped from USPS.com
- The shipping confirmation email you received from ShipVista
- The bottom peel-off portion of your USPS Tracking® label
If a package qualifies for the USPS Delivery Instructions™ service, you can tell USPS where to leave a package at your address, send it to a different address, or send it to your Post Office.
Click Change Delivery Instructions on the tracking results page to leave your request. If you do not see the Change Delivery Instructions link, your package is not eligible for the Delivery Instructions service.
No “Delivery Instructions” Link
There are several reasons a package may not be eligible for Delivery Instructions.
Ineligible packages may have:
- Already left the Post Office for delivery
- A Hold Mail request
- A Forward Mail request
- A military (APO/FPO) or DPO address
- An international sender
- A Delivery Signature request
- A Collect on Delivery (COD) request
- An active USPS Package Intercept® order
- Insurance for $500 or more
USPS Package Restrictions
Below are all the necessary numbers if you need to know how large a USPS parcel can be.
What package restrictions does USPS have?
The chart below shows the USPS First Class Package size restrictions, the USPS First Class Package weight limit, and USPS package size limits, as well as additional useful maximum package size information.
The Predefined Package names are drawn from the EasyPost API, so you can better reference how each Predefined Package matches up dimensionally.
| Predefined Package Name | Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Card |
| Must be a flat surface |
| Letter |
| Maximum weight is 3.5 oz. |
| Flat |
| Maximum weight of 13 oz. |
| Parcel | Maximum size is 108" in combined length and girth (distance around the thickest part). First-Class™ packages cannot exceed 22" x 18" x 15". | Contents for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, or Media Mail® must weigh less than 70 lbs. First-Class™ packages must weigh less than 16 oz. |
| FlatRateEnvelope | 12 ½" x 9 ½" |
|
| FlatRateLegalEnvelope | 15" x 9 ½" |
|
| FlatRatePaddedEnvelope | 12 ½" x 9 ½" |
|
| FlatRateGiftCardEnvelope | 10" x 7" |
|
| FlatRateWindowEnvelope | 10" x 5" |
|
| FlatRateCardboardEnvelope | 12 ½" x 9 ½" |
|
| SmallFlatRateEnvelope | 12 ½" x 9 ½" |
|
| SmallFlatRateBox | 8 ⅝" x 5 ⅜" x 1 ⅝" | Contents must weigh less than 70 lbs. |
| MediumFlatRateBox | 11" x 8 ½" x 5 ½" | Contents must weigh less than 70 lbs. |
| LargeFlatRateBox | 12" x 12" x 5 ½" | Contents must weigh less than 70 lbs. |
| LargeFlatRateBoardGameBox |
| Contents must weigh less than 70 lbs. |
Ready to start shipping your USPS packages? ShipVista offers Commercial Plus Pricing to all customers, regardless of volume. Discover how much you can save compared to retail rates today with our USPS Rate Chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
More on shipping with USPS - Common questions about USPS.
United States Postal Service, also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U.S., including its insular areas and associated states.
USPS offers two commercial pricing tiers through January 22, 2023: Commercial Base Pricing (CBP) and Commercial Plus Pricing (CPP). USPS will combine these into a single Commercial price category effective from January 22, 2023. There are also different USPS pricing tiers, and the rate you receive is crucial: The entry-level price tier is called USPS Retail Pricing. You will pay this USPS rate at your local post office or other retail outlets. Compared to USPS Retail, Commercial Pricing offers discounts. All ShipVista accounts come standard with Commercial Pricing, which allows you to save money on postage compared to the Retail rate. Sign up now and get started.
Integrating with ShipVista Shipping and USPS offers unique advantages that will help you optimize your online business and future-proof your shipping infrastructure. Our all-in-one platform provides access to 100+ carriers worldwide including USPS shipping rates. Now you may be shipping exclusively only with USPS. Tomorrow you might consider expanding your business across borders and when you do, adding a new carrier account just takes minutes using the ShipVista platform. Discover more about USPS international shipping rates and cost savings over retail rates with ShipVista.