Shape-Based Postage Pricing

In 2007, the USPS introduced rules under which rates were based on the size and shape of a mailpiece.  With the 2009 price increase, these differences are even more dramatic.

Postcards
Postcards still provide a cost-effective way to communicate to customers and prospects.

Letters
Mail that is too thick or rigid to run on the USPS processors costs more to mail.  Creating mail that is “machinable” can help you save money.

Flats
The postage price for large envelopes, also known as flats, increased by five cents.  A one-ounce flat is now double the cost of letter-sized mail. For example:

	Effective 5/11/09
First-Class, one-ounce flat	$0.88
First-Class, two-ounce flat	$1.05
Each additional ounce (up to and including 13 oz.)	$0.17

Parcels
The cost for parcels increased by five cents. For example:

	Effective 5/11/09
First-Class, one-ounce parcel	$1.22
First-Class, two-ounce parcel	$1.39
Each additional ounce (up to and including 13 oz.)	$0.17

If your mailpiece exceeds 13 ounces, First-Class Mail^® will be priced according to the Priority Mail^® schedule. This is important if you’re sending parcels, because oversized packages may be subject to special rating guidelines that will vary based on how large the package is and how far the package is going. In Zones 1 to 4, oversized packages less than 20 pounds may be subject to “balloon rating”. For Zones 5 to 8, such packages may be subject to dimensional-weight (also known as DIM-WT).