USPS - Surcharge Decision Table

DMM standards specify surcharges for certain types of letters, flats, and parcels mailed at First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Package Services rates. A “nonmachinable surcharge” can apply to First-Class Mail letters, flats, and parcels, Standard Mail letters, and Package Services parcels when certain criteria are met. A “residual shape surcharge” applies only to a Standard Mail piece either prepared as a parcel or not defined in the DMM as a letter or a flat.

The Surcharge Decision Table following this article was designed with the Mailers’ Technical Advisory Work Group on Consistency. The table empowers customers to make decisions in the mailpiece planning phase and consider design and costs early in the process. It also makes it easy for employees to provide consistent and clear information, and it is part of the Postal Service’s commitment to clearly communicate mailing standards.

Surcharge FAQs

Q. What is considered “too rigid”?

A. DMM C050.2.2e states a piece is too rigid if it “does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn.”

Q. If the minimum machinable parcel weight is 6 ounces, why does the nonmachinable surcharge only apply to First-Class Mail parcels weighing less than one ounce and not to First-Class Mail parcels weighing less than 6 ounces?

A. First-Class Mail parcels are pieces that meet the length, height, and/or thickness criteria to be categorized as a parcel. First-Class Mail parcels are processed differently from Standard Mail and Package Services parcels, and are therefore not subject to the same nonmachinable surcharge weight restrictions.

Q. Are there standards for pieces “polybagged,” “polywrapped,” or “enclosed in plastic material”? What about window envelopes with wide windows?

A. The DMM gives specifications for polybagged items in C010.3.4. Polywrapped items are covered in C010.3.5 and C820.4.0, depending on whether the piece is a flat or parcel. Window envelope standards are in C840.2.4 and C820.7; wide windows are allowed.

Q. Why does the nonmachinable surcharge apply up to 3.3 ounces for Standard Mail and only up to 1 ounce for First-Class Mail?

A. Postage rates for First-Class Mail are by 1 ounce increments, whereas the per-piece rate for Standard Mail letters is the same for pieces weighing up to and including 3.3 ounces.

Letters	Non-letter/Flats	Parcels
First-Class Mail The nonmachinable surcharge applies if the letter-size piece: § Weighs one ounce or less; and § Meets any of the following characteristics (C050.2.2); § Aspect ratio (length/height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5. § Polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in any plastic material. § Has clasps, strings buttons, or similar closure devices. § Uneven thickness caused by items such as pens, pencils, loose keys, or coins. § Too rigid. § Thickness less than 0.009 inch when more than 4-1/4 inch high or 6 inches long. § Delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the piece. § Folded self-mailer or booklet (050.2.2h. & i. for restrictions). § OR is labeled by the mailer for manual processing (E130.3.4). Note: Card rate pieces are not subject to a surcharge. Nonmachinable Surcharge (R100.12.0) Single piece: $0.12 Presorted rate: $0.055	First-Class Mail The nonmachinable surcharge applies if the flat-size piece: § Weighs one ounce or less; and § Meets any of the following (C100.4.0): § Greater than ¼ inch thick. § Length more than 11-1/2 inch. § Height more than 6-1/8 inch. § Aspect ratio less than 1.3 or more than 2.5. Nonmachinable Surcharge (R100.12.0) Single piece: $0.12 Presorted and automation rate: $0.055	First-Class Mail The nonmachinable surcharge applies if the parcel-size piece: § Weighs one ounce or less; and § Meets any of the following (C100.4.0): § Greater than 1/4 inch thick. § Length more than 11-1/2 inch. § Height more than 6-1/8 inch. § Aspect ratio less than 1.3 or more than 2.5. Nonmachinable Surcharge (R100.12.0) Single piece: $0.12 Presorted rate: $0.055
Letters	Non-letter/Flats	Parcels
Standard Mail The nonmachinable surcharge applies if the letter-size piece: § Is mailed at the Presorted rates. § Weighs 3.3 ounces or less; and § Meets any of the characteristics in C050.2.2 (see First-Class Mail letters); or is labeled by the mailer for manual processing only (E620.4). Note: Pieces mailed at an automation rate, Enhanced Carrier Route rate, or prepared and entered as CMM are not subject to the nonmachinable surcharge. Nonmachinable Surcharge (R600.5.0) Regular rate: $0.04 Nonprofit rate: $0.02	Standard Mail No surcharge applies.	Standard Mail The nonmachinable surcharge does not apply (C600.4.2). The residual shape surcharge applies for all Standard Mail pieces that are prepared as parcels or are not letters or flats as defined in C050/C820 (C600.3.0, E610.5.5, E620.3.0, and E630.5.0). Residual Shape Surcharge (R600.6.0) Presorted regular & nonprofit: $0.23 Enhanced Carrier Route regular & nonprofit: $0.20 Note: The residual shape surcharge is factored into the Customized MarketMail (CMM) rate.
Letters	Non-letter/Flats	Parcels
Package Services N/A	Package Services N/A	Package Services The Parcel Post nonmachinable surcharge applies if the parcel is: § Mailed at the Inter-BMC/ASF, Intra-BMC/ASF, DBMC, Parcel Select, or DSCF Parcel Select rate; and § No special handling fee is paid; § Not oversized (C700.1.0c); § Meets any of the following characteristics (C700.2.0): § More than 34 inches long, 17 inches wide, or 17 inches high. § Less than 6 inches long, 1/4 inch thick, or 3 inches high. § Weighs less than 6 ounces or more than 35 pounds. § Contains more than 24 ounces of liquid in glass containers, or 1 gallon or more of liquid in metal or plastic containers. § Is insecurely wrapped or metal-banded. § Is a can, roll, tube, or wooden or metal box. Contains books, printed matter, or business forms weighing more than 25 pounds. Parcel Post Nonmachinable surcharge (R700) DBMC Parcel Select: $1.45 DSCF Parcel Select: $1.09 Note: The nonmachinable surcharge is factored into the rate charts for pieces mailed at the Inter-BMC/ASF and Intra-BMC/ASF rates.