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Rate Information and Extra Services
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We know one size, speed, or set of services doesn’t fit every mailer. Our ala carte menu of extra services lets you choose the right add-ons for your shipment.
Use the links below to jump to details on each service and related fees.
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Certificate of Mailing
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| Certificate of Mailing provides evidence of mailing and must be purchased at time of mailing. It’s available for First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail. For an additional fee, a certificate of mailing may be combined with parcel airlift service (PAL) or special handling. Items with a certificate of mailing must be presented to a retail employee at a Post Office or to a rural carrier.
Fee in addition to postage—$1.05
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Certified Mail
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| Certified Mail provides proof of mailing at the time of mailing and date and time of delivery or attempted delivery. A delivery record is maintained by the USPS. Certified mail is available with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail. For an additional fee, Certified Mail may be combined with restricted delivery or return receipt.
Fee in addition to postage—$2.65
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Collect on Delivery (COD)
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| COD allows mailers to collect the postage and the price of an item from the recipient when a carrier delivers it. The goods must be ordered by the addressee. COD service can be used for merchandise sent by First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail. The amount to be collected from the recipient may not exceed $1,000. A delivery record is maintained by the USPS.
COD service may be combined with Delivery Confirmation™, Registered Mail™, restricted delivery, return receipt, Signature Confirmation™, or special handling for an additional fee. This service is not available for international mail or for mail addressed to APO and FPO addresses. COD mail must be presented to a retail employee at a Post Office or to a rural carrier.
Fees include insurance. Maximum amount is $1,000.
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COD fees range from $5.10 to $16.60 |
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For Express Mail COD shipments, the COD fee is based on the amount to be collected. Express Mail automatically provides up to $100 merchandise insurance. |
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Restricted delivery—$4.10 (not available with Express Mail COD) |
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Notice of nondelivery—$3.40 |
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Alteration of COD charges or designation of new addressee—$3.40 |
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Registered COD—$4.55 (fee for registered COD, regardless of amount to be collected or insurance value) |
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Delivery Confirmation™
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| For an additional fee, Delivery Confirmation may be combined with COD, insured mail, Registered Mail, return receipt for merchandise (Form 3804), or special handling. Restricted delivery is available if purchased with insurance for over $200, COD, or Registered Mail. Return receipt is available if purchased with insurance for over $200, COD, or Registered Mail.
Priority Mail $0.65 Retail $0.00 Electronic
First-Class Mail (parcels only) $0.75 Retail $0.18 Electronic
Package Services (parcels only) $0.75 Retail $0.18 Electronic
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Insured Mail — Purchased at a Post Office
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| Insured Mail provides coverage against loss or damage up to $5,000 for Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail matter as well as merchandise mailed at Priority Mail or First-Class Mail rates. Items may not be insured for more than their value. Insured mail must be presented to a retail employee at a Post Office or to a rural carrier.
For an additional fee, insured mail may be combined with Delivery Confirmation, parcel airlift service (PAL), Signature Confirmation, or special handling. For items insured for more than $200, restricted delivery and return receipt service are also available. The amount of insurance coverage for loss is the actual value, less depreciation. No claim payments are made for sentimental losses or for any expenses incurred as a result of the loss.
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Insurance — Purchased Online
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| Insured Mail provides coverage against loss or damage up to $5,000 for merchandise mailed at Express Mail, Priority Mail, or First-Class Mail rates. Insurance is also available for Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail matter. Items may not be insured for more than their value.
For an additional fee, insured mail may be combined with Delivery Confirmation, parcel airlift service (PAL), Signature Confirmation, or special handling. For items insured for more than $200, restricted delivery and return receipt service are also available. The amount of insurance coverage for loss is the actual value, less depreciation. No claim payments are made for sentimental losses or for any expenses incurred as a result of the loss.
Domestic USPS Insurance up to $500 of coverage is available at Automated Postal Centers (APCs), online at www.usps.com for purchase through Click-N-Ship, and also through eBay’s shipping solution. For insurance purchased through Click-N-Ship or eBay, customers may file the insurance claims for loss or damage online through www.usps.com/onlineclaims/.
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Money Order
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| Postal Money Orders are a safe, convenient, and economical alternative to sending cash through the mail. They can be purchased from any Post Office™ in the United States as well as from any rural route carrier, available up to $1,000 each. A current government-issued or state-issued picture identification is required for money order purchases of $3,000 or more in a single day. Other features include:
Domestic Fees:
$0.01 to $500.00 ...................$1.05
$500.01 to $1,000.00........... $1.50
International Money Orders: $3.85
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Registered Mail
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| Registered Mail provides maximum protection and security for valuables. It provides the sender with mailing receipt and a delivery record is maintained by the USPS. A record of mailing is maintained at the mailing post office.
Registered Mail is available for items paid at Priority Mail and First-Class Mail rates. It may be combined with COD, Delivery Confirmation, Restricted delivery, Return Receipt, or Signature Confirmation. Postal insurance is provided for articles with a declared value up to a maximum of $25,000. Only items with no declared value may use registry service without insurance. Handling charges apply for articles valued over $25,000. Fees start at $9.50 and go up to $38.75 depending on the declared value amount. For a detailed fee chart, go to: http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/503.htm#wp1100045
Registered Mail must be presented to a retail employee at a Post Office or a rural route.
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Restricted Delivery
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| Permits a mailer to direct delivery only to the addressee or addressee’s authorized agent. The addressee must be an individual specified by name. May be combined with Delivery Confirmation, Parcel Airlift (PAL), Return Receipt, Signature Confirmation, or Special Handling.
Available for First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail that is sent Certified Mail, COD, mail insured for more than $200, or Registered Mail.
Fee in addition to postage—$4.10
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Return Receipt
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| Choose Return Receipt when you want proof of delivery (information about the recipient’s signature and actual delivery address). A return receipt may be purchased before or after the mailing. A mailer purchasing return receipt service at the time of mailing may choose to receive the return receipt by mail or e-mail. Mailers that receive the return receipt in the mail receive a green postcard with the recipient’s actual signature. Mailers that receive the return receipt via e-mail receive a proof of delivery letter arriving as a PDF attachment that includes an image of the recipient’s signature.
Return Receipt Fees
(In conjunction with another service)
Fee
Requested at time of mailing $2.15
(receive by mail)
Requested at time of mailing $0.85
(receive electronically)
Requested after mailing (Form 3811-A) $3.80
(receive by fax, mail, or e-mail)
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Signature Confirmation™
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| Signature Confirmation provides the date and time of delivery or attempted delivery and the name of the person who signed for the item. It may be purchased at the time of mailing only. Mailers may retrieve Signature Confirmation information with Track and Confirm or by calling 1-800-222-1811. A delivery record, including the recipient’s signature, is maintained by the USPS and is available, via fax or mail, upon request. No acceptance record is kept at the office of mailing.
Signature Confirmation it available for: Priority Mail and parcels mailed as First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, or Media Mail rates. If not sent via Priority Mail, it must meet the ¾” minimum thickness requirement.
It is not available for: APO/FPO destinations and U.S. territories, possessions, and freely-associated states listed in Domestic Mail Manual 608 (except for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, to which service is available).
For an additional fee, Signature Confirmation may be combined with: COD, insured mail, Registered Mail, or special handling. Restricted delivery is available if purchased with insurance for over $200, COD, or Registered Mail.
Fee in addition to postage—$2.10 Retail, $1.75 Electronic
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Special Handling
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| Special Handling provides preferential handling for items such as perishables, insects, or poultry. The service does not insure the article against loss or damage.
Special Handling is available for First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, and Media Mail. For an additional fee, special handling may be combined with COD, Delivery Confirmation, Insurance, Parcel Airlift (PAL) (Package Services only), Return Receipt for Merchandise, or Signature Confirmation.
Fees in addition to postage:
Pieces weighing not more than 10 pounds—$6.90
Pieces weighing more than 10 pounds—$9.60
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Zone Charts
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| Zone Charts identify the appropriate distance code assigned to each originating and destination ZIP Code pairing for every ZIP Code in the nation. These distance codes, referred to as "zones," are designated as "Local" and "1 through 8." Zone charts create a matrix of ZIP Code pairs and identify the correct zone for the distance. Zone information is used to compute rates for Priority Mail, Parcel Post, and Bound Printed Matter.
The Zone Chart Program provides a one-page zone chart for your origin ZIP Code.
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Sizes for Domestic Mail
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| Postcard Rate Dimensions:
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Minimum: 3-1/2 inches high by 5 inches long by 0.007 inch thick. |
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Maximum: 4-1/4 inches high by 6 inches long by 0.016 inch thick. |
All mail must meet these standards:
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Thickness—Not less than 0.007 inch thick. Pieces that are 1/4 inch thick or less must be at least 3-1/2 inches high, 5 inches long, and rectangular in shape. |
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Combined length and girth—Not more than 108 inches, except Parcel Post may not exceed 130 inches. Length is the longest side and girth is the distance around its thickest part. For letters, length is the dimension parallel to the address as read. For parcels, length is the longest side. |
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Weight—Not more than 70 pounds. |
Keys and identification devices are exempt from these requirements.
Additional standards apply to bulk mail and mail addressed to APOs and FPOs.
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Basic Bulk Mail Information
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| Business Mail 101 provides basic information for preparing bulk mail, including information about:
- Is bulk mail right for your business?
- The minimum volume required for a bulk mailing.
- The difference between First-Class Mail and Standard Mail.
- How to sort bulk mail.
- How to obtain address lists.
- How to apply for nonprofit rates.
- How size and weight affects rates.
- How to pay for postage.
- How to apply for a bulk mailing permit.
- And much more.
Business Mail 101 contains a decision tree that will assist you in determining the type of bulk mail that is right for you. After answering several basic questions, the decision tree links you to Quick Service Guides. These guides provide a two-page summary of the standards for each type of bulk mail. A complete list of Quick Service Guides is available on Postal Explorer.
Business Mail 101 also contains a section called "Helping You Mail," which includes companies that are in business to help you mail. They include presort bureaus, lettershops, and software vendors.
Download Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader
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