The Postal Service™ measures timely, reliable delivery for different retail products. Service performance for Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, and Package Services is measured by internal systems from the time a piece is entered at a post office to when it is delivered. Express Mail customers and those customers who apply Delivery Confirmation™ on Priority Mail or parcels can track their service on www.usps.com. First-Class Mail® service performance is measured from collection to delivery by an independent external system based on rigorous sampling of mail to and from locations representing the majority of mail volume. In the case of First-Class Mail and Package Services, the Postal Service is the only delivery organization to publicly report actual service performance.
Express Mail Express Mail is the fastest mail service offered by the Postal Service. It provides guaranteed expedited service 365 days a year, including Sundays and holidays. An Express Mail Delivery Chart is included showing Guaranteed Day of Delivery based upon day of mailing. For more detailed information on service commitments between your origin and destination ZIP Codes, go to Express Mail Service Commitment.
Priority Mail Priority Mail is predominantly a two/three-day ground and air product. The vast majority of Priority Mail is scheduled for delivery within two days, with some volume delivered overnight. Priority Mail rates can be determined by weight and travel distance or by using Priority Mail Flat Rate products which have a fixed rate regardless of distance.
First-Class Mail First-Class Mail includes cards, letters, flat envelopes, and parcels weighing less than 13 ounces. First-Class Mail rates are the same regardless how far the mail travels. The External First-Class (EXFC) System is an external measurement system of collection box to mailbox delivery performance. EXFC is not a system-wide measurement of all First-Class Mail performance. Rather, EXFC continuously tests a panel of 463 3-digit ZIP Code areas selected on the basis of geographic and volume density from which 90 percent of First-Class volume originates and 80 percent destinates. During the previous quarter, First-Class Mail with an overnight service standard was delivered 96.1% on-time. Performance for two-day volumes was 94.0% on-time and 92.6% for three-day volumes.
Package Services Package Services are surface products used for mailing merchandise, books, circulars, catalogs, and other printed matter. Parcels entered at retail represent 12% of the total surface package volume. Service standards vary from 2 to 9 days based on distance. Retail packages were delivered 55.6% on-time. For more detailed performance information, go to Retail Packages.
For detailed information on the service standards for all Mailing Service products, go to Service Standards.
*Note: Quarter 1: Oct 1 - Dec 31, Quarter 2: Jan 1 - Mar 31, Quarter 3: Apr 1 - June 30, Quarter 4: July 1 - Sept 30.
