Priority Mail

1-3 Business Days1 & Flat Rate Pricing2

Priority Mail® service includes tracking and delivery in 1-3 business days1. Check delivery time estimates on the Priority Mail Delivery Map. Priority Mail Flat Rate® products let you ship packages up to 70 lbs to any state at the same price. Ship from Post Office locations or online from your home or business. Prices start at $9.25 at a Post Office. (Ship online with enhanced Click-N-Ship® service and get lower Commercial Rates. Businesses can get additional savings by opting in to the Business Rate Card .)

Ship Now with Priority Mail Priority Mail Express® Next Day

Features & Pricing

  • Fast delivery time: 1-3 Business Days1
  • Free Package Pickup3 service at your home or office
  • Includes USPS Tracking®4 and up to $100 of insurance5 with most shipments6 (restrictions apply)
  • No surcharges for fuel; residential or rural delivery; or Saturday7 delivery
  • Flat Rate and prepaid pricing (retail only) available
  • Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate. Except for Priority Mail Flat Rate packaging, Priority Mail prices are based on weight and zone. With Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate, you get the same Flat Rate pricing with the added convenience of Forever® postage.
  • USPS Label Delivery service: Even if you don't have a printer, you can still ship online using enhanced Click-N-Ship—for an extra $1.25 per label, we'll print an outbound label and deliver it to you. (Businesses can also request return labels for their customers.)

Weight, Size, & Shape Requirements

Use USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate packaging and pay one price:

  • Pay the same price for mailpieces weighing up to 70 lbs going anywhere in the U.S.
  • Use our Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes or Boxes that come in standard sizes so you don't have to worry about measuring them.
  • When sealing a Flat Rate Envelope or Box, the container flaps must be able to close within the normal folds.

Use your own box and pay by weight and zone (distance):

  • Pay for your package based on how much it weighs and how far it’s going (the zone). Maximum weight is 70 lbs.
  • You’ll need to measure your package to make sure it meets the size standards.
  • Maximum combined length and girth (girth is the distance around the thickest part) is 108 inches. Tips for Measuring Packages
  • Additional Fees:
    • Dimensional (DIM) weight rates apply to large, lightweight packages. If your package is larger than 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches):
      1. Multiply Length x Width x Height and divide by 166 to get the DIM weight in pounds.
      2. If the DIM weight is greater than the actual package weight, you’ll need to pay the DIM weight price.
    • If you give inaccurate dimensions and/or don’t pay the DIM weight rate (when it applies), you’ll pay a dimension-noncompliance fee.
    • Nonstandard Fee: You’ll pay an extra fee for sending a nonstandard size if your package measures:
      • Between 22 and 30 inches long: add $4.00
      • More than 30 inches long: add $18.00
      • More than 2 cubic feet (3,456 cubic inches): add $30.00

TIP: Use the USPS® Price Calculator tool to c/alculate your domestic postage costs. You'll need to know your package’s weight, shape, and size measurements.

Additional Information

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Mailing Restrictions & Prohibitions

There are specific regulations and standards for mailing restricted, prohibited, and hazardous materials, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

Domestically Restricted & Prohibited Items

Learn more about what items you may and may not mail within the U.S.

Domestic Shipping Prohibitions & Restrictions

Shipping to a Military Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO)

You'll pay domestic prices for packages shipped to a Military Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO), but these destinations require a customs form and have specific restrictions.

Military & Diplomatic Mail

Learn more about how to send mail and packages to loved ones overseas.

Sending APO/FPO/DPO Mail

For Businesses

USPS understands what's most important to our business customers: speed, affordability, security, and customer service. We help businesses provide these services and resources to your customers at discounted rates.

Note for Business Mailers: As of January 21, 2024, mailers using Priority Mail and Priority Mail Return® services must comply with new rules on the accuracy of the Intelligent Mail® package barcode (IMpb®) on their postage labels. There’s currently a grace period, but starting June 1, 2024, if you fail to meet the barcode quality threshold, you will need to pay a $0.25 per-label noncompliance fee. To learn more, see the PostalPro Industry Alert.

Commercial Pricing

Get discounted rates on business shipping with a couple of options:

  • Use enhanced Click-N-Ship® service to get lower Commercial Rates.
  • A Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) is available for larger volume shippers who meet the minimum volume requirements.

Returns for Businesses

You can use Priority Mail Return service as a fast, convenient option for customers who need to send items back. Both outbound and returns include $100 insurance.

USPS Label Delivery

Save on label printing costs; we can print and deliver the label to you for a $1.25 fee (per label). You can also request return labels for your customers. Available through enhanced Click-N-Ship service and USPS Web Tools® APIs.

Priority Mail Open & Distribute

Expedite the transportation of your bulk mailings with Priority Mail Open & Distribute® (PMOD). Customers using PMOD services ship their items in an approved USPS container to an authorized location where USPS opens the container before delivering the contents to their final destinations.

  • Prices are commercial rates based on weight and zone to quickly move your mailings at a reasonable cost.
  • Mailings include a special barcoded label, so you can easily track your shipments.

Priority Mail Open & Distribute

Helpful Links

Priority Mail Flat Rate Products

Bonus: If you ship online with enhanced Click-N-Ship service, you’ll save with lower Commercial Rates. Businesses can get additional savings by opting in to the Business Rate Card. Expand All

Free Supplies8 Shipping Price Dimensions Great For…
Flat Rate Envelope

$8.50 Commercial Pricing

$9.85 at Post Office

12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″

Passports & Passport Applications

Documents

Manuscripts

Window Flat Rate Envelope

$8.50 Commercial Pricing

$9.85 at Post Office

10″ x 5″

12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″

Pre-addressed Envelopes

Small Flat Rate Envelope

$8.50 Commercial Pricing

$9.85 at Post Office

10″ x 6″

Small Documents

Oversized Greeting Cards

Gift Cards

Padded Flat Rate Envelope

$9.30 Commercial Pricing

$10.60 at Post Office

12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″

Clothing

Books

Boxed Jewelry

Legal Flat Rate Envelope

$8.80 Commercial Pricing

$10.15 at Post Office

15″ x 9 1/2″

Legal Documents

Small Flat Rate Box

$9.05 Commercial Pricing

$10.40 at Post Office

Outside: 8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″

Inside: 8 5/8″ x 5 3/8″ x 1 5/8″

Brochures

Small Electronics

Medium Flat Rate Box — 1 (top-loading)

$16.00 Commercial Pricing

$18.40 at Post Office

Outside: 11 1/4″ x 8 3/4″ x 6″

Inside: 11″ x 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Office Supplies

Shoes

Medium Flat Rate Box — 2 (side-loading)

$16.00 Commercial Pricing

$18.40 at Post Office

Outside: 14″ x 12″ x 3 1/2″

Inside: 13 5/8″ x 11 7/8″ x 3 3/8″

Office Supplies

Shoes

Large Flat Rate Box

$21.85 Commercial Pricing

$24.75 at Post Office

Outside: 12 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 6″

Inside: 12″ x 12″ x 5 1/2″

Laptop

Computers

Gifts

etc.

APO/FPO/DPO Flat Rate Box

$20.15 Commercial Pricing

$23.00 at Post Office

Outside: 12 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 6″

Inside: 12″ x 12″ x 5 1/2″

Sending Gifts to Troops

Large Flat Rate Board Game Box

$21.85 Commercial Pricing

$24.75 at Post Office

Outside: 24 1/16″ x 11 7/8″ x 3 1/8″

Inside: 23 11/16″ x 11 3/4″ x 3″

Board Games

Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate® Packaging

From $9.85 at Post Office

Various Sizes Available

Various Options

1. In most cases, the expected delivery date printed on your receipt or provided at checkout will reflect a delivery time of 1, 2, or 3 business days and is based on origin, destination, and drop-off time. The expected delivery data does not come with a money-back guarantee. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 1
2. For mailable items up to 70 lbs. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 2
3. For details on free Package Pickup, visit Schedule a Pickup. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 3
4. Excludes Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate products. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 4
5. Available only for certain products and to certain destinations. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Insurance does not cover certain items. For details, visit 609.4.3 (Non-payable Claims), 609 (Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage), and 503.4 (Insured Mail) of the Domestic Mail Manual. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 5
6. To qualify for included insurance, Priority Mail domestic shipments must have the applicable USPS Tracking barcode. Insurance is not included for Priority Mail shipments sent using Priority Mail Open & Distribute, Premium Forwarding Service-Residential or Premium Forwarding Service-Commercial. For shipments valued at more than $100, additional insurance may be available for purchase. When additional insurance is purchased, it replaces the included insurance. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 6
7. If Saturday is a national holiday, Priority Mail Express service may be available for an added fee. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 7
8. Boxes and envelopes are delivered with your regular mail usually within 7 to 10 business days. Back ^ to legal disclaimer 8