Priority Airmail? 1st Class? International? Flat rate?

Learn what your postal rates will be.
Get a grip on today's postal rates.
Postage rates vary widely depending on the type of mail you need to send out. Before you get ready to send a package, it is important that you are aware of how much that package will cost you. In most cases, you will not get an exact amount until you are ready to purchase a shipping label. However, you can get a general idea by looking at general USPS mail prices so that you can go to the post office prepared for what you will need to pay to get your package to its recipient.

Average Domestic Post Office Shipping Rates

USPS mail prices for domestic packages depend on many factors from the weight and size of the package to whether you are sending the package on a commercial basis or not. The following describes the starting post office rates for the various domestic shipping options that are available. These rates can go higher and the listed rates are simply the lowest possible price.

Type of Mail Postage Rates
Priority Mail Express Post Office: $16.95

Commercial Plus: $11.16

Commercial Base: $13.09

Priority Mail Express Open & Distribute Service For Commercial Plus and Commercial Base pricing, you must speak to a sales agent at a post office branch.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Post Office: $19.99

Commercial Plus: $14.85

Commercial Base: $18.11

Priority Mail Post Office: $5.75

Commercial Plus: $4.58

Commercial Base: $5.05

Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes Online Payment: $5.32

Retail Location Payment: Add $0.75

Priority Mail Open & Distribute Service For Commercial Plus and Commercial Base pricing, you must speak to a sales agent at a post office branch.
Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate Visit a post office branch for pricing information.
Critical Mail Commercial Plus: $3.50
Critical Mail with Signature Commercial Plus: $4.60
Priority Mail Return Service Commercial Plus: $4.58

Commercial Base: $5.05

First-Class Mail Post Office: $0.49

Commercial Pricing: $0.381

First-Class Package Return Service Varies
Standard Mail Commercial Pricing: $0.153
Parcel Select Commercial Pricing: $2.32
First-Class Package Service for Business Commercial Pricing: $1.42
Parcel Return Service Full Network Varies
Every Door Direct Mail - Retail Up to 3.3 ounces: $0.175
Parcel Select Lightweight Irregular Commercial Pricing: $1.00
Standard Post Post Office: $5.60
Ground Return Services Varies
Bound Printed Matter Varies
Parcel Select Lightweight Machinable Commercial Pricing: $1.02
Parcel Return Service Post Office: $2.37
Media Mail Commercial Pricing: $1.81

Post Office: $2.69

Library Mail Commercial Pricing: $1.72

Post Office: $2.56

Periodicals Varies

 

Average Post Office International Rates

International post office rates range greatly and depend on factors like the country you are shipping to, the size and weight of the box you are shipping and whether you are using a commercial shipping option. The following chart breaks down the different global shipping rates showing the lowest possible rate for the type of mail being sent. This is the lowest you will pay, but the rates can increase due to things like weight and the recipient's location.

Type of Mail Postage Rates
International Business Reply Service $1.35 per piece
International Priority Airmail Varies
First-Class Package International Service Post Office: $6.55

Commercial Plus: $6.03

Commercial Base: $6.16

International Surface Air Lift Varies
Airmail M-Bags $35.20
First-Class Mail International All countries flats: $2.29

All countries postcards and letters: $1.15

Priority Mail International Flat Rate Small Boxes or Envelopes from Post Office: $20.55 for Canada and $24.75 elsewhere

Large Boxes: $55.75 for Canada and $80.50 elsewhere

Medium Boxes: $42.25 for Canada and $61.75 elsewhere

Priority Mail International Flat Rate for Business Medium Commercial Plus or Base: $40.15 for Canada and $58.65 elsewhere

Large Commercial Plus or Base: $52.95 for Canada and $76.50 elsewhere

Priority Mail International Post Office: $29.25

Commercial Plus: $29.95

Commercial Base: $29.95

Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate Post Office Envelopes: $35.95 for Canada and $46.50 elsewhere

Post Office Boxes: $66.95 for Canada and $84.95 elsewhere

Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate for Business Post Office Envelopes: $33.00 for Canada and $42.75 elsewhere

Commercial Boxes: $61.60 for Canada and $78.25 elsewhere

Priority Mail Express International Post Office: $35.25

Commercial Plus: $30.25

Commercial Base: $33.24

Global Express Guaranteed Post Office: $51.50

Commercial Plus: $43.52

Commercial Base: $48.40

 

Post Office Flat Rate Boxes

The post office flat rate box is a popular option because the rates are standard across different box sizes. The boxes allow for contents up to 70 pounds to be shipped for one price and you get the box for free. There are six box sizes and three envelope sizes to choose from to use this service. The following are the standard prices for flat rate mail as of 2014:

a)     Flat Rate Envelope: $5.75

b)     Padded Flat Rate Envelope: $6.10

c)     Legal Flat Rate Envelope: $5.90

d)     Small Flat Rate Box: $5.95

e)     Side Loading Medium Flat Rate Box: $12.65

f)      Top Loading Medium Flat Rate Box: $12.65

g)     APO/FPO Large Box: $15.90

h)     Large Flat Rate Box: $17.90

Information about Insurance for Your USPS Mail and Packages

There are several ways to ship and protect your packages to ensure that they get to the recipient promptly and in good condition. The following are the various insurance and protection options that you can use when you are sending mail through the USPS:

a)     Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express Insurance

b)     Standard Insurance

c)     Special Handling

d)     Registered Mail Insurance

e)     Certificate of Mailing

f)      Return Receipt After Mailing

g)     USPS Tracking

h)     Return Receipt for Merchandise

i)      Signature Confirmation

j)      Certified Mail

Shipping costs with the USPS are always something to consider when you are preparing to send out of a package for business or non-commercial purposes. For example, if you sell things, you will want to figure in the shipping costs when you set your prices so that you can be sure that the shipping costs do not cut into your profits. You also want to keep your shipping costs fair. If you happen to send out a lot of packages around the holidays, knowing the average costs helps you to create a holiday budget that works for you.