223 Prices and Eligibility
Overview
1.0 Prices and Fees
2.0 Content Standards for Priority Mail
3.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Priority Mail
The following price applications apply:
- Except for cubic items (see 1.1c), customers mailing Priority Mail mailpieces are charged per pound of the mailpiece; any fraction of a pound is rounded up to the next whole pound. For example, if a piece weighs .08 pound, the weight (postage) increment is 1 pound.
- Flat Rate prices are not based on weight and zone but are charged a flat rate regardless of actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece and domestic destination.
- Cubic prices are not based on weight, but are charged based on zone and the mailpiece’s cubic measurement, with any fraction of a measurement rounded down to the nearest 1/4 inch. For example, a dimension of a piece measuring 12-3/8 inches is rounded down to 12-1/4 inches.
- Priority Mail Open and Distribute tray boxes mailed at commercial prices are not based on weight but are priced based on the tray box and zone to which they are sent.
- Priority Mail items mailed under a specific customer agreement are charged according to the individual agreement.
For prices, see Notice 123—Price List. Commercial prices are available to:
- USPS Click-N-Ship customers.
- Registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products when using a qualifying shipping label managed by the PC Postage system used.
- Customers using permit imprint.
- Priority Mail Open and Distribute customers using permit imprint with a qualifying address label under 705.18.5.7.
- Permit holders using USPS Returns service for packages returned at Priority Mail prices when all requirements are met under 505.3.0.
- Customers using USPS-approved IBI postage meters that print the IBI with the appropriate price marking (see 202.3.3) and electronically transmit transactional data to the USPS.
Cubic prices are generally available to commercial Priority Mail customers. Each cubic mailpiece, including soft packs and padded envelopes under 1.3.4, must measure .50 cubic foot or less, weigh 20 pounds or less, and the longest dimension may not exceed 18 inches. Rolls and tubes do not qualify for mailpiece cubic prices.
- Registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products.
- Permit imprint customers. Customers are required to use the Electronic Verification System (eVS) program or submit an electronic postage statement with a computerized manifest under 705.2.0. Mailings must contain at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail. Mailpieces are not required to be identical in weight.
- Permit holders using USPS Returns service for packages returned at Priority Mail prices when all requirements are met under 505.3.0.
Cubic prices consist of the following five tiers:
Follow these steps to determine the cubic tier measurement for rectangular and nonrectangular parcels:
- Measure the length, width, and height at each dimension’s maximum point, in inches. Round down (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest 1/4 inch. For example, 6-1/8" x 5-7/8" x 6-3/8" is rounded down to 6" x 5-3/4" x 6-1/4".
- Multiply the length by the width by the height and divide by 1728. For example: 6" x 5-3/4" x 6-1/4" = 215.6 divided by 1728 = 0.125 (This piece exceeds 0.10 - Tier 1 threshold). It is calculated at Tier 2 - 0.101 to 0.20.
Cubic tier measurements for soft pack (poly, plastic, cloth, or similar soft packaging) and padded envelopes are based on the outside dimensions of length plus width, in inches, of the original packaging material. Mailpieces that are pleated (e.g., expandable) must follow the measurement guidelines in 1.3.3 to be eligible for cubic pricing. Determine cubic tier measurements as follows:
- Measure the length and width separately in inches.
- Round down (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest 1/4 inch. For example, 10-1/8 inches is rounded down to 10 inches.
- Add the two measurements together. The maximum total of length plus width cannot exceed 36 inches. See Exhibit 1.3.4 for corresponding price tiers.
Exhibit 1.3.4 Cubic Pricing Tiers for Soft Pack & Padded envelopes
1.4 [7-14-24] Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels
Postage for parcels addressed for delivery to Zones 1-9 and exceeding 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) is based on the actual weight or the dimensional weight (as calculated in 1.4.2 or 1.4.3), whichever is greater.
Follow these steps to determine the dimensional weight for a rectangular parcel:
- Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
- Multiply the length by the width by the height.
- If the result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 166 and round up (see 604.7.0) to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
- If the dimensional weight exceeds 70 pounds, the customer pays the 70-pound price.
Follow these steps to determine the dimensional weight for a nonrectangular parcel:
- Measure the length, width, and height in inches at their extreme dimensions. Round off (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
- Multiply the length by the width by the height.
- Multiply the result by an adjustment factor of 0.785.
- If the final result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 166 and round up (see 604.7.0) to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
- If the dimensional weight exceeds 70 pounds, the customer pays the 70-pound price.
Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic documentation must include the accurate dimensions (length, width, height) of all pieces that exceed 1 cubic foot. Mailers of pieces exceeding 1 cubic foot and with Shipping Services file manifests, or other approved electronic documentation, that do not meet the requirement to include the piece’s accurate dimensions will be assessed a dimension-noncompliance fee under 1.11.
Only USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelopes or Flat Rate Boxes are eligible for the Flat Rate price, and only customers when using them are charged a flat rate, regardless of the domestic destination or actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece. Customers must only use USPS-produced Flat Rate containers at the applicable Flat Rate price. Restrictions apply for using USPS-produced packaging (see 601.6.1).
There are two types of USPS-produced Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes: A paperboard envelope and a padded envelope. All USPS-produced Priority Mail envelopes smaller than the EP14F/W envelopes (12.5 inches by 9.5 inches) are eligible for the Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope price whether or not they are marked “Flat Rate Envelope.” Each type of USPS-produced Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope is priced at a flat rate regardless of the actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece or domestic destination.
Only USPS-produced Flat Rate Boxes are eligible for the Flat Rate Box prices. Mailers are charged a flat rate per each USPS-produced Priority Mail Flat Rate Box regardless of the domestic destination or actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece. See Notice 123—Price List for applicable prices. Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are as follows:
- Small Flat Rate Box to domestic, APO/FPO, and DPO destinations.
- Medium Flat Rate Boxes (FRB-1) or (FRB-2) to domestic, APO/FPO, and DPO destinations.
- Large Flat Rate Box to domestic destinations.
- Large Flat Rate Box and “special version of this box” identified with the additional logo: “Americasupportsyou.mil.” to APO/FPO and DPO destinations. This box is priced less to mail than the conventional domestic Large Flat Rate Box. If the special version of the APO/FPO Flat Rate Box is used for non-APO/FPO and DPO destination addresses, domestic or international Large Flat Rate Box prices will apply.
Priority Mail is eligible for Hold For Pickup service under 507.3.0.
To determine single-piece weight in any mailing of nonidentical-weight pieces, weigh each piece individually. To determine single-piece weight in a mailing of identical-weight pieces, weigh a sample group of at least 10 randomly selected pieces and divide the total sample weight by the number of pieces in the sample. Except for mailers using eVS, express all single-piece weights in decimal pounds rounded off to two decimal places. Mailers using eVS may round off to four decimals, and eVS will automatically round to the appropriate decimal place. If a customer is using a manifest mailing system, the manifest weight field must be properly completed by adhering to the rules relative to the specific manifest.
Determine weight increment for each piece and pay postage under 224.1.0. For permit imprint mailings, multiply the number of addressed pieces at each weight increment by the corresponding postage price.
1.9 [1-21-24] Unmanifested Fee
[1-21-24] Eligible Priority Mail pieces omitted from the manifest are subject to the unmanifested piece fee (see Notice 123—Price List), unless the piece is subject to the IMpb noncompliance fee specified in 3.2.
[1-21-24] Except for Flat Rate and Priority Mail Return service packages, a Priority Mail piece is subject to a nonstandard fee (see Notice 123—Price List) as follows:
- A piece measures more than 22 inches up to 30 inches long.
- A piece measures more than 30 inches long.
- A piece measures more than 2 cubic feet (3,456 cubic inches). Dimensions for rectangular pieces are determined by measuring the length, width, and height in inches, rounding off (see 604.7.0) each measurement to the nearest whole inch and multiplying the length by the width by the height. Dimensions for nonrectangular pieces are calculated as above and the result multiplied by an adjustment factor of 0.785. If either calculation exceeds 3,456 cubic inches, the piece is subject to the nonstandard fee.
- A piece may be subject to both a length (1.10a, 1.10b) and a cube (1.10c) nonstandard fee.
- Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic documentation must include the accurate dimensions (length, width, height) of all pieces that exceed 22 inches.
- Mailers of pieces that exceed 22 inches and with Shipping Services file manifests, or other approved electronic documentation, that do not meet the requirement to include accurate dimensions will be assessed a dimension-noncompliance fee under 1.11.
Mailers of Priority Mail mailpieces required to include the mailpiece dimensions (length, width, height) in the Shipping Services file manifest or other approved electronic documentation under 1.4.3 or 1.10 will be charged a dimension-noncompliance fee (see Notice 123—Price List) if the piece’s dimensions are omitted or inaccurate in the Shipping Services file manifest or other approved documentation. A mailpiece is subject to only one dimension-noncompliance fee.
All mailable matter may be sent as Priority Mail, except matter prohibited by standards (e.g., certain hazardous materials).
Unless Priority Mail Express is used, Priority Mail prices are required for a mailpiece that weighs more than 13 ounces when the mailpiece contains matter that must be mailed as First-Class Mail (see 233.3.0).
[4-1-24] Priority Mail is an expedited service and may contain any mailable matter weighing no more than 70 pounds. Lower weight limits apply to cubic (see 1.3); APO/FPO mail is subject to 703.2.0 and 703.4.0 and Department of State mail subject to 703.3.0. Service objectives for delivery are 1 to 3 days. However, USPS does not guarantee the delivery time. Certain Priority Mail mailpieces, such as pieces containing hazardous material or considered nonmachinable (e.g., oversized priced pieces and nonstandard fee-priced pieces), may receive deferred handling.
[1-21-24] Unless the mailer is authorized to use a unique IMb on Priority Mail letters and flats prepared in high-speed environments, all Priority Mail pieces (outbound and returns) must bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode prepared under 204.2.0. To obtain information on how to acquire an authorization to use an IMb on Priority Mail letters and flats, mailers can contact USPS Shipping Information Systems at IMPB@usps.gov. Unless otherwise excepted, mailers of mailpieces not meeting the requirements for use of unique Intelligent Mail package barcodes or extra services barcodes, as outlined in section 204.2.1.8 and Publication 199, Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation Guide for: Confirmation Services and Electronic Payment Systems, will be assessed an IMpb noncompliance fee. Detailed specifications are available on PostalPro at https://postalpro.usps.com.
Priority Mail matter is sealed against postal inspection.
