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Quick Service Guide 201
Discount Letters and Cards
Physical Standards for Discount Letters and Cards
January 2006
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Overview
In addition to shape, the Postal Service classifies mailpieces by the
way they are prepared. These
classifications are based on how efficiently mailpieces can be processed
on Postal Service
equipment. The Postal Service classifies letters and cards into one of
three categories:
machinable, nonmachinable, and automation.
Machinable Letters and Cards (201.1)
If you prepare your letters and cards so that they have an accurate
address and can be processed on Postal Service equipment, your mail is "machinable" and
eligible for "presort" rates. Machinable mailpieces must
meet specific standards, including size, shape, and weight.
Maximum weight: First-Class Mail and Standard Mail: 3.3 ounces.
Machinable letters must not meet any of the nonmachinable characteristics
(201.2).
Shape: rectangular.
Dimensions:
- Minimum: 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007 inch thick.
- Maximum for First-Class Mail card rates: 6 inches long, 4-1/4
inches high, and 0.016 inch thick.
- Maximum for letters and other cards: 11-1/2 inches long, 6-1/8
inches high, and 1/4 inch thick.
Length is the dimension parallel to
the address as read (601.1.3).
Nonmachinable Letters and Cards (201.2)
If your mailpiece does not meet the machinable standards, you may have
to pay the presort rate plus a "nonmachinable surcharge." Nonmachinable
letters require extra steps to bundle the mail before they are placed
into trays.
Maximum weight: First-Class Mail: 13 ounces; Standard Mail: less than
16 ounces.
Dimensions: see machinable letters and cards above.
Examples of a nonmachinable letter include:
- It has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than
1.3 or more than 2.5 (a square envelope has an aspect ratio of 1,
making it nonmachinable).
- It is over 4-1/4 inches high and/or 6 inches long and is less
than 0.009 inch thick.
- It is polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in any plastic
material.
- It has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.
- It is too rigid.
- It has a delivery address parallel to the shorter side
of the mailpiece.
- It contains items such as pens, pencils, or keys
that create an uneven thickness.
Additional restrictions apply to self-mailers and
booklets. For a complete listing of nonmachinable
criteria, see 201.2.1.
First-Class Mail letters (except card-size) 1 ounce
or less and Presorted Standard Mail letters 3.3
ounces or
less (including
card-size) that
meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics
above are
subject to
the applicable nonmachinable surcharge: First-Class
Mail $0.058, Standard Mail Regular $0.042, or
Standard Mail
Nonprofit $0.021.
Automation Letters and Cards (201.3)
If your letter-size mailpiece is machinable and displays the correct
barcode,
you may qualify for lower, "automation" rates. A letter or card meets
automation standards and qualifies for automation rates if it meets the specific
addressing, barcoding, and design standards.
For additional information, see:
Maximum weight:
- First-Class Mail and Periodicals: 3.3 ounces.
- Standard Mail: 3.5 ounces.
- See 201.3.13.5 for heavy letter
mail weighing over 3 ounces.
Shape: rectangular. Aspect ratio: (length divided by
height) from 1.3 to 2.5 (201.3.3).
Dimensions:
- Minimum: 3-1/2 inches high, 5 inches long, and either
0.007 inch thick if not more than 4-1/4 inches
high and 6 inches
long; or
0.009 inch thick if more
than
4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, or both.
- Maximum for First-Class Mail card rates: 4-1/4 inches high,
6 inches long, and 0.016 inch thick.
- Maximum for letters and other cards: 6-1/8 inches high,
11-1/2 inches long, and 1/4 inch thick.
Length is the dimension parallel to the address as read.
All letter-size reply cards and envelopes (business reply,
courtesy reply, and meter reply mail) provided as
enclosures must meet
the physical standards
for
automation letters and cards
in 201.3.14.
Quick Service Guides
First-Class Mail
See Quick Service Guides:
230b Presorted Letters and Cards—Nonmachinable
230c Presorted Letters and Cards—Machinable
230d Automation Letters and Cards
Standard Mail
See Quick Service Guides:
240a Presorted Letters—Nonmachinable
240b Presorted Letters—Machinable
240c Automation Letters
240d Enhanced Carrier Route—Letters
240e Enhanced Carrier Route—Automation Letters
Periodicals
See Quick Service Guides:
707d Presorted Nonautomation Letters
707f Automation Letters
For the specific DMM standards applicable to
this category of mail, consult the DMM sections referenced above
and the general
sections within
each DMM module. Back to Top
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