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Quick Service Guide 301
Discounted Flats
Physical Standards for Discount Flats
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
your mailpieces can be processed on Postal Service equipment. The Postal
Service classifies discount flats as either nonautomation or automation
flats.
A flat meets automation standards and qualifies for automation rates
if it meets the specific addressing, barcoding, and design standards.
Automation rate flats must have a delivery point barcode or a ZIP+4
barcode.
Determining Length and Height (301.1.2)
The length is the dimension parallel to the address as read; the height
is the dimension perpendicular to the length. This general rule does
not apply to:
- Automation rate flats.
- Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route flats.
Presorted (Nonautomation) Flats (301.2)
Shape: rectangular, unless greater than 1/4 inch thick.
Dimensions:
- Minimum: more than 11-1/2 inches long, or more than 6-1/8 inches
high, or more than 1/4 inch thick.
- Maximum: 15 inches long, 12 inches
high, and 3/4 inch thick.
- Maximum size for Enhanced Carrier Route flats:
14 inches long, 11-3/4 inches high, and 3/4 inch thick.
Maximum weight:
- First-Class Mail: 13 ounces.
- Standard Mail: less than 16 ounces.
- Bound Printed Matter: 15 pounds.
Nonmachinable Surcharge (301.2.1.2)
First-Class Mail nonautomation and automation flat-size pieces that weigh 1 ounce
or less are subject to the $0.058 nonmachinable surcharge if any one of the following
applies:
- The piece is greater than 1/4-inch thick.
- The length is more than 11-1/2 inches or the height is more than
6-1/8 inches.
- The aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than 1.3 or more
than 2.5.
The nonmachinable surcharge does not apply to Standard Mail flats.
Automation Flats (301.3)
Flats may qualify for the automation discount based on the dimensions
and characteristics for the automated flat sorting machine (AFSM) 100
in 301.3.3 or upgraded flat
sorting machine (UFSM) 1000 in 301.3.4.
See Quick Service Guide 301a, Designing Flats
for Automated Processing,
for an overview.
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.
Quick Service Guides
First-Class Mail
See Quick Service Guides:
330a Presorted Flats
330b Automation Flats
Standard Mail
See Quick Service Guides:
340a Presorted Flats
340b Automation Flats
340c Enhanced Carrier Route Flats
Bound Printed Matter
See Quick Service Guide:
360 Presorted Flats
Media Mail
See Quick Service Guide:
370 Presorted Flats
Library Mail
See Quick Service Guide:
380 Presorted Flats
Periodicals
See Quick Service Guides:
707e Nonautomation Flats
707g Automation Flats Back to Top
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