Quick Service Guide
401
January 27, 2013 Printer-Friendly PDF
For parcels, length is the measurement of the longest dimension and girth is the distance around the thickest part (perpendicular to the length).
Except for Standard Post and Parcel Select, no mailpiece may measure more than 108 inches in length and girth combined. Standard Post and Parcel Select pieces measuring over 108 inches but not more than 130 inches in combined length and girth are mailable at the applicable oversized price (453.1.0).
The Postal Service classifies parcels as machinable parcels, irregular parcels, or outside parcels.
If you prepare your parcels so that they can be processed on Postal Service equipment, your mail is “machinable.” Machinable parcels must meet specific standards for size, shape, content, and weight.
Minimum weight: 6 ounces (3.5 ounces for parcels prepared under 401.1.5.2).
Maximum weight: 25 pounds (35 pounds for Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service parcels that do not contain books and other printed matter). Lower weight limits apply to First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Bound Printed Matter.
Dimensions: Soft goods wrapped in paper or plastic bags and printed matter are machinable only if all packaging standards in 601 are met. ![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Irregular parcels include parcels that do not meet the dimensional criteria of machinable parcels and other parcels that cannot be processed by parcel sorters, including: ![This graphic shows examples of irregular parcels as described in the text.](images/Q401.27.1.05.jpg)
![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Outside parcels exceed any of the maximum dimensions for machinable parcels. This category also includes certain high-density items, cartons containing more than 24 ounces of liquids in one or more glass containers, cartons containing 1 gallon or more of liquid in metal or plastic containers, and items in 401.1.7. ![This graphic shows examples of outside parcels as described in the text.](images/Q401.27.1.06.jpg)
![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Maximum weight: 13 ounces, except for commercial plus presorted machinable parcels, which must weigh less than 16 ounces. A surcharge applies for parcels with the following characteristics: See Quick Service Guide 430, First-Class Package Service parcels ![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Maximum weight: 15 pounds. For additional information, see Quick Service Guide 460, Bound Printed Matter Nonmachinable and Machinable Parcels. ![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Maximum weight: 70 pounds. For machinable parcels, see Quick Service Guide 470. For preparation of irregular parcels, see 475.5.3. ![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Maximum weight: 70 pounds. Barcode discount: available for machinable parcels (50-piece minimum), mailed at Basic prices. For prices, eligibility, postage payment, and mail preparation, see Quick Service Guide 480. ![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Maximum weight: less than 16 ounces. Unless prepared in carrier route (irregular parcels only) or 5-digit/scheme containers, Standard Mail parcels are subject to a surcharge if machinable parcels do not bear a GS1-128 routing barcode or Intelligent Mail package barcode, or irregular parcels do not bear a GS1-128 routing barcode, an Intelligent Mail package barcode, or POSTNET barcode. See Quick Service Guides: ![Section divider line](images/bar_divider.gif) Parcel Select Destination Entry packages are priced as machinable or nonmachinable. Nonmachinable parcels are subject to the applicable nonmachinable surcharge unless the special handling fee is paid. There is no Parcel Select nonmachinable surcharge for NDC Presort, ONDC Presort, or nonpresorted. Oversized Price: pieces measuring more than 108 inches in combined length and girth, but not more than 130 inches in combined length and girth, are mailable at the applicable Parcel Select oversized price. Oversized pieces are not subject to nonmachinable prices. Balloon Price: Parcel Select pieces measuring more than 84 inches in combined length and girth, but not more than 108 inches in combined length and girth, and weighing less than 20 pounds are mailable at the price equal to that of a 20-pound parcel for the zone to which the parcel is addressed. Nonmachinable Parcel Select Destination Entry: Except for pieces mailed at oversized prices or parcels sent with special handling, pieces that meet any of the following criteria must pay nonmachinable prices. a. A parcel more than 27 inches long, 17 inches wide, or 17 inches high. b. A parcel less than 6 inches long, 1/4 inch thick, or 3 inches high. c. A parcel that weighs less than 6 ounces (except under 401.1.5.2) or more than 35 pounds. d. A parcel containing more than 24 ounces of liquid in glass containers, or 1 gallon or more of liquid in metal or plastic containers. e. An insecurely wrapped or metal-banded parcel. f. A can, roll, or tube, or wooden or metal box. g. Books, printed matter, or business forms weighing more than 25 pounds. h. A high-density parcel weighing more than 15 pounds and exerting more than 60 pounds per-square-foot pressure on its smallest side. i. A film case weighing more than 5 pounds or with strap-type closures, except any film case the USPS authorizes to be entered as a machinable parcel under 401.1.5 and to be identified by the words “Machinable in United States Postal Service Equipment” permanently attached as a nontransferable decal in the lower right corner of the case. j. Parcels with characteristics (such as inadequate packaging) that could result in damage to the contents of the mailpiece, other parcels, or postal machinery if mechanical sortation is used. Examples of Balloon Price, Oversized Price, and Priority Mail Dimensional Weight | Priority Mail (zones 1–4) and Parcel Select (all zones) Balloon Price if: | ![This graphic shows an example of a package requiring a Balloon rate surcharge. It is 10 pounds and measures 30 inches long, 15 inches wide and 15 inches tall.](images/Q401.27.1.07.jpg)
| Nonmachinable Price: No Balloon Price: Yes Oversized Price: No In this example, length and girth is 90 inches. | Priority Mail (zones 5-8) Dimensional weight for rectangular shaped parcels. For Priority Mail dimensional weight for nonrectangular shaped parcels to zones 5–8, see 123.1.4.2. | ![This graphic shows an example of a Priority Mail rectangular package requiring Dimensional Weighting. It is 10 pounds and measures 20 ¾ inches long, 20 inches wide and 20 ¼ inches tall.](images/Q401.27.1.08.jpg)
| Dimensional Weight: Yes Balloon Price: No In this example the dimensional weight for a package to zones 5–8 is 44 pounds. 1. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole number (length = 21, height = 20, and width = 20). 2. Multiple length x height x width (21 x 20 x 20) = 8,400 cubic inches 3. If more than 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 194 and round up to the next whole number to determine dimensional weight (8,400/194 = 43.29). Dimensional weight = 44 pounds. | Parcel Select Destination Entry Nonmachinable prices if: Nonmachinable prices do not apply to parcels mailed at oversized prices or parcels sent with special handling. | ![This graphic shows an example of a Priority Mail rectangular package requiring Dimensional Weighting. It is 10 pounds and measures 20 ¾ inches long, 20 inches wide and 20 ¼ inches tall.](images/Q401.27.1.09.jpg)
| Nonmachinable Price: Yes Balloon Price: No Oversized Price: No In this example, length and girth is 82 inches. | Parcel Select Oversized Price if: The oversized price does not apply to pieces with special handling fee. | ![This graphic shows an example of a package requiring the Parcel Post oversized rate. It is 10 pounds and measures 30 inches long, 25 inches wide and 25 inches tall](images/Q401.27.1.10.jpg)
| Oversized Price: Yes In this example, length and girth is 130 inches. | Balloon price: Priority Mail (zones 1–4) and Parcel Select only. Nonmachinable price: Parcel Select Destination Entry only. Oversized price: Parcel Select only Priority Mail dimensional weight zones 5–8 only. |
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