Overview
For physical standards of automation flats, see Quick Service Guide 201d.
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 commercial flats as either nonautomation or automation flats or machinable and nonmachinable for Periodicals.
A flat meets automation standards and qualifies for automation prices if it meets the specific addressing, barcoding, and design standards. Automation flats must have a POSTNET or Intelligent Mail barcode with a delivery point routing code.
Dimensions, Shape, Flexibility, and Uniform Thickness (201.4.0)
Dimensions:
The length of a flat-size mailpiece is the longest dimension. The height is the dimension perpendicular to the length.
Shape: rectangular, with four square corners, or with finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch).
Flexibility and deflection: flat-size pieces must meet flexibility criteria in 201.4.3 and the deflection criteria in 201.4.6. Flat-size pieces mailed at high density, high density plus, saturation, and basic carrier route prices are not required to meet deflection standards. All other flats not meeting deflection standards are subject to prices as stated in DMM 201.4.7.
Uniform thickness: the contents must be uniformly thick so that any bumps, protrusions, or irregularities do not cause more than 1/4 inch variance in thickness (201.4.4). When determining variance in thickness, exclude the outer edges of a mailpiece (1 inch from each edge) when the contents do not extend to the edges.
Mailpieces that do not meet the standards for flexibility in 201.4.3, for uniform thickness in 201.4.4, or for polywrap in 201.4.5, must pay applicable prices as follows:
Presorted Nonautomation Flats (201.5.0)
Maximum weight:
Automation Flats (201.6.0)
Flats may qualify for the automation discount based on the physical standards in 201.6.0.
See Quick Service Guide 201d, Designing Flats for Automated Processing, for an overview.
Quick Service Guides
First-Class Mail
See Quick Service Guides:
230d Nonautomation Flats
230e Automation Flats
USPS Marketing Mail
See Quick Service Guides:
240e Nonautomation Flats
240f Automation Flats
240g Carrier Route Flats
Bound Printed Matter
See Quick Service Guide:
260a Flats
Media Mail and Library Mail
See Quick Service Guide:
270a Presorted Flats
Periodicals
See Quick Service Guides:
207d Nonmachinable Flats
207f Barcoded (Automation) Flats
