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first class mail fact sheet
what is the price based on first class mail form?
first-class mail form-based pricing aligns mail form with relative processing costs for each form of mail.
Here are the major changes made to First Class (Retail) Mail in May 2007 to help you understand what changed and discuss the changes with customers.
letters
- 1 ounce single piece letter fee is $0.41, additional ounce price is $0.17, and single piece postcard fee is $0.26 .
- the maximum letter size did not change: 11-1/2″ x 6-1/8″ x 1/4″ thick.
- when a piece of mail first-class exceeds any maximum letter size, is collated, and is priced as a large (flat) envelope.
- maximum weight for letter-size pieces is 3.5 ounces.
- the $0.17 non-machinable surcharge applies to all first-class postal letters weighing more than the maximum weight of 3.5 ounces, with one or more non-machinable features.
- the Common non-machinable features include the following:
- aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than 1.3 or greater than 2.5.
- postal is rigid or contains irregularly shaped items.
- the delivery direction is parallel to the shortest dimension of the mailpiece.
- the mailpiece is greater than 6″ long or 4-1/4″ high, if the thickness is less than 0.009″.
large envelopes (flat)
- 1 ounce one-piece fee for large (flat) envelopes is $0.80.
- maximum size for large envelopes is 15″ x 12″ x 3/4″ thick.
- the maximum weight for large envelopes is 13 ounces.a large envelope in excess of 13 ounces is classified as a priority mail item.
- when a first-class mail item class exceeds any of the maximum measurements of a large envelope, it is classified and priced as a parcel (parcel).
- when a flat-sized piece of mail is a box or has contents that make the correspondence rigid, sorted and priced as a package.
- all large (flat) envelopes must be rectangular.”rectangular” includes square shaped pieces.
packages (packages)
- the rate for a single 1 ounce piece for packages is $1.13.
- the maximum weight for First Class Mail packages is 13 ounces. a package that exceeds 13 ounces is classified as a priority mail item.
Decreasing the price to $0.17 per additional ounce for all forms of mail results in lower prices for letters weighing more than 1 ounce and large envelopes weighing more than 6 ounces.
Customers can save $0.39 on the first ounce by doubling the contents of a flat-size (oversized) mailer into a letter-size mailer. plus, some items prepared as a package can be reconfigured and placed in a large envelope, saving $0.33 on the first ounce.
quick tips on first class mail
- letter-size square greeting cards may be mailed at letter rates and are subject to the $0.17 unmachinable surcharge in addition to applicable first-class postage. (see dmm 101.1.2 for non-machinable criteria).
- if a match is 11-1/2″ or 6-1/8″ or less and is 1/4″ or less (letter size), weighs no more than 3.5 ounces and is rigid, is classified and priced letter non-machinable, applicable first-class postage and a non-machinable surcharge of $0.17 applies.
- non-machinable surcharge applies to first class mail only.does not apply to card rate eligible postcards, large envelopes, or parcels.
- when greeting cards exceed any of letter-size measurements (eg, 6-1/8″ tall), are graded and listed as flat (large envelopes). do not price these cards as packages.
- when a piece of first-class mail exceeds any of the maximum measurements (length, height, or thickness) of a form of mail, it is graded and priced as the next larger shape.
- A match must be flat size or larger, if rigid, or more than 3/4″ thick to be classified and priced as a bundle (parcel).
- For padded bags (e.g., readypost® “envelope pad”), when the thickness is 3/4″ or less and the item is flat sized and somewhat flexible, the item should be graded and be priced as a large envelope.
- minimum mailable size for pieces 1/4″ thick or less is 5″ long x 3-1/2″ high x .007 ” thick.
- Use the 3-s notice, first-class pricing template based on mail form, to measure mail thickness. (See page 32 of this issue of the postal bulletin for ordering instructions.)