usps offers many services to fit the needs of all individual and business shippers. some of them are profitable but take a long time to arrive. on the contrary, some of these options are expensive but are ideal for faster deliveries.
Below are the most used USPS services:
first class mail
First Class Mail is the most basic USPS mailing option. In general, when you put a stamp on an envelope and drop it in a mailbox, it’s first-class mail. that’s why most people also refer to it as regular mail.
If you want to ship something affordably, First Class Mail is the best option for you. to post a 1-ounce letter, you must affix a forever first-class postage stamp, which costs $0.58.
but you can send letters and packages weighing up to 13 ounces only through this service. In addition, you may have to pay more if your items do not meet USPS specifications for first class mail.
many shippers think first class mail delivery takes only a day. but this is not the case, although the usps does complete some local overnight deliveries.
usps takes up to three business days to deliver small packages and up to five business days to deliver envelopes. therefore, it is advisable to be patient when sending and receiving First Class Mail items.
Also, please remember that these are delivery estimates only – the USPS does not guarantee exact arrival date for regular mail.
people who live in urban cities receive mail much sooner than those who live in rural areas. therefore, first class mail delivery time depends on where you send the mail.
but how long does regular mail take from one state to another? The USPS website does not have a solid schedule for mail delivery to specific cities or states. but you can find estimates through their service standards map.
The map demonstrates that most deliveries within the state take only two business days to complete. In addition, the USPS can deliver your mail to nearby states in up to three business days. but you may have to wait a little longer to ship something nationwide.
For example, let’s consider how long it takes regular mail to go from New York to Washington state. According to USPS standards, it takes at least five days to ship something between these two states by First Class Mail.
Below are the delivery standards for sending First Class Mail to other US States and Territories. uu.:
- guam: five business days
- Puerto Rico: four business days
- hawaii: five business days
- alaska: four to five business days
It doesn’t matter what state you’re mailing to these places from; previous first class mail delivery estimates remain the same.
priority mail
As the name says, Priority Mail takes precedence over First Class Mail and various other USPS mail services. naturally, it is more expensive and offers many more features than regular mail.
The main difference between regular and priority mail is that priority mail rates do not depend on the destination. instead, they depend on the weight of your items.
You can ship packages weighing up to 70 pounds with this option. prices start at $8.95 and go up to $21.50 for larger packages.
find below some more features of priority mail:
- flat rate
- free usps tracking
- up to $50 insurance coverage on most shipments
- rural deliveries, residents and Saturdays free
- no fuel surcharges
Shippers can purchase flat-rate Priority Mail envelopes, boxes, and other packaging materials on the USPS website.
Now the next thing you need to know is: how long does priority mail take?
Priority mail typically takes one to three business days. like first class mail, it depends on your destination and shipping point.
If you need to ship an item nationwide, it’s probably close to the 3-day delivery window. otherwise the usps could complete them in a day or two.
the usps website has a priority mail delivery map to help you determine how many days for interstate mail delivery. this map shows you if your mail takes one, two or three days to reach specific destinations.
express priority mail
priority mail express helps you get your items to their destination even faster than priority mail.
You get free USPS tracking and up to $100 insurance coverage for most priority mail priority mail items. In addition, you can also have proof of delivery if you request it at the time of shipment.
Unlike priority mail, this express service ensures that the USPS delivers mail overnight. but you must leave your mail before 10:30 a.m. m. for delivery the next day. or you can request pickup and have your packages ready for this time.
Either way, the USPS cannot complete next day delivery if you miss this delivery window. instead, it delivers your mail the next business day, which is included in its guaranteed 2-day delivery service.
The good news is that the express priority mail option is available every day of the year. therefore, deliveries are also completed on weekends and federal holidays (for an additional fee), with a few exceptions.
so how long does in-state mail take if you opt for expedited priority mail? well, usually your packages are delivered by 3 p.m. m. the next day. but, if you leave them after 10:30 a.m., they will be sent the day after tomorrow before 6:00 p.m.
It doesn’t matter what state you’re mailing from, the USPS completes all deliveries in the same amount of time.
However, please note that Expedited Priority Mail is quite expensive and rates start at $26.95. therefore, it is recommended to use this option only for the most urgent mail.
multimedia mail
First Class Mail and Priority Mail have many restrictions on the items you can ship. if you need to send letters (with eight pages or more) or other things like usb sticks, cds, etc., you can use media mail.
it is the cheapest usps service to send different types of media, including:
- sound and video recordings
- computer-readable media
- manuscripts and video scripts
- film 16 mm or less in width
- printed educational graphics
- medical loose-leaf binders and pages
- printed music and test materials
Multimedia mail items are typically delivered in two to eight business days. Although the USPS does not specify how long it takes for mail to travel to a different state, you can expect local mail to arrive in about three days. by contrast, sending media mail across the state or country can take six to eight days.
usps retail outlet
usps retail ground is a cost effective way to ship bulky or oversized packages that are not time sensitive. USPS offers free package tracking in conjunction with USPS Retail Ground so you can see your delivery status at any time.
You can pair USPS Retail Land with other services like Signature Confirmation, Cash on Delivery, and Return Receipt. these services help you ensure accurate deliveries and obtain proof of shipment.
Remember that this option is only available at post offices, and you cannot buy it online. also, you can only ship packages that weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 130 inches (length and girth combined).
usps retail prices start at $8.50 and depend on the weight range of your packages.
Delivery takes two to eight business days, like multimedia mail. You can’t get a precise answer on how long in-state mail takes, as the USPS doesn’t specify anything as such.
but, local deliveries take less time than interstate deliveries which can take up to eight days to complete. therefore, be sure to ship less urgent packages only with this option.
usps marketing mail
Formerly known as standard mail, this service is often used by business senders. It’s also known as mass mailing because you must send at least 200 items or 50 pounds at a time to qualify.
The weight limit for sending USPS marketing mail is one to 16 ounces. additionally, you need a mail permit to be eligible to send standard mail.
Senders can send letters, postcards, plans, and packages through this USPS mail service. although there are no separate postal prices like first class mail, you can send them as letters.
Fortunately, there are discounted prices on USPS marketing mailing, making it the best option for businesses. If you’re a qualified nonprofit, you can get even lower prices from USPS.
but, there’s a catch! USPS marketing mail takes 14-21 business days to arrive. therefore, you can only send marketing items that do not have a time limit.
some senders decide to switch to other classes of mail after learning how long standard mail takes.
for example, if you want to send items with a sale that says “buy by January 14th for 20% off”, you should not send them via marketing mail.
however, the deeply discounted rates incentivize senders to send non-urgent advertising through this service.
You can also ask: how long does standard mail take from one state to another?
If the distance between the origin and destination of your mail is less, deliveries can take even less than 14 days. but, if you want to mail from one part of the country to another, it can take more than 21 days, since the usps guarantees the delivery time.