As we head into the busiest time of year for many in the eCommerce industry, it’s important for operators to maximize their production to meet customer demand. One way the United States Postal Service is doing this is by adjusting the size of its free USPS Priority Mail boxes.
The new sizes were originally released in the last week of September. however, eCommerce merchants were allowed to use their existing Priority Mailboxes until they were sold out.
With more and more holiday shopping orders this month, stocking up on packing supplies will be essential. we’ll explain what these new sizes mean for your holiday shipping processes and beyond.
why are free usps priority mail packages getting smaller?
There are probably two main reasons USPS Priority Mail packages are getting smaller.
reducing the size of priority mail poly bags allows them to be more compatible with sorting equipment. this helps automate the process for usps so they can order faster and stay organized, especially during a time of year like now.
The other reason is to maximize the available space inside your transport vehicles. Every inch counts when it comes to logistics, and with holiday shipping volumes forecast to hit all-time highs, getting the most out of every delivery will be vital to getting gifts delivered on time.
It’s worth noting that these package size differences will be implemented indefinitely, so the effects on your e-commerce business will last even after the holiday rush subsides.
new sizes for usps priority mail boxes
Size differences are now seen in two different envelopes and six different boxes. the sizes themselves range from ⅛” to 2 1/2″ as seen below.
⅝” long
2-½” wide
how the new usps priority mailbox sizes affect ecommerce merchants
These size changes most likely do not and have not affected most e-commerce merchants.
with sizes that shrink just a fraction of an inch for most priority mail packages, your products should fit just the same.
One difference may be how much you stuff these boxes to protect your products. With the smaller dimensions, you can use less padding per package, which could save you money if you ship a lot of your products via USPS Priority Mail.
how to get free usps priority mail boxes
there are two ways to get free usps priority mail boxes for your business. the first way is to go to your local post office and buy/pick up boxes from there. however, e-commerce merchants don’t always have time to travel and wait in line to get these supplies.
by going to the usps online store, you can order boxes and envelopes and have them delivered to your workplace for free. Some packs come in packs of 10, while others come in packs of 25. The maximum allowed number of packs you can order at one time is 20.
why are usps free priority mail boxes still effective?
Using free USPS Priority Mailboxes is still an effective way to ship your products because even though mailbox size has changed, USPS’ reliable service levels and competitive rates remain.
by shipping with usps, you will be able to ship your products to customers at all residential addresses within the us. uu. with flat rate boxes you’ll be able to ship even heavier items without having to worry about paying any extra weight, as long as it fits.
In addition, Shippo customers will still be able to purchase discounted USPS shipping labels for USPS (up to 90% off retail rates) no matter which service they choose to use. Shippo’s customers can also compare USPS Priority Mail rates as well as other major carriers’ rates.
sign up for your free shipping account today and start creating usps shipping labels for your priority mail deliveries in minutes.