This section contains useful information to consider when your project must be mailed. Remember, The Whitley Printing Company specializes in fulfillment and mailing, so be sure to contact your Whitley representative if you have particular questions.
Note: The following contains highlights from the USPS Web site, which contains a wealth of information on everything postal.
The Postal Service divides mail into different services, or “classes.” Each mail class has different features, service levels, postage rates, and presort requirements.
For most mailings, the material’s content and postage rate will determine the mail class you select. This table may help you determine which mail class best suits your priorities. Select a link to jump to more information about that class.
| Class of Service | Min. Weight | Max. Weight | Fast? | Low Cost | Free Forwarding and Return | Special Services | Presort Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Mail Anything mailable, letters, merchandise. |
None | 70 lbs. | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| First-Class Mail Anything mailable, bills, invoices, personal correspondence, merchandise. |
None | 13 oz. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Mail Anything mailable, bills, invoices, personal correspondence, merchandise. |
+13oz. | 70 lbs. | Yes | Maybe | Yes | Yes | No |
| Periodicals Newsletters, magazines. |
None | 70 lbs. | Yes | Maybe | Free Forwarding | No | Yes |
| Standard Mail Advertisements, circulars, newsletters, magazines, small parcels, merchandise. |
None | Less than 16 oz. | No | Yes | No | Only for parcels | Yes |
| Package Services Merchandise, catalogs, printed material, computer media. |
None | Varies. See below. | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
There are no discounted or bulk rates for Express Mail.
Express Mail is the fastest mail service offered by the U.S. Postal Service, but it’s expensive compared to the other classes. It provides guaranteed expedited-service for any mailable matter. Express Mail can be delivered 365 days a year, including Sundays and holidays. If getting your mail there overnight is your highest priority, then Express Mail is the best choice at the U.S. Postal Service.
Express Mail rates are based on the piece’s weight, without regard to how far the piece travels.
All mailable matter can be mailed as first-class mail. Some things MUST be mailed as first-class mail (or priority mail), including:
First-class mail includes:
If getting your direct-mail delivered quickly is a top priority, use first-class mail. First-class mail postage rates are the same regardless how far the mail travels and include forwarding and return services.
You can enhance the service, security, and convenience, of first-class mail by adding special services such as registered mail and certified mail. These services are available for a small additional fee.
People who don’t often do mailings will use first-class mail for cards and letters because, if mailed at single-piece rates, there’s no special-payment method, no mailing permit and no extra time required for presorting.
The Periodicals class is designed for newspapers, magazines, and other periodical publications whose primary purpose is transmitting information to an established subscribers or requesters list. Periodicals must be published at regular intervals -- at least four times a year -- from a known publication office and be printed sheets’ formed. There are specific standards for circulation, record keeping, and advertising limits. There are special lower postage rates for nonprofit and classroom periodicals.
Standard Mail is mail matter not required to be mailed as first-class mail or periodicals. Cheaper nonprofit rates are available for standard mail but require specific authorization.
People often use standard mail to send:
All standard mail rates are bulk rates, and each mailing must have a minimum quantity of 200 pieces or 50 pounds. There are no single-piece standard mail rates. In standard mail, there are rates for letters and flats/non-letters. Unlike first-class mail, there is no separate standard mail card rate (cards are mailed as letters or flats/non-letters). Standard mail parcels (i.e., a small merchandise sample) are charged a residual shape surcharge.
Certain special services can be used with standard mail parcels: electronic delivery confirmation, bulk insurance, and return receipt for merchandise. Standard mail is not forwarded or returned, unless requested with an “ancillary service endorsement.” Forwarding and return services may result in additional fees or postage.
Standard mail is often the best choice for large mailings because postage rates are much cheaper.
Maximum weight:
Package services is a mail class primarily intended for merchandise, catalogs, and other printed material. Package services does not receive expedited service. There are four package services subclasses:
Be sure to pick the one that best suits your mailing. Package services do not include free forwarding and return, but mailers can use “ancillary service endorsements” to advise the Postal Service on how to treat undeliverable mail.
You can enhance the service and convenience of package services by adding extra services such as insurance and delivery confirmation. These services are available for an additional fee.
Postage discounts are available for package services’ bulk quantities that meet additional standards for volume, presort, and destination entry.
If you’re mailing merchandise, compare the costs and service between priority mail and package services. In many cases, the postage costs are very similar to priority mail but priority mail gets there faster and includes free forwarding and return.