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Standard Class Bulk Mail Prices |
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Bulkmail.Info |
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The USPS is now referring to postage "prices" instead of postage rates. All prices/rates on this page have been updated for the May 12, 2008, postal rate increase. Prices for Standard Class bulk mail vary according to the many different factors. In any particular bulk mailing, it's likely that different pieces will qualify for different postage prices, even though the pieces may be physically identical. In general, all pieces in the same tray or sack are charged the same price, since, at least in theory, all pieces in any one tray or sack are handled in the same way and travel the same distance. One exception, however, is for mailings consisting of barcoded flats. Flats are prepared in "bundles" of a small number of pieces rubber-banded together, which are then placed into sacks. For barcoded flats, the postage price for any piece is determined by which bundle it is in rather than by which sack it is in. Note that this exception does not apply to flats that are not barcoded. |
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Standard Class is an inexpensive way to mail a group of identical pieces, if you're not in any particular hurry for the pieces to reach their destination. Standard Class mail is processed after First Class, and typically arrives within a few days (for local mail) to a few weeks (for mail travelling cross-country). Each mailing at Standard Class prices must consist of at least 200 pieces. (Exception: If each piece weighs more than 4 ounces, the mailing will meet the minimum if the total mailing weighs at least 50 pounds.) Standard Class cannot contain personalized information, except for name and address. Bills, statements, and other material where each recipient receives a different piece of mail cannot be sent using Standard Class prices. You can still receive a postage discount for such pieces by sending them as presorted First Class but the price will not be nearly as low as with Standard Class (except for certain postcards, where the First Class price is actually cheaper. See below.) Mail must be within the following weight limits in order to be eligible for Standard Class prices: For nonbarcoded letters, flats and parcels, each piece may not weigh more than 16 ounces. For barcoded letters, each piece may not weigh more than 3.5 ounces. For barcoded flats, each piece may not weigh more than 16 ounces. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Cards below a certain size qualify for a special First Class postcard postage price. If you are sending barcoded postcards smaller than the size shown below, and you have at least 500 pieces in each mailing, you should use the First Class postcard price instead of the Standard Class letter price (except for nonprofit mailers, who still receive a better discount using Standard Class nonprofit prices.) Cards are eligible for the First Class postcard price if:
If you are mailing cards that are eligible for this special First Class postcard prices, please see our page on First Class prices. If your cards are larger than the size shown above, you should use the Standard Class letter or flat price, as applicable according to the size of the card. There is no special postcard price in Standard Class. And if you need a good deal on postcard printing, we use and recommend VistaPrint.com. |
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 If you buy a permit imprint number, you can print an "indicia" box like this on your mail instead of putting a stamp on each piece. That saves a lot of work! |
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The most common way to pay your postage is to maintain an account at the post office. Every time you bring in a mailing, the bulk mail acceptance crew will verify your postage calculations and then make sure you have enough in your account to pay for it. When you open an account, you'll get a permit number that you include in the "indicia" box you print on your mail pieces. Since the indicia is not really postage, you can have it printed as part of the printing on your mail piece, just like your return address. There is no need to print the indicia on each piece with your computer when you are printing addresses. While it is possible to put stamps on your bulk mail, or to use a meter, the wide range of prices even within a single mailing means you'll probably owe some money even after you stamp the mail. So, unless you are really trying to get people to think what you are sending is not bulk mail, stamping each piece is a lot of unnecessary work. And guess what? You're not fooling anybody! |
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Standard Class mail has different price categories depending on the size and shape of your mail piece. See our page on letters vs. flats if you are not sure what category your mail piece fits into. Note that the category is determined by the size of the mail piece, not by its content. Prices for letter-sized mail up to 3.3 ounces: Basic prices (commercial followed by nonprofit):
Discount prices for trays of pieces mailed from a bulk mail center (BMC) that will be delivered within the area that BMC serves (commercial followed by nonprofit):
Discount prices for trays of pieces mailed from a sectional center post office (SCF) that will be delivered within the area that SCF serves (commercial followed by nonprofit):
Prices for flat-sized mail up to 3.3 ounces: Basic prices (commercial followed by nonprofit):
Discount prices for sacks of pieces mailed from a bulk mail center (BMC) that will be delivered within the area that BMC serves (commercial followed by nonprofit):
Discount prices for sacks of pieces mailed from a sectional center post office (SCF) that will be delivered within the area that SCF serves (commercial followed by nonprofit):
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Bulk Mail Postage Prices
