Learn About Bulk Mailing and Tracking → Bulk Parcels

How to Save Shipping Costs with USPS Bulk Parcel Shipping Rates

 Scott
 Postage $aver Software


Bulk main rates aren't just for cards and envelopes. USPS offers bulk mail rates for parcels too! And they can save you substantial amounts on postage compared to USPS retail rates.

There are different bulk parcel categories for different purposes. Here are the most common:

• Bound Printed Matter - special very low rates for books, catalogs and other printed material.
  
  
• Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels - economy "bulk mail" rates for parcels no larger than 12" x 9" x 2". Cannot be used for order fulfillment. Addresses must include "Or Current Resident" or similar wording. Extra discounts for nonprofits.
  
  
• Marketing Mail Nonprofit Parcels - economy rates for approved nonprofit mailers.
  
  
• Parcel Select - economy rates for parcels shipped from a post office or sorting facility to addresses within the service area of that postal facility.
  
  
• USPS Ground Advantage Commercial - for parcels weighing up to 70 pounds, an economical service when your parcels don't fit one of the more specific categories above.
  

The rates can be used only for domestic mail (including military addresses, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories and possessions). If you need to send large quantities of international mail, check out this guide.

Here's what this page covers:

What are the rates?

How many pieces do I need?

What are the size and weight limits?

Can I add services like tracking and insurance?

How do I apply to use bulk parcel rates?

What else do I need to get started?

For each of the mailing categories, there are minimums per shipment. Generally, there are no minimums for any one zip code or area. Your mailing can be to just one zip code or all across the country. However, for Parcel Select, all of your pieces must be addressed within the area served by the postal facility where you take your shipment.

There are also no monthly or yearly minimums.

USPS Ground Advantage:

• If you are using are using a permit imprint (aka "indicia") to pay your postage, the minimum is generally 200 pieces or 50 pounds, whichever is less.
  
  However, if you have an eVS (Electronic Verification System) or USPS Ship account, or are using another system to electronically submit your mailing records, the minimum is 50 pieces or 50 pounds, whichever is less. Postage $aver for Parcels can automatically submit your mailing records to USPS, so that you can take advantage of this lower minimum.
  
  
• If you are attaching actual postage using an IMI-PC postage meter or PC Postage, there is no minimum per shipment.

Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels and Marketing Mail Nonprofit Parcels:

• 200 pieces or 50 pounds (whichever is less).

Parcel Select:

• 50 pieces.

Bound Printed Matter:

• No minimum, but postage rates are lower for shipments of 300 pieces or more.
  

USPS Ground Advantage:

• No more than 130" length plus girth.
• Weight 70 pounds or less.
• One surface must be large enough to hold the required USPS shipping label and all other required markings, typically at least 6" x 4".

Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels:

• No more than 12" long, 9" wide or 2" high.
  
• Weight less than 16 ounces (1 pound).
• One surface must be large enough to hold the required USPS shipping label and all other required markings, typically at least 6" x 4".

Marketing Mail Nonprofit Parcels:

• No more than 108" length plus girth.
• Weight less than 16 ounces (1 pound).
• One surface must be large enough to hold the required USPS shipping label and all other required markings, typically at least 6" x 4".

Bound Printed Matter:

• No more than 108" length plus girth.
  
• Weight 15 pounds or less.
• One surface must be large enough to hold the required USPS shipping label and all other required markings, typically at least 6" x 4".

Parcel Select:

• No more than 130" length plus girth.
• Weight 70 pounds or less.
• One surface must be large enough to hold the required USPS shipping label and all other required markings, typically at least 6" x 4".

Yes! Here are some of the extra services you can add to bulk parcel shipments. Note that some of these services may not be used in combination with some others, depending on the category of mail:

Tracking (including delivery):

• 32¢ per package for Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels and Marketing Mail Nonprofit Parcels.
  
• Included free with all other services.

Insurance: Available for all services except Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels. Included free up to $100 with Ground Advantage.

Signature Confirmation: Available for all services except Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels.

Restricted Delivery: Available for all services except Marketing Mail Marketing Parcels.

Registered Mail: Available for Ground Advantage only, and only when not using eVS or USPS Ship.

These are just some of the additional services available. Please ask us or check with USPS if you need a service that is not listed here.

You generally do not need a USPS permit to use bulk parcel rates. Instead, most shippers enroll in "USPS Ship", a free program that lets you take advantage of the best parcel rates and detailed reporting of postage costs and parcel tracking.

To sign up for USPS Ship, go to the USPS Customer Onboarding Portal. It will ask you to log in using your USPS Business Customer Gateway login. If you don't already have an account on the Business Customer Gateway, you'll be able to create one on that same screen.

Once you're logged in, choose the USPS Ship option and follow the prompts to enroll. Here's a Guide to USPS Ship for new shippers from USPS. It goes into a lot of detail about reporting that is more applicable to large volume shippers, but can still be helpful for small and medium volume shippers getting started.

As part of your signup process, you'll be assigned two Mailer ID numbers: a Master Mailer ID and a Child Mailer ID. These will NOT be the same as other Mailer IDs you may have for mailing letters and flats.

You'll also choose an abbreviated name for your company, which will be used in the permit imprint box (aka "indicia") on your shipping labels. The company abbreviation replaces the permit number in the indicia.

To complete your signup, you'll need to provide bank account information for direct payment of postage. USPS Ship does not currently accept credit card payments.

If you are already using eVS (Electronic Verification System) for your shipments, you are required to transition to USPS Ship no later than February 1, 2025. You should have already heard about this deadline from USPS. Here's a Guide to USPS Ship for eVS shippers.

Parcel labeling and sorting software: To qualify for most bulk parcel rates, your pieces must be addressed with tracking labels using a USPS-approved format. You also need to submit the required tracking and postage file ("Shipping Services File") to USPS.

(For some categories, you can sometimes get away with not following this requirement and instead paying a small penalty, but if you want to track your parcels, you must prepare them the correct way. And we strongly recommend following the requirements if you are doing more than a one-time shipment.)

For Bound Printed Matter presort rates, Marketing Mail and Parcel Select, your parcels must also be sorted and placed in mailing sacks according to very detailed USPS rules. Sorting is not required for USPS Ground Advantage and for Bound Printed Matter nonpresort rates.

The easiest way to do all of this is to use software designed to prepare USPS bulk parcel shipments. Our Postage $aver for Parcels is a low-cost way to meet all of the requirements.

Mailing containers: For those categories that require sorting, you'll need sacks to keep them sorted. (For larger shipments, pallets without sacks can sometimes be used.) The sacks are provided by the USPS at no charge. You can pick them up at the post office where you are mailing your bulk mail.

Congratulations! You're now ready to move on to actually preparing your mailing.

Ready to start saving postage right now?
Try Postage $aver for Parcels FREE for 30 days!
Click for complete info and free trial!