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The content of your mailpiece affects your
range of mailing service options.
MAILPIECE CONTENT
Sometimes what you mail may restrict your available mailing
services. For example, while any mailable matter (except certain
hazardous materials) can be mailed as First-Class Mail, bills,
statements of account, and personal correspondence must be
mailed as First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, or Express Mail.
Sometimes what you mail may expand your available mailing
services. For example, a small catalog or certain printed matter
including printed letters can be mailed as either First-Class
Mail or Standard Mail.
Express Mail
Mailable matter up to 70 pounds can be sent as Express Mail.
Priority Mail
Mailable matter up to 70 pounds can be sent as Priority Mail.
First-Class Mail
Mailable matter up to 13 ounces can be sent as First-Class Mail. Matter completely
or partially handwritten or typed, personal correspondence, bills, and statements
of account must be mailed as First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, or Express
Mail.
Standard Mail
Mailable matter less than 16 ounces that is not required to be sent as First-Class
Mail or as Periodicals can be sent as Standard Mail.
Periodicals
Publications (e.g., magazines, newspapers, and newsletters) that are published
at a regular frequency of at least four times a year and that meet other
eligibility standards can be sent as Periodicals. Periodicals have historically
been considered a primary means of communicating news and information to
the general public.
To mail at Periodicals prices, a publication must first be
authorized by the Postal Service. There is a one-time
application fee. While the prices for Periodicals are often
less than Standard Mail prices, Periodicals receive a higher
level
of service. In addition, further discounts (e.g., nonprofit
and classroom) are available
for authorized publications of certain qualified organizations.
Periodicals service is available worldwide. A copy of the
application and instructions on how to complete the form can
be found in Handbook DM-204, Applying for Periodicals Mailing
Privileges. A copy of the application and instructions on how
to complete the form can be found in
- Handbook DM-204,
Applying for Periodicals Mailing Privileges (HTML)
- Handbook DM-204, Applying
for Periodicals Mailing Privileges (PDF)
Parcel Select
Matter not mailed as Package Services (Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Media or Library Mail). Generally used for shipping merchandise.
Bound
Printed Matter
Material that consists of advertising, promotional, directory, or editorial
material that is securely and permanently bound (not loose-leaf in binders),
consists of sheets of which at least 90 percent are imprinted by a process
other than handwriting or typewriting, contains no personal correspondence,
and is not stationery (such as pads of blank printed forms) up to 15 pounds
can be sent as Bound Printed Matter. (Not available at retail outlets.)
Media
Mail
Books of eight or more printed pages with only incidental blank spaces and
no advertising except for incidental announcements of books, 16-millimeter
or narrower width films in positive print for viewing (excluding films sent
to or from commercial theaters), catalogs of such film of 24 pages or more,
printed music (bound or in sheet form), printed objective test materials and
accessories, sound recordings, video recordings, play scripts and manuscripts,
printed educational reference charts, loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting
of medical information, and computer-readable media containing prerecorded
information up to 70 pounds can be sent as Media Mail.
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Hazardous,
Restricted, and Perishable Mail
For safety reasons, most hazardous materials are nonmailable. Restricted
and perishable items are either nonmailable or mailable only under specific
conditions. It is the responsibility of the mailer to fully meet all
requirements prior to mailing. For more information, contact your manager
of Business Mail Entry or see:
- Domestic Mail Munual 601.10 and
- Publication 52, Hazardous,
Restricted, and Perishable Mail (HTML)
- Publication 52,
Hazardous, Restricted, and
Perishable Mail (PDF)
The following are examples of hazardous, restricted,
and perishable items. These are not complete lists, but
they provide an idea of the types of articles included
in each category.
Hazardous materials include:
- Corrosives
- Explosives
- Flammable liquids and solids, combustible liquids
- Gases (under pressure)
- Infectious substances, etiologic agents, clinical
specimens, biological products, sharps, other used
medical devices
- Miscellaneous hazardous materials (i.e., dry ice,
magnetized materials)
- Other regulated materials–domestic (ORM-D)
- Oxidizers, organic peroxides
- Radioactive materials
- Toxic substances (poisons)
Restricted matter includes:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Batteries
- Controlled substances and drug paraphernalia
- Firearms
- Liquids and powders
- Matter emitting obnoxious odors
- Motor vehicle master keys
- Sharp objects (knives, switchblades, stilettos)
Perishable matter includes:
- Dead animals or parts of animals
- Live animals
- Eggs
- Meat and meat products
- Plants and plant products
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