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A Guide to the USPS Postage Calculator

The United States Postal Service is a governmental agency, mainly responsible for providing postal services throughout the country. Though its main services involve mailing envelopes and packages to recipients, the USPS has included a variety of additional services to its roster. Some of the various services that USPS offers include tracking domestic and international packages, as well as stores that sell stamps and envelopes.

For individuals that have never mailed a package before, the shipping process can be a confusing endeavor. However, the USPS provides a number of resources, designed to help individuals navigate the mailing process. In addition to guides and useful FAQs, the USPS also offers a postage calculator, which can help customers determine exactly how much the shipping and mailing service will cost.

Components of the USPS Postage Calculator

It may be confusing to determine exactly how much a mailing service will cost. However, the USPS offers a number of postage calculators to help individuals determine the price of mailing a package. Customers can use calculators to find out the exact domestic, international, and business price of shipping. In order to effectively calculate the costs of shipping an envelope or package, the individual needs to input some information regarding the shipping. The steps include:

1. Select a Destination

The first step in calculating a postage rate is to determine where you are shipping a package. Packages that are shipped within the 50 states and other US territories are given a domestic rate, which vary based on the size and weight of package sent. However, packages that are sent to different countries will be considered under international rates. The rate will vary greatly depending on the size and weight of the package, as well as the specific country to which the package is sent.

2. Enter Zip Code

Customers that are shipping packages within the 50 states will need to input the zip code of the recipient and the sender. For customers that are unsure of the zip code of the receiving city, the USPS also provides a handy zip code lookup. Generally, the greater the distance between the two destinations, the more expensive the service will be.

3. Enter Mailing

Next, the individual needs to input the date on which the package or envelope will be mailed. If they wish to mail a package at a later date, it may cost extra for this additional service.

4. Select a Package or Service

Finally, the customer is asked to input what type of package or envelope they are shipping to the recipient. There are a variety of flat rate envelopes and boxes available, all with their own standard rates and prices. Generally, the prices will range according to the size and the weight of the package. As the weight and size goes up, so will the costs of shipping. It is important to keep in mind that flat rate services will only apply for items that are 70 lbs or less. If the customer needs to ship a heavy object, they may need to pay additional fees.