A Guide to USPS Postage Rates
The United States Postal Service is an agency of the United States, responsible for delivering envelopes and packages to individuals throughout the country. One of the legal obligations of the USPS is to provide a uniform service to all US citizens, regardless of their location or geographical area. In order to maintain this responsibility, the USPS offers a standard postage service rate to customers throughout the US.
A Summary of USPS Postage Rates
In order to mail an envelope, an individual needs to apply a stamp onto the mail. Generally, stamps are offered at a standard rate, set at about 44 cents. Beyond simple postage rates, the USPS also offers a variety of mailing services. Aside from standard mailing services, customers can also choose to mail their letters and packages through first class mail or express mail. Additional services will cost more; however, these services will ensure that your packages arrive safely and on time.
The Flat Rate
One useful service that the USPS offers is the flat rate package. This service is offers a standard postage rate for shipping particular types of envelopes and boxes. The flat rate is uniform, regardless of the location of the receipt, and allows individuals to understand exactly how much it will cost to send a package. To get an exact price on different flat rates, customers can examine the range of prices offered by the United States Postal Service.
Flat Rate Envelopes:
Flat rate envelopes are best suited for shipping letters and documents, and possesses no weight limit. The USPS offers a number of flat rate envelopes, with sizes ranging at about 5 by 8 inches, to 9 by 12 inches. The domestic rate of a flat rate envelope will be under 5 dollars, while international rates range from 11 to 14 dollars.
Small Flat Rate Boxes:
Many customers tend to use small flat rate boxes for shipping books, food products, and other small goods. The USPS offers a single small flat rate box, with dimensions at about 5 by 9 by 2 inches. The domestic rate is set at about 5 dollars, while the international rate ranges from 11 to 14 dollars.
Medium Flat Rate Boxes:
A variety of items can be shipped with medium flat rate boxes, including clothes and small electronics. The USPS offers a variety of medium sized boxes, all with different flat rates. Based on the type of flat rate box, domestic flat rates are generally 10 dollars, while international rates can range from 26 to 43 dollars.
Large Flat Rate Boxes:
The USPS offers two categories of large flat rate boxes, a standard box and a box designed for board games. These boxes are best suited for shipping larger goods, such as electronics, kitchen equipment or pillows. Generally, the domestic rate for large flat rate boxes is about 14 dollars, while international rates are 35 to 58 dollars.
