Types of First-Class Mail®

Some qualifications for mailing at the Commercial Prices for First-Class Mail Service include:

• Signing a customer commitment agreement.

• Different prices are available for cards, letters, and flats compatible with different standards. To qualify for lower rates, mailpieces must meet specific presorting, addressing, barcoding, and design standards.

• For additional information on Commercial Mail, see:

  • Business Shipping - Rates, Discounts, Services (https://www.usps.com/business/business-shipping.htm)

  • Business Solutions with USPS® - The Basics

First-Class Mail (retail) is:

• Not a guaranteed service. Delivery by a specific date or at a specific time is not available.
• Not eligible for postage refunds. Exceptions are if no service is rendered or if the amount collected was more than the lawful price.

First-Class Mail does not include insurance against loss, damage, or missing contents. These items are eligible for extra services that can be purchased to provide insurance.

First-Class Mail Postcard

• Single postcard: $0.56
• Stamped postcard: $0.62

First-Class Mail Letter

• First ounce: $0.73
• Each additional ounce: $0.28

• First ounce: $0.69
• Each additional ounce: $0.28

First-Class Mail Flat (Large Envelope)

• First ounce: $1.50
• Each additional ounce:
  • $0.27 (up to first 4 ounces)
  • $0.28 (4-9 ounces)
  • $0.30 (9-13 ounces)

The price of a First-Class Mail item varies depending on the:

To determine the price of your specific First-Class Mail item, go to the Postage Price Calculator. The Business Price Calculator is available to determine prices for First-Class Mail Commercial.

First-Class Mail Postcards

➢ Price is less than a one-ounce letter. Uses a Postcard stamp.

➢ Size requirements:

• Minimum Size: 3½ inches by 5 inches

• Maximum Size: 4¼ inches by 6 inches

• Thickness: 0.007 inch to 0.016 inch

➢ Pieces that do not meet the minimum dimensions are nonmailable

➢ Postcards exceeding the size requirements are subject to letter-size pricing

➢ Price is less than a one-ounce letter. Uses a Postcard stamp.

➢ Size requirements:

• Minimum Size: 3½ inches by 5 inches

• Maximum Size: 6 inches by 9 inches

• Minimum Thickness:

  • Postcards up to 4¼ inches by 6 inches: 0.007 inches

  • Postcards more than either 4¼ inches high or 6 inches long: 0.009 inches

• Maximum Thickness: 0.016 inches

First-Class Mail Letters​​​

➢ Price paid on a per ounce basis – based on the First-Class Mail stamp price

• Maximum Weight: 3.5 ounces – Additional ounces above one ounce have a separate per ounce price

➢ Size Requirements:

• Minimum Size: 3½ inches by 5 inches

• Maximum Size: 6⅛ inches by 11½ inches

• Thickness: 0.009 inch to ¼ inch

➢ Pieces that do not meet the minimum dimensions are nonmailable.

➢ Letters that do not meet certain size and shape requirements may also be charged a separate Nonmachinable Surcharge.

➢ Pieces that exceed the maximum dimensions or weight are priced as Flat (Large Envelope) mailpiece.

➢ Price paid on a per ounce basis

• Maximum Weight: 3.5 ounces – Additional ounces above one ounce have a separate per ounce price

➢ Size Requirements for Machinable First-Class Mail Letters:

• Minimum Size: 3½ inches by 5 inches

• Maximum Size: 6⅛ inches by 11½ inches

• Thickness: 0.007 inch to ¼ inch

First-Class Mail Metered Mail

➢ A price category for First-Class Mail letters that applies when metered postage (such as PC Postage) is affixed. This does not include regular stamps, such as postage purchased through a self-service kiosk. In addition:

• Retail Metered Mail must also be single-piece.

➢ Commercial Metered Mail (for commercial mailers):

• Prices would apply to residual pieces from automation or presorted FCM letter mailings, presented in letter trays.

• Does not have a minimum volume (except for the minimum 200 pieces needed for permit imprint).

➢ When you are depositing Commercial Metered Mail, you do not need a minimum number of pieces for the nonpresorted portion when those residual pieces:

• Are part of a permit imprint mailing for an automation or presorted mailing, and

• Are claimed on the same postage statement as the primary mailing.

First-Class Mail Flats (Large Envelopes)​​​

➢ Price paid on a per ounce basis – based on the price of a First-Class Mail stamp

• Maximum weight: 13 ounces – Additional ounces above one ounce have a separate per ounce price

• Flats that are for the round-trip mailings of a disc and that weigh up to 2 ounces can be mailed at the postage price of a 1 ounce Flat. Round-trip mailing of a disc is mailing, under specific criteria, from a mailer who expects to receive the disc back from a subscriber.

• Large Envelopes (Flats) that exceed 13 ounces are mailed at the Priority Mail® rate

➢ Size Requirements:

• Minimum Size: 6⅛ inches by 11½ inches

• Maximum Size: 12 inches by 15 inches

• Thickness: ¼ inch to ¾ inch

➢ Pieces that exceed any of the maximum dimensions or are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick are charged and shipped as USPS Ground Advantage parcels.

➢ Price paid on a per ounce basis

• Maximum weight: 13 ounces – Additional ounces above one ounce have a separate per ounce price

➢ Size Requirements:

• Minimum Size: 6⅛ inches by 11½ inches

• Maximum Size: 12 inches by 15 inches

• Thickness: ¼ inch to ¾ inch