United States Postal Service

:This article describes the United States Postal Service. For the band named The Postal Service see The Postal Service.

Major products and services

First Class Mail

The normal mail service used by individuals and business sending a small amount of mail. One rate regardless of distance.

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• Letters: The cost to send a letter weighing up to 1 ounce (28 g) is 37 cents.
• Each additional ounce is an additional 23 cents, up to 13 ounces.
• Sending a postcard costs 23 cents.
• Packages weighing up to 13 ounces (369 g) can be sent.
• Best effort delivery including return service for undeliverable mail.
• Forwarding service: With a valid change of address on file, mail coming to the old address will be sent to the new address for up to 12 months.
• Available to anyone.
• Recommendations (but no enforced rules) about mailpiece quality and addressing.
• Mail is picked up at customer's house or place of business, or can be dropped in any public mail collection box.
• Delivery to every address in the United States, except some small towns with no delivery to addresses within a quarter mile (400 m) of the post office. Post offices in some rural small towns without street deliveries require post office box numbers and addressees in these towns are eligible for fee-free post office boxes.

Standard Mail

Used mainly for businesses.

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• Minimum 200 pieces per mailing
• Must weigh less than 16 ounces (454 g)
• No return service unless requested (an additional fee is charged for return service)
• Not for personal correspondence, letters, bills, or statements
• Annual fee

Bulk Mail

Used for businesses to send large quantities of mail.

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• Can be First Class or Standard Mail
• Discounted rates
• Permit required
• Enforced rules about mailpiece quality and addressing.
• May require additional work by the sender, such as pre-sorting by ZIP Code.
• Mail must usually be brought to a postal facility.

Parcel Post

Used to send packages weighing up to 70 pounds (31.75 kg)

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• Rates based on distance, weight, and shape
• Delivery to every address in the United States

Media Mail

Formerly (and colloquially, still) known as "Book Rate," Media Mail is used to send books, printed materials, sound recordings, videotapes, CD-ROMs, diskettes, and similar, but cannot contain advertising. Maximum weight is 70 pounds (31.75 kg).

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• Delivery standards are 5-8 business days
• Rates based on weight
• Much cheaper than Parcel Post, but sometimes slower

Library mail

Same as Media Mail, but receives an additional discount and may be used only for books or recordings being sent to or from a public library, museum or academic institution.

Related Topics:
Public library - Museum - Academic institution

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Priority Mail

Priority Mail is an expedited mail service with a few additional features.

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• Average delivery time is 2-3 days (but this is NOT guaranteed, may take longer)
• Flat rate envelopes and boxes available (one rate for whatever you put in the envelope)
• Packages up to 70 pounds (31.75 kg).
• Label can be printed online
• Delivery to every address in the United States

Express Mail

Express Mail is the fastest mail service.

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• Typically overnight or second-day delivery
• Flat rate envelope available
• Packages up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg)
• Delivery to most addresses in the United States
• Guaranteed on-time delivery or the postage is refunded subject to conditions
• Sunday and holiday delivery

Postal Money orders

• Provide a safe alternative to sending cash through the mail
• Money orders are cashable only by the recipient, just like a bank check. One of the reasons for the growing popularity of money orders is that, unlike a personal bank check, they are pre-paid and therefore cannot bounce.

Global services

Airmail, Global Priority, Global Express, and Global Express Guaranteed Mail are offered to ship mail and packages to almost every country and territory on the globe.

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Airline and rail division

The United States Postal Service does not directly own or operate any aircraft or trains. The mail and packages are flown on airlines with which they have a contractual agreement. The contracts change periodically. Depending on the contract, you may see aircraft painted with the USPS paint scheme. Contract airlines have included: Emery Worldwide, Ryan International, Federal Express, Rhoades Aviation, and Express 1 International. The Postal Service also contracts with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrak to carry some mail between certain cities such as Chicago, Illinois and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Related Topics:
National Railroad Passenger Corporation - Amtrak - Chicago, Illinois - Minneapolis-St. Paul

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