The US Postal Service® has many different mail classes ranging from regular First Class Mail® letter delivery to overnight expedited services such as Priority Mail Express®. Here is a breakdown of each USPS service to help you choose the right mail class for your mailpiece.
Mail Class | Speed | Stamps.com Starting Price |
Cheapest Tracking Option |
Restrictions |
---|---|---|---|---|
First Class Mail Letter | 1–3 days* | $0.53** | $3.75 Certified Mail™ | Shape and weight restrictions† |
First Class Mail Flat | 1–3 days* | $1.16 | $3.75 Certified Mail | Shape and weight restrictions† |
First Class Package Service | 1–3 days* | $4.50 and up** | Free USPS Tracking** | Shape and weight restrictions† |
Priority Mail® | 1–3 days* | $7.37 and up** | Free USPS Tracking** | N/A |
Priority Mail Express® | 1–2 days* | $23.50 and up** | Free USPS Tracking** | N/A |
Retail Ground (formerly Standard Post®) | 2–9 days* | Not Available | Free USPS Tracking** | N/A |
Media Mail® | 2–9 days* | $3.19 | Free USPS Tracking** | Content restrictions apply |
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When to use First Class Mail: If your mail is less than 3.5 oz. and you do not need overnight delivery, use First Class Mail.
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When to use Priority Mail: If you are shipping more than 13 oz., Priority Mail is a great shipping option for fast delivery at a low price — the USPS even offers free packaging!
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When to use Priority Mail Express: If you need your package to be delivered as fast as possible, regardless of price, use Priority Mail Express. If delivery can wait a day or two, First Class Mail and Priority Mail are much cheaper options.
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When to use Media Mail: Perfect for media such as books or DVDs when lower shipping rates are more important than delivery speed.
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When to use Standard Post: Use Standard Post when your content does not qualify for Media Mail and lower shipping rates are more important than speed.
With Stamps.com, you can print postage for any USPS mail class without a trip to the Post Office. Customers also have access to discounted postage rates for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, SCAN form printing, and the ability to import order data from ecommerce marketplaces such as eBay®, Amazon® and other popular shopping carts.