United States Postal Service Mail

An overview of USPS mail classifications, special services, and size standards is provided below. If you have questions about postage rates, fees, and regulations, contact Mailing & Addressing at 814-865-7544.

Classifications
Special Services
Size Standards

Classifications

The class of mail you choose will depend on the size of your mail piece, the type of material you are sending, and how fast you want it to arrive at its destination.

First-Class Mail

First-Class Mail may be used to send bills, statements of accounts, letters, and other typewritten material. Postage imprints may be used for large First-Class mailings.

Size Requirements:

Maximum Size             108” (combined length and girth)
Minimum Size              5"x3-1/2"
Minimum Thickness   .007"

The rate is determined by weight.

Priority Mail

All First-Class Mail weighing more than 13 ounces is called Priority Mail.

Size Requirements:

Maximum Size             108” (combined length and girth)
Maximum Weight         70 lbs.

The rate is determined by weight and distance to the destination.

Business Reply Mail

Reply envelopes may be sent out for return through the Business Reply account. You pay regular First-Class postage plus a fee for each one returned. Reply envelopes and cards must be designed according to USPS regulations. Call Mailing & Addressing at 814-865-7544 for assistance in designing an acceptable reply envelope or card.

Periodicals

Penn State uses this classification for periodicals, bulletins, catalogs, and other publications.

Standard A Mail

Circulars, booklets, catalogs, newsletters, corrected proof sheets, farm and factory products, photographs, keys, and other merchandise and printed matter that are not required to be sent First Class can be sent via Standard A Mail. Postage imprints may be used for large Standard A mailings.

Size Requirements:

Maximum Weight                 16 oz.
(anything heavier must be mailed at the Standard B or Priority rate)

Minimum Height                  3-1/2”

Minimum Length                 5"

Minimum Thickness           .007" (about the thickness of a postcard)

Nonstandard Mail:

Single-piece Standard A Mail weighing 1 ounce or less is classified as nonstandard if it has a length that is less than 1.3 times its height or more than 2.5 times its height or if it exceeds any of the following:

• Height: 6-1/8”


• Length: 11-1/2”


• Thickness: 1/4”

A surcharge, in addition to the applicable postage and fees, is assessed on each piece of nonstandard mail that exceeds any of these standards.

Nonprofit Standard Mail:

Nonprofit standard mail is available to qualifying nonprofit organizations. To qualify, the mailing must meet the following requirements:

• All pieces in the mailing must be identical.


• The mailing must weigh at least 50 lbs. or contain at least 200 pieces.


• The mailing must be prepared according to USPS regulations. (Mailing & Addressing can do this for you for an additional fee.)

Standard B Mail (Fourth-Class Mail)

Standard A Mail weighing over 16 ounces is classified as Standard B Mail.

Parcel Post:

Packages mailed via Parcel Post may not exceed 70 pounds in weight or 108 inches in combined length and girth.

Media Mail:

The following items may be sent via Media Mail:

1. books of at least 8 printed pages that consist entirely of reading matter and contain no advertising other than incidental announcements of books


2. 16mm films or narrower width films (positive prints only)


3. printed music in bound or sheet form


4. printed objective test materials


5. sound and video recordings


6. manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music


7. printed educational reference charts


8. computer-readable media

The address side of each package must be labeled “Media Mail.”

Library Mail:

Specific items loaned or exchanged between schools, colleges, universities, public libraries, museums, herbaria, and nonprofit religious, educational, scientific, philanthropic, agricultural, labor, veterans, or fraternal organizations may use the Library Mail rate.

Books, printed music, academic theses, sound recordings, and other eligible materials may be sent at the Library Mail rate. Contact Mailing & Addressing at 814-865-7544 for a complete list of eligible materials.

Materials must be labeled “Library Mail.”

Bound Printed Matter:

Mail that meets all the requirements for Media Mail and weighs at least 1 pound but not more than 10 pounds may be sent at Bound Printed Matter rates. These rates are based on zones and the weight of the mail piece.

Special Services

The special services available to you will depend on the type of mail you are sending and how you are sending it. All special services mail must be accompanied by the appropriate form. Forms can be obtained by calling Mailing & Addressing at 814-865-7544.

Registered Mail

Registered Mail is the safest way to send valuables through the mail system. When preparing a package to be sent via Registered Mail, make sure that all corners and seams are sealed with brown paper tape. Do not use Scotch, masking, or cellulose tape to seal Registered Mail packages.

• Available for First-Class and Priority Mail.

Insured Mail

Protect domestic mail against loss or damage by having it insured. Liability for Insured Mail is limited to $600.

• Available for Standard A and Standard B Mail, and for First-Class Mail containing Standard A or Standard B matter. (Insured First-Class Mail containing Standard A or Standard B matter must bear the endorsement “Contains Standard A [or Standard B] Matter” in addition to the First-Class or Priority Mail endorsement.)

Certified Mail

Certified Mail provides a mailing receipt to the sender and a record of delivery at the Post Office that serves the addressee. It allows the sender to verify delivery online. No record is kept at the Post Office where the article was mailed. No insurance coverage is provided.

• Available for First-Class and Priority Mail.

Return Receipt

A Return Receipt is your proof of delivery. It identifies the article by number, by the name of the person who signed for it, and by the date it was delivered. For an additional fee, you may obtain a receipt showing the exact address of delivery. The Post Office maintains a two-year record of delivery on all Certified Mail.

• Available for Insured, Certified, and Registered Mail, domestic Express Mail, Collect on Delivery (COD) shipments, and merchandise.

Certificate of Mailing

A Certificate of Mailing provides evidence of mailing. The addressee’s signature is not required at delivery. Certificates of Mailing do not insure the article against loss or damage.

• Available for domestic mail.

Size Standards

There is an additional charge on each piece of mail that is found to be nonstandard. Sizes below the specified minimum cannot be mailed in the United States and are subject to return.

First-Class and Standard A Nonprofit Mail is considered nonstandard if it exceeds any of the size limits outlined below:

Postcards
	Maximum Size	6” x 4-1/4”
	Minimum Size	5” x 3-1/2”
	Minimum Thickness	.009”
Letters
	Maximum Size	11-1/2” x 6-1/8”
	Minimum Size	5” x 3-1/2”
	Maximum Thickness	1/4”
	Minimum Thickness	.009”
Flats (larger than letter size)
	Maximum Size	12” x 15”
	Maximum Thickness	3/4”
Priority & Parcel Post
	Maximum Size	108” (length and girth combined)
	Maximum Weight	70 lbs.