Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes feature one low flat rate, so price is determined by the box or envelope you choose and not by the weight or distance the package is traveling.  Flat Rate Envelopes can help save you a lot of money.

Not sure if your package will pass as a Priority Mail Flat Rate® Envelope?  Here are a few guidelines to help you decide:

1. If it fits, it ships.If you are able to easily close the prefabricated folds of your Flat Rate Envelope, you should be good.  However, if using tape or an insert is the only way to get your Flat Rate Envelope to close, then you will be required to use a different mail class.

2. Use tape to reinforce, not close.You can use tape to reinforce the seams of the Flat Rate Envelope, but the amount of tape being used should not encase the envelope!    

3. Flat refers to price, not shape.With Flat Rate Envelopes, bulges and thickness may not matter. Flat Rate Envelopes are best suited for documents, but if you choose to send another type of item (up to 70 pounds), it should not reconstruct or expand the envelope in any way. As long as the envelope closes within the normal folds, bulges will not matter. There is no maximum thickness for Flat Rate Envelopes.

Still not sure what a reconstructed Flat Rate Envelope looks like?  Take a look at the image below:

What happens if you use a reconstructed Flat Rate Envelope?

If you use a reconstructed envelope, know that the USPS may charge you according to weight and zone –in other words, Flat Rate pricing won’t apply. You may also have to repackage the item if it runs the risk of damage during transit.

Note: You can order Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes from the Stamps.com Store.

What happens if the USPS rep denies your Flat Rate Envelope?

If your package meets all the guidelines above, but a USPS rep still denies it, you may point them to the DMM regulation around Flat Rate Envelopes which can be found here:  http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/flat-rate-reference.htm.

Did you know that you don’t have to pay more to ship heavier items through the US Postal Service? Using the Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping option, you can send items for one flat cost using free boxes that the Post Office provides. You can mail anything that you can reasonably fit in each USPS flat rate box while allowing it to close properly and staying under 70 pounds. Here’s what you need to know about each of the containers offered from the USPS:

Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelop and Box Sizes:

• The Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope is 12.5 inches by 9.5 inches, which will hold standard copy paper, certificates, contracts and other important documents. It will cost you $4.80 to mail it using Stamps.com or $4.95 if you visit the Post Office. Your envelope must weigh less than 25 pounds.

• The Priority Mail “Small Flat Rate Box” is just large enough to mail a DVD, CD or a small book. It also will cost you $4.80 to mail it using Stamps.com or $4.95 if you visit the Post Office.

• The Priority Mail “Regular Flat Rate Box” (11-by-8.5-inch) is about the size of a shoe box. In addition to sending shoes, you could fill this box with baked goods, pictures, a mug and more for only $9.85 through Stamps.com or $10.35 if you visit the Post Office.

• The USPS offers a second larger version of the Priority Mail “Regular Flat Rate Box,” which is 13-by-11 inches, and is about the size of a clothing box from a department store. It’s the ideal choice to send clothes or picture frames for only $9.85 through Stamps.com or $10.35 if you visit the Post Office.

• The Priority Mail “Large Flat Rate Box,” which is 12-by-12 inches, can hold anything you can imagine. Stuff it full and send it for $13.50 through Stamps.com or $13.95 if you visit the Post Office. APO/FPO rates are $11.50 through Stamps.com or $11.95 if you visit the Post Office, ensuring that you have more money to send items to your deployed loved one.

The USPS also offers Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes for international shipping, although the rates do increase depending on your package’s final destination.

eBay Sellers Can Save Big with Priority Mail Flat Rate
If you are an eBay seller, Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping is a great option to make your products more appealing to buyers. Since eBay is constantly adding new posting and selling fees, many eBay sellers are using shipping and handling charges as a profit center. Providing your buyers with realistic shipping/handling charges that are not over-inflated (don’t forget, you get the boxes for free from the USPS) should allow you a distinct advantage over your competitors selling the same product but with higher shipping fees.