USPS Priority Mail service, introduced in 1968, is the postal service to use when you need your document or item to be delivered quicker than it would be if you sent it using USPS First Class Mail®.
Speed of delivery: A document or item sent by USPS Priority Mail typically takes 1-3 business days to be delivered vs. 1-5 business days if you use USPS First Class Mail service.
Insured delivery: When you use USPS Priority Mail service, your document or item is insured up to $100 if it’s a domestic shipment and up to $200 if it’s an international shipment. This is to protect against theft, damage, or loss while your package is being delivered.
Free carrier pickup: If you’re having a busy day and you can’t make it to the post office to drop your USPS Priority Mail package into the mail, you can go to the USPS website and request package pickup of your mailing piece from your home or office.
Free package tracking: While your document or item is being delivered by USPS Priority Mail, you can check on its progress whenever you want, thanks to the free tracking service included with this service.
Delivery 6 days a week: With USPS Priority Mail, your package can be delivered six days a week with no additional charge for delivering your document or item on a Saturday. Note that the USPS Priority Mail service does NOT deliver on Sundays.
No. Overnight delivery is not offered with USPS Priority Mail service.
No. USPS does NOT guarantee your Priority Mail package will be delivered within 1 to 3 business days.
One of the other significant differences between USPS First Class Mail service and USPS Priority Mail service is the size and weight of the packages you can send with each.
With USPS First Class Mail service, you can only send envelopes that weigh no more than 13 ounces. Consequently, this service is often used by businesses and organizations to send documents such as invoices, letters, postcards, brochures, and flyers or items weighing 3.5 ounces or less.
On the other hand, USPS Priority Mail will accept documents or items that weigh up to a maximum weight of 70 pounds.
The cost of USPS Priority Mail service can be determined in a couple of ways.
1. Price based on weight and dimension: if you don’t regularly use USPS Priority Mail, your first instinct may be to have the cost of your package calculated by its weight and dimensions.
To do this, you will need to weigh and measure your package and take note of the measurements. Then, visit the USPS domestic price calculator and enter these amounts to determine your final postage cost. You can also take your package to your local post office and have them confirm the weight, dimensions, and cost for you.
2. Price based on a flat rate: an easier way to determine the cost of using USPS Priority Mail service is to send your package using flat-rate envelopes and boxes provided by USPS for Priority Mail items.
With this flat rate option, there are many sizes to choose from, and if it fits, it ships. In other words, if your item weighs 70 pounds or less and you can get it into one of USPS’s standard flat-rate envelopes or boxes, it will be sent for a flat rate amount.
Keep in mind, in most cases, the flat rate cost will be cheaper than if you calculated the price based on weight and dimensions.
Want to save even more on sending your package via USPS Priority Mail service? You can do this by signing up with USPS and becoming a Priority Mail Commercial customer. You’ll qualify for commercial rates and save up to 17% on your USPS Priority Mail costs vs. the retail price.
If you send your package using an envelope or box provided by USPS, it will include a label indicating that the item is a Priority Mail package.
If you decide to use an envelope or box not provided by USPS, you will need to get a USPS Priority Mail shipping label. This will ensure that the post office and carriers treat your document or item as a USPS Priority Mail package.
Besides the standard USPS Priority Mail service, the post office offers Priority Mail Express® service. Here is a brief explanation of how the two services differ.
Faster: This is the fastest domestic delivery service that USPS offers. While standard USPS Priority Mail service aims to deliver your package in 1-3 business days, USPS Priority Mail Express will deliver it within two days.
Delivery guarantee: With Priority Mail Express USPS promises they will deliver your package within two business days or there's a money-back guarantee. Note: there is no money-back guarantee with standard USPS Priority Mail service.
Sunday and holiday delivery available: If you need to, for an additional fee, you can have your package delivered on a Sunday or a holiday using USPS Priority Mail Express.
More expensive: The cost of USPS Priority Mail Express vs. standard USPS Priority Mail is approximately 3X more.
If you have a package that needs to be delivered quickly and on time, USPS Priority Mail Express service may be a good option despite the extra cost.
During any business year, there will be times when a document or item must be sent to a customer, client, supplier, or regulator expediently. The delivery time offered by standard USPS First Class Mail won’t do. Thankfully, when occasions such as this arise, there’s USPS Priority Mail or USPS Priority Express Mail to provide the timely, affordable mail service you need.