--- title: "Media Mail to APO, FPO and DPO addresses: the rules" description: "Yes, at domestic Media Mail prices. A customs form is needed at 16 oz or more or if it holds goods, and some military post offices set lower limits." canonical: https://resellerindex.com/usps/media-mail/apo-fpo/ last_updated: 2026-10-19 publisher: "The Reseller Index" --- # Can you send Media Mail to an APO, FPO or DPO address? USPS's rules: Yes, with a customs form **Yes. APO, FPO and DPO addresses are domestic mail, so Media Mail costs the same as anywhere in the US: $4.39 up to 1 lb, $5.13 up to 2 lb and $7.34 up to 5 lb.** The package needs a computer-generated customs form if it weighs 16 oz or more or contains goods, and if it carries a customs form and is paid with stamps only, it has to go over a Post Office counter. Some APO and FPO destinations have lower size and weight limits, and mail to military or State Department retirees (Box R) is limited to 16 oz. Rates verified on Oct 19, 2026 ## The rule, in USPS's words Quoted from the official pages linked below each quote, checked Oct 19, 2026. > “Domestic mail is mail transmitted within, among, and between the United States of America, its territories and possessions, Army Post Offices (APOs), Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), Diplomatic Post Offices (DPO)” [Domestic Mail Manual 608.2.1](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/608.htm#a_2_1) · USPS Domestic Mail Manual 608: domestic mail, territories and customs forms > “The mailpiece weighs 16 ounces or more (regardless of its contents, value, shape, or mail class).” [Domestic Mail Manual 703.2.7.3](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#a_2_7_3) · USPS Domestic Mail Manual 703: military mail and mixed classes > “Lower size and weight standards than provided under 3.2 may apply to Library Mail and Media Mail addressed to certain APOs and FPOs” [Domestic Mail Manual 101.7.0](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#a_7_0) · USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101: physical standards (size and weight limits, large envelopes) > “PAL is available for USPS Ground Advantage – Retail, USPS Ground Advantage – Commercial, Package Services, or Parcel Select pieces that do not exceed 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined” [Domestic Mail Manual 703.2.10.2](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#a_2_10_2) · USPS Domestic Mail Manual 703: military mail and mixed classes ## What it costs to ship Media Mail costs the same to every US address, with a 1 lb minimum ($4.39) and any fraction of a pound rounded up. Ground Advantage, USPS's ground package service with tracking included, is priced by weight and zone: online is USPS's commercial price for labels bought online, and the counter price is retail. *USD, weight not over. USPS Notice 123 effective Oct 4, 2026; Ground Advantage includes USPS's temporary holiday prices, in effect until 12 a.m. CT Jan 17, 2027 (Media Mail isn't affected). Selling platforms and label services can have their own rates.* | Package | Media Mail | Ground Advantage online, Zones 1-9 | Ground Advantage at the counter, Zones 1-9 | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | | 1 lb | $4.39 | $8.01 to $11.22 | $10.05 to $13.65 | | 2 lb | $5.13 | $8.39 to $13.42 | $11.30 to $19.80 | | 5 lb | $7.34 | $10.35 to $20.24 | $13.75 to $27.45 | ### Worked examples - A 2 lb box of books to an APO AE address: Media Mail, $5.13, with a customs form because it's over 16 oz. - Parcel Airlift (PAL) moves it by air on a space-available basis for a fee on top: $1.45 up to 2 lb, $2.45 up to 3 lb, $3.30 up to 4 lb and $4.30 up to 30 lb. Mark the parcel "PAL" in large letters on the address side ([DMM 703.2.10.6](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#a_2_10_6)). - A 5 lb box by Media Mail with PAL: $11.64. Every weight from 1 to 70 lb: [Media Mail rates](https://resellerindex.com/rates/media-mail/) · [Ground Advantage rates](https://resellerindex.com/rates/ground-advantage/) ## Edge cases - Don't add a foreign city or country: an address showing them is charged international prices ([DMM 703.2.3.2](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#a_2_3_2)). - A package with a customs form must be handed to a counter clerk if it's paid with stamps only or its customs form is handwritten or not computer-generated ([DMM 703.2.5.2](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#a_2_5_2)). - Box R retiree addresses take only 16 oz ([DMM 703.2.2.2](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#a_2_2_2)). ## What to do - Buy the label from a service that generates the customs form, or fill out the form at the counter. - Use the APO, FPO or DPO address exactly as given, with AA, AE or AP and the ZIP Code. ## Related questions - [Can you ship Media Mail to Puerto Rico, Guam or the Virgin Islands?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/media-mail/us-territories/) Yes, same price. Media Mail has no zones, so it costs the same as anywhere in the US; 16 oz or more to Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas or the Freely Associated States needs a customs form. - [What are the Media Mail weight and size limits?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/media-mail/weight-and-size-limits/) Up to 70 lb and 108 in. in length plus girth; priced per pound with a 1 lb minimum, any fraction rounded up. - [Do you have to take Media Mail to the Post Office counter?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/media-mail/post-office-counter/) With stamps over 10 oz, yes. Pieces paid only with stamps that weigh over 10 oz or are over 1/2 in. thick must go over the counter. The DMM also allows meter and PC Postage labels. - [Does Media Mail include tracking and insurance?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/media-mail/insurance-and-tracking/) Tracking included, insurance extra: you can buy insurance and add Signature Confirmation, but Adult Signature isn't offered. ### USPS package rules beyond Media Mail - [How do you ship an online sale to an APO, FPO or DPO address?](https://resellerindex.com/usps/rules/apo-fpo-dpo-shipping/) [All 25 Media Mail questions](https://resellerindex.com/usps/media-mail/) · [Cheapest way to ship books](https://resellerindex.com/guides/cheapest-way-to-ship-books/) ## Sources Rates verified on Oct 19, 2026 from each official page below. - [USPS Domestic Mail Manual 608: domestic mail, territories and customs forms](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/608.htm) - [USPS Domestic Mail Manual 703: military mail and mixed classes](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm) - [USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101: physical standards (size and weight limits, large envelopes)](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm) - [USPS Notice 123: price list (effective Oct 4, 2026), Media Mail and Ground Advantage prices](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm) - [USPS: temporary price change for 2026 holiday shipping (Aug 25, 2026)](https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0825-usps-announces-temporary-price-change-for-2026-holiday-shipping-season.htm) Subscribe: https://resellerindex.com/subscribe/ --- The Reseller Index Researched and drafted with AI assistance from each platform's and carrier's own published pages. A full-time reseller runs The Reseller Index and will edit every newsletter issue once the newsletter starts. Every number links to its source and carries the date we checked it. Spot an error? [Tell us](https://resellerindex.com/corrections/) and we'll fix it in the public corrections log. General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by eBay, Amazon, Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, Whatnot, Etsy, TikTok Shop, USPS, the IRS or the software companies whose prices we track; their names belong to them. Each page shows the date its own rates were last checked. Sponsored placements are always labeled "Sponsored". © 2026 The Reseller Index. No trackers, no ad cookies.