Can you ship catalogs by Media Mail?
USPS's rules: Only certain kinds
USPS names three kinds that qualify: reprints of historic catalogs whose original publishers had no control over or interest in the reprint, catalogs with editorial matter and supplier listings that no supplier paid for, and catalogs of 16 mm or narrower films with at least 24 pages. A company's own sales catalog is the publisher's own advertising, which the book standard counts as advertising, so it ships by First-Class Mail or Ground Advantage ($8.01 to $11.22 online for 1 lb).
Rates verified on
The rule, in USPS's words
Quoted from the official pages linked below each quote, checked Oct 19, 2026.
“Reprints of historic catalogs are also acceptable in the mails at Media Mail prices for books provided that the original publishers or manufacturers had no control over or interest in the reprinting”
“catalogs containing editorial matter concerning products and listings of suppliers provided that no consideration has been paid to the publisher by suppliers or manufacturers for listing in the catalogs.”
“catalogs of such films of 24 pages or more (at least 22 of which are printed).”
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.
| Package | Media Mail (if it qualifies) | 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 reprint of an early-1900s mail-order catalog, 2 lb: Media Mail, $5.13.
- A current retailer's catalog, 1 lb: Ground Advantage, $8.01 to $11.22 online or $10.05 to $13.65 at the counter.
- A 5 lb box of original vintage catalogs: $10.35 to $20.24 online by Ground Advantage.
Every weight from 1 to 70 lb: Media Mail rates · Ground Advantage rates
Edge cases
- The ruling covers reprints. An original old catalog is still its publisher's own advertising, and USPS has no ruling that exempts it.
- A catalog that advertises nothing for sale, such as a museum exhibition catalog, is judged by the book standard itself: eight or more printed pages of reading matter and no ads (DMM 173.4.1a). USPS has no ruling naming it.
- Film catalogs, like films, don't qualify when sent to or from commercial theaters (DMM 173.4.1b).
- A catalog packed loose with qualifying books may count as printed matter mailable as USPS Marketing Mail: see what can ride along.
What to do
- For a reprint, keep the page that names the reprint publisher: it's your evidence if USPS opens the package.
- Ship current and original catalogs by Ground Advantage, or a single flexible one as a First-Class Mail large envelope.
Sources
Rates verified on from each official page below.
- USPS Customer Support Ruling PS-064: Media Mail, Books (updated January 2017)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 173: Media Mail and Library Mail prices and eligibility
- USPS Notice 123: price list (effective Oct 4, 2026), Media Mail and Ground Advantage prices
- USPS: temporary price change for 2026 holiday shipping (Aug 25, 2026)
Free 1-page Reseller Cheat Sheet: fees on 8 platforms, Media Mail and stamp prices
What each platform takes from a $10, $25 and $50 sale, Media Mail 1-10 lb, Ground Advantage to Zones 1, 5 and 8, and the Forever stamp, on one printable page. The link appears as soon as you sign up.