Can I include a packing slip, invoice, coupon or bookmark in Media Mail?
USPS's rules: Yes
Yes. An invoice that relates only to what's in the package can go inside it or in an "Invoice Enclosed" envelope on the outside, and it may show names and addresses, items, prices, order number, ship date and postage paid. Separately, any printed matter that is mailable as USPS Marketing Mail, such as a flyer, coupon, business card or paper bookmark for your store, may be included loose with qualifying items at Media Mail prices. Freebies that aren't printed matter, such as keychains, pens or candy, follow the mixed-box rule instead.
Rates verified on
The rule, in USPS's words
Quoted from the official pages linked below each quote, checked Oct 19, 2026.
“An invoice, whether it also serves as a bill, may be placed either inside a Media Mail or Library Mail piece or in an envelope marked "Invoice Enclosed" and attached to the outside of the piece”
“Names and quantities of the articles enclosed, descriptions of each (e.g., price, tax, style, stock number, size, and quality, and, if defective, nature of defects).”
“any printed matter that is mailable as USPS Marketing Mail may be included loose with any qualifying material mailed at the Media Mail or Library Mail prices.”
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 | 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 15 oz book, a packing slip and a coupon card, 15.5 oz together: $4.39.
- A 3 lb box of books with a 2 oz paper flyer: 3 lb 2 oz rounds up to 4 lb, $6.60.
- A 2 lb box of books with a keychain freebie: the keychain isn't a permitted enclosure, so the whole box pays the higher price (DMM 703.9.1.1), $8.39 to $13.42 online by Ground Advantage.
Every weight from 1 to 70 lb: Media Mail rates · Ground Advantage rates
Edge cases
- The invoice must relate solely to the matter it's mailed with (DMM 173.6.3).
- A bill for the product can also go in as an incidental First-Class Mail enclosure (DMM 173.6.4).
- DMM 243.2.1 caps USPS Marketing Mail at 20 oz for most pieces (DMM 243.2.1), so keep loose printed extras light, and lighter than the qualifying items (PS-303).
What to do
- Print the packing slip and drop it in the box; weigh the box after.
- Keep freebies to paper: a non-paper gift can cost you the Media Mail price.
Sources
Rates verified on from each official page below.
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 173: Media Mail and Library Mail prices and eligibility
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 703: military mail and mixed classes
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 243: USPS Marketing Mail content standards
- USPS Customer Support Ruling PS-303: Determining the Classification of Mail, Host Piece Test (updated July 2018)
- 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.