USPS package rules resellers trip on

Every extra package fee, on one table

Added on top of postage, at the Post Office and online unless the row says online labels. A parcel that owes a length fee and the tube, can or wooden box fee pays only the higher one; the 2 cubic feet fee stacks with either.

Size, weight and the fees that come with them

• What does USPS charge for a package over 22 inches long?

  $4.50 over 22 in.; over 30 in. $10.00 (Ground Advantage) or $21.00 (Priority Mail).

• What is the USPS fee for a box over 2 cubic feet?

  $21.00 (Ground Advantage) or $35.00 (Priority Mail) over 3,456 cubic in., on top of dimensional weight.

• Why does USPS charge extra for a poster tube, tin or wooden box?

  $4.50 for tubes and rolls, cans, wood or metal boxes, and parcels with more than 24 oz of liquid in glass.

• What is the USPS Dimension Noncompliance Fee?

  $3.00 per parcel when an online label's box dimensions are missing or wrong; until Phase Two, on parcels over 1 cu ft or 22 in.

• How does USPS dimensional weight work?

  Over 1,728 cubic in., USPS bills the greater of actual weight and L x W x H / 139, each side rounded up first.

• What is the largest and heaviest package USPS will take?

  70 lb and 108 in. length plus girth (130 in. by Ground Advantage, at the oversized price); beyond that, a $200.00 fee.

• Does USPS round up package weight?

  Ground Advantage steps at 4, 8, 12 and 15.999 oz, then whole pounds; any fraction rounds up. Priority Mail rounds up to the pound.

• Can you tape two boxes together and ship them as one USPS package?

  Yes if they're about the same size or shape and securely fastened, within the limits; never with Flat Rate boxes.

• Which packages qualify for USPS Cubic pricing?

  Ground Advantage Cubic: up to 1 cu ft, 20 lb, 22 in. Priority Mail Cubic: up to 0.5 cu ft. No tubes; online labels only.

Envelopes, letters and stamps

• When does a padded envelope count as a package instead of a large envelope?

  Large envelope prices only up to 15 x 12 x 3/4 in., flexible and evenly thick (1/4 in. variance); otherwise parcel prices.

• What makes a letter nonmachinable, and what does USPS charge?

  49¢ on letters that are square or narrow, rigid, lumpy, in plastic, clasped, or addressed along the short side.

• Can you mail a package with stamps?

  Yes, but over 10 oz or 1/2 in. thick it must be handed in at a Post Office counter; stamps pay retail prices.

Boxes and packaging

• Can you reuse a box with old labels, barcodes or logos for USPS?

  Yes if rigid with flaps intact; cover old labels and fully remove hazmat or alcohol marks, or risk the $50.00 fee.

• Can you use a free Priority Mail box for Ground Advantage?

  No: anything in USPS Priority Mail packaging pays Priority Mail prices, even turned inside out or with markings covered.

• What packaging does USPS require for books, records and CDs?

  Hardcovers over 1 lb or 1 in. need more than a plain envelope; shrinkwrap alone only for paperbacks to 3 lb; heavy boxes need tested board.

• How do you ship liquids by USPS?

  Screw caps, triple packaging over 4 fl oz, a liquid mark and arrows; $4.50 over 24 oz in glass or 1 gal in plastic or metal.

Batteries, flammables and other hazmat

• Can you ship a used phone, laptop or camera with a lithium battery by USPS?

  Ground Advantage only, marked 'Restricted Electronic Device' and 'Surface Transportation Only', declared as hazmat at the label.

• Can you mail loose lithium batteries by USPS?

  Only in original sealed packaging, ground only, up to 5 lb, with the battery mark and Surface Mail Only text; loose spares go with the device.

• Can you ship perfume, nail polish or aerosol cans by USPS?

  Inside the US by ground: Ground Advantage, not Priority Mail, with the DOT Limited Quantity mark and size limits.

• Can you mail matches or a lighter by USPS?

  Safety matches by ground only, marked 'Surface Only'; no strike-anywhere matches; no fueled lighters without DOT and USPS approval.

• What does USPS charge to ship hazmat?

  $7.50 handling by Priority Mail, $0.00 by Ground Advantage; $50.00 for hazmat not properly declared on online labels.

Insurance, signatures and addresses

• How much insurance is included with Ground Advantage and Priority Mail?

  Up to $100 with a tracking barcode; extra coverage to $5,000 from $2.80. Used items are depreciated.

• How much is USPS Signature Confirmation, and when is Adult Signature needed?

  Signature Confirmation $4.15 online or $5.15 at the counter; Adult Signature (21+) $9.70, online labels only.

• Can you ship to a PO Box, and what if the address has a street too?

  With a street and a PO Box on the label, USPS delivers to the line just above the city, state and ZIP.

• How do you ship an online sale to an APO, FPO or DPO address?

  Domestic prices, but a customs form for anything 16 oz or more or containing goods; no used electronics or spare batteries.