How Does USPS Priority Mail Differ from Standard Mail Services?

USPS Priority Mail delivers faster than standard mail, includes tracking, and offers flat-rate options, making it ideal for urgent shipments. Standard mail is more affordable but lacks tracking, insurance, and guaranteed delivery times, making it better suited for non-urgent items.

By Douglas Wade, Attorney

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Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

Table of Contents

1. What is the difference between standard mail and USPS Priority Mail?

2. An Overview of USPS Ground Advantage

3. USPS Ground Advantage: Benefits and Drawbacks

4. Overview of USPS First Class

5. The Benefits and Drawbacks of USPS First Class

6. Overview of USPS Priority Mail

7. Reasons to Use USPS Priority Mail

8. Cons of Priority Mail from USPS

9. Comparison between Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express

10. What are Priority Mail Flat Rate Products?

11. Choices for Packaging

12. Does the Priority Mail Flat Rate Offer a Better Value?

What is the difference between standard mail and USPS Priority Mail?

When you’re trying to find a dependable and affordable delivery option for your online shopping orders, USPS is your best bet.

After 250 years in the business, this shipping company knows its way throughout the United States and can reliably deliver packages to any location.

Whatever size, weight, or shape your goods is, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has a service that can help you ship it safely. You may provide your consumers with a range of shipping options to suit their needs, whether they’re looking to buy gigantic stuffed animals or cheap underwear.

To help you choose the right option, we’ve compared USPS Ground Advantage, First Class, and Priority Mail to see what each has to offer.

An Overview of USPS Ground Advantage

The United States Postal Service selected to discontinue some of its shipping and return programs in 2023. These programs included Retail Ground, Parcel Select Ground, Ground Returns, First-Class Package Return Service, and USPS First-Class Package Service.

USPS came out with Ground Advantage to take their place. Businesses now have access to a new ground shipment option thanks to this service, which is based on the USPS’s unrivaled last-mile delivery route system and an upgraded postal logistics network.

1. How does USPS Ground Advantage work?

For online retailers seeking a dependable and affordable way to deliver goods to clients in the United States, USPS Ground Advantage is a great choice.

With built-in tracking and insurance, it provides users with piece of mind while offering a fair combination of speed and inexpensive cost.

Within the United States, packages can be delivered to any USPS delivery zone, including military bases, PO Boxes, and Alaska and Hawaii. Expect your order within 2-5 business days.

Orders submitted using Ground Advantage will, as the name suggests, travel via the road via the USPS postal network. Because of this, it is an ideal alternative to shipping things that cannot be transported by air due to their size or bulkiness.

2. Are there any restrictions on the maximum allowable dimensions and weight for shipment?

Because USPS does not provide complimentary packaging for Ground Advantage, you will need to use whatever packing materials you like to carefully wrap all of your items. For this shipping service to work, you must precisely measure your packages and adhere to their weight and size constraints.

There is a 70-pound weight limit for packages, and a 130-inch combined dimension limit. An oversized shipment fee of $100 may apply if you go above these restrictions.

3. Can I get my package on Saturday or Sunday using USPS Ground Advantage?

Although USPS Ground Advantage does not provide Sunday delivery, you have the option to have your packages delivered on Saturdays for no additional fee.

4. Is international shipping an option with USPS Ground Advantage?

Using Ground Advantage to transport packages overseas is not an option. Priority Mail International or another USPS option will be required.

5. What is the price of USPS Ground Advantage?

Package volume, weight, and distance from the delivery address all factor into the postage cost. It’s up to you to choose suitable packing, make your own mailing labels, and add all of that to the final shipment price. There are no complimentary boxes or flat prices offered by USPS for Ground Advantage.

Shipping costs are directly proportional to the package’s weight, size, and the distance it must go.

The starting price is:

00 at the post office near you
$3.79 for business account holders

USPS Ground Advantage: Benefits and Drawbacks

Pros of Ground Advantage:

Decent trade-off between speed and price
Sends packages weighing up to 70 lbs.
Insurance and tracking available
Pickup of packages for free
Only this USPS service allows you to send dangerous (HAZMAT) equipment that cannot fly

Cons of Ground Advantage:

Shipping is not a flat rate
There is no free USPS packing offered.
Lower speed compared to other USPS services

Overview of USPS First Class

The term “first class mail” refers to the worldwide category of mail that includes common postal goods such as letters, A4 papers, postcards, and those bothersome utility bills.

Because it is more suited to routine demands, it is not a priority service. First class mail often refers to items that may be sent in a regular-sized flat rectangular envelope that can be stamped.

1. What does First Class USPS mean?

If you want to send a postcard, letter, or big envelope via the USPS postal network, a cheap and straightforward option is the USPS First Class service.

This is the most cost-effective option for online merchants shipping small things (less than 13 ounces) to American clients, such as sticker sheets, gift cards, postcards, or letters.

Additionally, First Class covers forwarding and return services, and consumers have the option to purchase additional services such as Registered Mail and Certified Mail for a modest cost.

2. Are there any restrictions on the maximum allowable dimensions and weight for shipment?

In order for the post office’s equipment to handle your First Class mail, all of your articles must be “standard” letter sizes and sent in flat, rectangular envelopes.

First Class mailing requires an envelope that is at least 3.5 by 5 inches and 0.007 inches thick. The maximum allowed dimensions are 6.125 x 11.5 inches and 1.25 inches of thickness.

If your item does not meet the dimensions or weight requirements for First Class mail, the US Postal Service may impose an additional cost; therefore, you should verify the dimensions before choosing this service or opt for USPS Ground Advantage.

3. Will I get my package on Saturday or Sunday with USPS First Class?

While the United States Postal Service does not deliver mail on Sundays, they do provide Saturday delivery of First Class mail at no additional cost.

4. Is international shipping available with USPS First Class?

Through its First Class Mail International service, the United States Postal Service delivers packages to more than 180 nations worldwide. This is a great choice for delivering lightweight items like postcards or letters up to 3.5 ounces, or heavier ones like big envelopes up to 15.994 ounces.

The destination, the size and weight of the package, and the shipping method all have a role in the final shipping cost. At $1.55 per stamp, the US Postal Service offers a Global Forever option for letters and postcards that weigh less than 1 ounce.

International First Class Mail does not come with insurance or monitoring, but clients have the option to purchase a Certificate of Mailing or Registered Mail for an extra charge.

5. What is the price of USPS First Class?

The cost of delivering an envelope by USPS First Class depends on its dimensions and weight.

Use the $0.68 USPS First Class Mail Forever stamps for items weighing less than 1 ounce; these stamps will remain valid indefinitely, regardless of changes to the First Class postage rate. This is a great choice if you are price-conscious.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of USPS First Class

Pros of USPS First Class

Lowest-priced USPS service for packages up to thirteen ounces
Items up to 3.5 ounces are subject to a flat-rate pricing
Offers a choice for delivery internationally

Cons of USPS First Class

Lower speed compared to other USPS services
This service is only available for regular-sized mail, not packages
Lacks insurance and tracking
Some items may incur additional shipping costs due to factors such as their size, shape, and the use of external fasteners such as clasps, strings, or buttons.

Overview of USPS Priority Mail

Letters and parcels may be sent to any location in the United States, including PO Boxes, military bases, and Alaska and Hawaii, using the USPS Priority Mail service, which offers a combination of speed and price.

Priority Mail also lets you choose between shipping your packages in free USPS flat-rate envelopes or boxes or according to their weight and dimensions.

1. What is Priority Mail from the USPS?

Packages up to 70 pounds can be sent domestically by USPS Priority Mail. Shipping with this option is quicker than with Ground Advantage, and depending on the origin and destination, you can choose a delivery window of 1, 2, or 3 days. It should be mentioned that this service does not come with any guarantees.

Use USPS Priority Mail Express instead if your consumers want expedited shipment. In addition to Priority Mail’s standard capabilities, this option ensures overnight or 2-day delivery to several US destinations. Although it’s more costly than regular Priority Mail, it’s the best option for clients who want expedited delivery of their products.

2. Are there any restrictions on the maximum allowable dimensions and weight for shipment?

You may transport things up to 70 pounds with Priority Mail, just like with Ground Advantage. The service does have a maximum length and thickness limit of 108 inches, though. To avoid the steep USPS large item fees, Ground Advantage might be a better choice if your shipment dimensions exceed this.

Priority Mail allows you to save money on packaging by allowing you to buy free shipping supplies from the USPS to use in packing your goods.

3. Is Saturday and Sunday delivery possible with USPS Priority Mail?

Customers may choose for Saturday delivery at no additional cost with Priority Mail, just like with Ground Advantage and First Class. However, take note that Priority Mail does not deliver on Sundays.

4. Is overseas shipping possible with USPS Priority Mail?

There is a USPS Priority Mail International service that can deliver packages to 180 countries outside of the US. Use USPS flat rate boxes for cheap shipping or calculate your shipping cost according to your package’s size, weight, and destination.

5. What does Priority Mail from USPS cost?

The cost of shipping your goods by USPS Priority Mail depends on its packaging. For domestic US deliveries of up to 70 pounds, the United States Postal Service offers flat rate shipping packets such Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Flat Rate Boxes.

Your company mailing address, parcel destination, and dimensions will determine the shipping cost if you’re not using USPS flat rate packaging.

Reasons to Use USPS Priority Mail

Delivery within six days, including Saturdays: Unless it’s a Sunday, deliveries take place every day of the week. You may rest assured that your mailer will arrive promptly, even though you submitted it around the weekend.

Any Post Office Can Send Mail: The freedom to use any post office in your area to send mail is a major perk. Another benefit is that you may reduce delivery times by using printers that are geographically closer to the destination.
Give the delivery person the priority mail: Another option is to have the mail given to the delivery person during their routine delivery. In addition, your prepaid products do not incur any additional charges.
Postal Service Tracking Is Now Available: You can trace the delivery of your direct mail using Priority Mail and the US Postal Service at no extra cost because it comes with tracking functionality.
Services of Package Pickup and On-Demand Pickup: At the time of standard postal delivery, you have the option to hand over your mailer to the delivery person at Package Pickup. With the USPS’s Pickup on Demand service, you can tell them exactly when to come get your priority mail at your house or place of business. Your mail pickup may be scheduled here.
Use a Postage Meter or Stamps to Pay for Postage: You may use standard postage stamps or a postage meter to pay for Priority Mail. U.S. Postal Service Corporate Account holders, however, are unable to purchase Priority Mail stamps.
Free Postal Mail Forwarding and Return: The United States Postal Service’s (USPS) complimentary postal mail forwarding and return service is another unique feature of Priority Mail.
Upgrade Your Priority Mail with Additional Services: Additional postal services, such as insurance, are available for purchase. Domestic Priority Mail offers two different levels of insurance, $50 and $100, depending on the chosen payment method.

Cons of Priority Mail from USPS

Prices may be higher than those of other USPS domestic services due to factors, including package size and distance traveled
No assurance of delivery time
Some things can’t be shipped (like plants or anything that needs a signature upon delivery, for example)

Comparison between Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express

The United States Postal Service also offers Priority Mail Express. People often get Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express mixed up since they aren’t familiar with the differences between the two. The domestic delivery time for Priority Express Mail, formerly known as Express Mail, is 1–3 business days.

Overnight shipping is an option for the majority of US addresses, including post office boxes. However, the guarantee that comes with Priority Mail Express is what sets it apart from regular Priority Mail.

Say the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver your Priority Mail Express package. If that’s the case, you can get your postal money back. Return packages to the Post Office from where you made the delivery in order to initiate the refund process. Priority Mail Express is the way to go if you need to transmit a really critical document.

What are Priority Mail Flat Rate Products?

We have already covered ordinary Priority Mail, and the Priority Mail Flat Rate postal service is quite similar. The primary distinction is that with Priority Mail Flat Rate, you may pay a fixed amount for your mailpiece irrespective of its weight or location.

Nevertheless, in order for a mailpiece to be classified as a flat rate, it must fulfill certain requirements. First things first: envelopes and packages using Priority Mail Flat Rate can’t weigh more than 70 pounds. The United States Postal Service offers free shipping materials at their post offices and will even deliver them to your house or place of business.

Choices for Packaging

Priority Mail Flat Rate provides a variety of packing options, including six distinct boxes and three different types of envelopes in various sizes.

Whether you pick an envelope or a box determines the Priority Mail Flat Rate price. Put simply, Priority Mail Flat Rate is the same regardless of package weight or distance traveled.

Does the Priority Mail Flat Rate Offer a Better Value?

Depending on your specific postal mailpiece, Priority Mail Flat Rate might not be the most cost-effective choice. For small and heavy packages, most merchants often choose to use a flat rate. On the other hand, the Commercial service is cost-effective for packages that are both large in size and light in weight.

When shipping domestically, Priority Mail Flat Rate is an affordable option for items under 70 pounds. Flat Rate allows you to deliver packages throughout the country regardless of the distance. Plus, you can pay as little as $7.65 for Priority Mail Flat Rate.

Package dimensions, weight, and final destination determine the Priority Mail Retail and Commercial pricing. Retail or Commerce, on the other hand, are the way to go if your mailpiece is big, light, and the destination is close by.

Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

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