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Postal Help

Postal Specifications Chart

Postal Specifications Chart
  MIN MAX
First Class Post Cards
Height
3.5"
4.25"
Length
5"
6"
Thickness
.007"
.016"
Letters (all classes)
Height
3.5"
6.125"
Length
5"
11.5"
Thickness
.009"
.25"
Automation Compatible Flat - Size Mail
Height
6"
12"
Length
6"
15"
Thickness
.009"
.75"

Quick Tips:
  • Mail length is the dimension that parallels the lines of the delivery address.
  • Rectangular shape, with a height-to-length ratio of between 1.3 and 2.5.
  • 100% of the mailing must be delivery point bar-coded to qualify for automated rates.
  • Flats can be either zip + 4 bar-coded or delivery point bar-coded.
  • Minimum thickness for letters measuring 4.24" x 6" or less is .007"

First Class Mail

 
     
   
 

 
 
  • Advantages :
    • Speedy Delivery: First Class mail, in-state, is generally delivered in 1 to 2 days, and rarely takes longer than a week to anywhere in the continental U.S.
    • Returned Mail: Bad addresses and moves that are 12 to 18 months old come back to the sender at no charge. Moves within 12 months automatically get forwarded (or could be directed by the use of postal endorsements) to come back to the sender. In either case, there is no charge.
    • Postal employees try harder: Postal employees are instructed to make every effort to deliver first class mail. No directional indicator? Bad handwriting? If it's first class there's a good chance of arrival.
    • Likely to be opened by the recipient: Because things of importance are mailed first class (bills, travel confirmation, etc.) recipients often feel compelled to open their first class mail.

  • Disadvantages :
    • Cost: The postage on first class mail is higher than some of the other classes of mail to compensate for the additional services provided.
    • Weight / Cost: Standard mail keeps the same rate as long as the piece weighs less than 3.3 ounces. The cost of first class mail rises incrementally with every ounce.
    • Weight Restriction: Weight of a single piece cannot exceed 13 ounces.
 
   
   
   
   
   
  Standard Mail  
     
 
  • Advantages
    • Low Cost: The Post Office gives standard mail users a low postage rate.
    • Up to 3.3 ounces: While first class postage increases with every ounce, standard mail gives you the same low rate of postage up to 3.3087 ounces.
    • Incremental postage increase: After 3.3 ounces, postage goes up incrementally as the weight goes up.

  • Disadvantages
    • Slow Delivery: Standard mail generally takes 4 to 8 business days, in-state. Across the U.S., 10 days to 3 weeks is normal delivery time. Worse yet, there is no guarantee that a portion of the mail will not take longer.
    • Not required to return mail: The Post Office is not required to return undeliverable mail, and in fact throws most undeliverable standard mail away. While a mailer can use an endorsement to be notified of moves or bad addresses, it is not a free service.
    • Weight Restriction: Weight of a single piece cannot exceed 1 pound, unless your piece qualifies for bulk printed matter.
    • Qualification: To qualify for standard mail, one must have 50 lbs. or 200 pieces of mail. Either way, all the pieces must have identical weight.
  
  Postage Permits
  • Postal Regs :

    Postage permits or indicias are marking on your mail piece that tells the postal service what class of mail you are sending your piece at and which account to take the postage from. They are an alternative to a live postage stamp or a meter. If you are using Direct Mail Advertising to process your mail, you can use our permit on your mailpiece. If you would like to get one yourself, there is a price per class of mail, per year. Contact your local bulk mail center for details.

  • Preparation :

    Permits may be imprinted by a printing press, hand stamp, lithography, mimeograph, multigraph, address plate, ink-jet machine or similar device. They may not be typewritten or hand-drawn.

  • Legibilty :

    The imprint must be legible, of at least 4 pts. In type size and of a color that contrasts sufficiently with the paper or printing on the mail piece.

  • Placement :

    The entire permit must be aligned parallel with the address of the mailpiece and placed in the upper right-hand corner of the address area or the address label. The position of the permit may be varied so that data processing equipment can simultaneously print the address, indicia, and other postal information. But regardless, the indicia must not encroach on reserved space on the mailpiece such as the OCR read area.

  • Wording :

    See the wording of various permits below.

  
 

1ST CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 99999
ANAHEIM, CA
PRESORTED
1ST CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 99999
ANAHEIM, CA
NON - PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 99999
ANAHEIM, CA
PRESORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 99999
ANAHEIM, CA

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  To download DMA's permit Indicia, click here