The USPS (United States Postal Service) offers various shipping services. There are three main shipping service tiers that most people think about are Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and First Class Package. The major differentiation is the speed of the service and its costs. Priority Mail Express is the fastest and most expensive shipping service with overnight guarantees. Priority Mail is the tier below Priority Mail Express. It offers ship times of 1 to 3 days. You can get a good estimate of your shipment times based on this map. Just enter the ZIP code you are shipping from and it will show you which areas will get your package in 1, 2, or 3 days.

The tier below Priority Mail is the First-Class Package Service, which also has ship times between 1 and 3 days, but the maximum package weight is limited to anything below 13 ounces.

USPS Retail Ground and Media Mail are other shipping options, but are less popular. Ground service ships between 2 to 8 days and is generally not significantly less expensive than Priority Mail in most situations. Media Mail is limited to media like books, films, or printed music. You can’t send general goods with Media Mail, so it can be limiting, but if you have a lot of books to ship, it will save you a lot of money.

What is Priority Mail?

Firstly, what is Priority Mail? It’s one of the best-selling services for USPS and is its basic air service. Within Priority Mail there are additional package and rate options that include Flat Rate boxes and Flat Rate Envelopes. Priority Mail allows for parcels up to 70lbs. Pricing starts from $7.70.

To get a money-money back, guaranteed overnight or 2-day delivery you’ll have to opt for Priority Mail Express. Pricing for this option starts at $26.35.

What are the delivery times?

So, how fast is Priority Mail? As a rule, domestic Priority Mail can take as little as 1-3 days. Priority Mail gets delivered everyday except Sunday. International Priority Mail taking approximately 6-10 business days. However, delivery times are not guaranteed and may occasionally run into a delay.

When you choose the Priority Mail option, you will get an estimated delivery day on your receipt and tracking information. If you need to get your shipment there quicker, it would be best to go for Priority Mail Express which is their fastest service available.

Does Priority Mail include insurance?

Insurance of up to $100 and delivery confirmation or tracking are included as part of the price with the domestic option. You can also get shipping insurance from a third party provider. Shippo offers this with their shipping software. As with most USPS services, there are many add-on options such as signature confirmation upon delivery, but this costs extra. One major perk from USPS is the free pickup available from your home or office.

Insurance of $200 is also included for international deliveries.  For Priority Mail International, the maximum weight for small flat rate boxes and envelopes is 4 lbs. For medium and large flat rate boxes, the maximum weight is 20 lbs. If you are using your own box and not a flat rate one, the maximum package weight is 70 lbs.

In terms of what can and can’t be shipped, be sure to read the fine print and ask questions if you are unsure. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Restrictions include aerosols, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cremated remains, firearms, glues, paint, and perfumes. We advise taking the time to read the list to be clear on what’s restricted.

What are the different rates available?

The rates for domestic Priority Mail include flat rates, dimensional, weight-based rate, and regional rate.  The rates for international Priority Mail include a weight-based rate and a flat rate.

When considering Priority Mail vs UPS ground, USPS is known to be much cheaper. It also offers flat rates, which in most instances turn out to be the best option. This is particularly true if you are a small business and are looking to ensure the best possible rates if you are shipping on a regular basis.

In terms of speed, Stamps.com reported that USPS delivered 1 whole day quicker than UPS ground. That’s a major difference, especially if speed is important to you. UPS ground is known to be slower and wouldn’t be a great choice for time-sensitive deliveries.

In relation to USPS first class vs Priority Mail: There are a number of differences, namely the size of packages to be delivered. USPS first-class mail is limited to less than 13 oz per package. As we have mentioned above, Priority Mail packages can weigh up to 70 lbs. and include insurance.

How can I ship via Priority Mail?

You can use any box to ship Priority Mail, but if you want to take advantage of the flat rates, you will have to use the specific USPS branded ones that can be picked up at any post office or ordered online for free. For Priority Mail Express, there are USPS address labels that must be used. There is also the option to go online to print your labels on Click & Print if you want to pay retail, or Stamps.com, if you want discounted postage. If speed is very important to get your package to its destination, you should note that Priority Mail Express delivers on Sundays in some major markets but Priority Mail does not.

USPS is pretty particular when it comes to the actual packaging of shipments. They offer advice on their website to ensure everything is streamlined. They say that container flaps should always close within normal folds on a flat rate envelope or box.

Extra services include the following:

●  You can buy extra insurance coverage up to $5000. This covers indemnity for loss or damage for items where you might need extra protection.

●  Registered mail where you can insure items up to $50,000. This can be used where you have items that are of extremely high value and you need extra insurance.

●  Fragile or special handling. There are content restrictions here, so again, we would advise checking this out further to ensure you are covered with the items you are sending. Pricing starts at $11.35.

●  Restricted delivery. This specifies who can sign for your item and who can return it. ID may be required for this option so check with the chosen person to ensure they have all necessary documentation. Prices range from $5.34 to $9.15.

●  Adult Signature (Restricted Delivery). Proof of identity and age is required for this option. The person needs to prove that they are over the age of 21.

●  Certified Mail and Return Receipts. Sender gets a mailing receipt once the package has been delivered. This is on top of the regular tracking number so that a record of delivery is maintained which includes the recipient’s signature. This record is kept at the Post Office of deliver two years from the date of mailing.

●  USPS Tracking Plus. Extends tracking history access. USPS tracking numbers are usually stored for 120 days, with Tracking Plus, the tracking information can be extended from an additional 6 months to 10 years.

●  Collect on Delivery. Also known as COD. This service allows the sender to collect money from the recipient. Payment is given to the postal carrier by your recipient. This payment can be fees for the postage or merchandise itself.