Transcript MAILPIECE DESIGN

Standard Mail
STANDARD MAIL
PROCESSING CATEGORIES
The size of your mailpiece determines the rates
available to you.
 Letters
 Flats
 Machinable
 Irregular
Parcels
Parcels
STANDARD MAIL

Standard Mail weighs less than one
pound and includes circulars, printed
matter, pamphlets, catalogs,
newsletters, direct mail and
merchandise.

Standard Mail is not closed against
postal inspection. It may not include:
 Mail of a personal nature

Bills or invoices
Statements of account
Handwritten or typewritten matter
 Keys or identification devices


STANDARD MAIL
BASIC REQUIREMENTS

Application Fee $ 180.00 (Permit Imprint)

Annual Bulk Fee $ 180.00

Minimum 200 pieces (or 50 lbs) per mailing

Submit at least one mailing every two years

Mail pieces must weight less than one pound

Correct ZIP Code on mail pieces

Properly sorted into packages, trays, sacks or pallets

Deposited at designated entry point

Required Postage Statement
STANDARD MAIL
Postage Payment Methods
Permit
Imprint
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BALTIMORE MD
PERMIT NO. 1
PRSRT STD
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
BALTIMORE MD
PERMIT NO. 3
Meter
Precanceled
Stamp
PRSRT STD
NONPROFIT ORG
Standard Mail
Permit Imprint
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
COLUMBIA MD
PERMIT NO. 3

$180.00 additional one-time nonrefundable fee ( PS 3615)

$180.00 annual Bulk Fee

Imprint made by printing, hand stamping, or computer

All pieces within a permit imprint mailing must be identical
in weight

Open advance deposit (trust account) by depositing
money at post office to cover cost of mailing prior to or at
the time of mailing
COMPANY PERMIT IMPRINT OPTION
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
JOHN DOE COMPANY
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AMER RED CROSS
The name of the company in the indicia must
possess the permit.
The permit holder must retain records of mailing
for one year.
Mail piece must bear a domestic return address.
STANDARD MAIL
Pre-canceled Stamps
PRSRT STD
 No
Application fee
 Annual
Bulk Fee required
 Assigned
value of $0.05 (non-profit)
$ 0.10 (commercial)
 Pay
additional postage at time of mailing
 Return
address required
STANDARD MAIL
Postage Meter
 No Application
fee
 Meter
license
 Lease
meter from manufacturer
 “Presorted
Standard” or “PRSRT STD”
slug; or “Non Profit org.” for non-profit
mailers (order from meter manufacturer)
 Affix
rate
postage at the correct or lowest
189
Standard Mail
Unlike First-Class Mail, Standard
Mail doesn’t use weight to determine
postage for pieces that weigh less than
3.3 ounces.
All pieces of Standard Mail weighing less than 3.3 ounces
can be mailed at the same per piece postage rate.
Pieces weighing more than 3.3 ounces are charged
a per-piece rate plus a per-pound rate.
MACHINABILITY STANDARDS
BOOKLETS AND FOLDED SELF- MAILERS MUST BE TABBED
Multiple Sheets
Two Tabs
Fold Spine on bottom
Paper weight 20 lb
There are many tabbing
options available,
depending on thickness
and folding method.
Refer to the Publication
25-Designing Letter Mail
for illustrated examples.
POSTAL BUSINESS CENTER
2035 HURLEY WAY STE 200
SACRAMENTO CA 95825-3209
Standard Mail
Flat Size
11-1/2 to 15 inches
Height:
6-1/8 to 12 inches
Thickness: .25 to .75 inch
Weight: less than 16 ounces
Flats mailed at automation rates
have slightly different size
restrictions.
12”
height
Length:
Length
15”
Final Fold or Bound
Edge Forward

No tabbing requirements
pc
mag
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Polywrap, Polybag, Shrinkwrap

Some films
are
acceptable
JOEL SCHROEDER
US POSTAL SERVICE
500 W CHESTNUT EXPY RM 140
SPRINGFIELD MO 65801-9996
PREPARATION
Nonautomation Letters
Presorting a Mailing
5
3
A
X
Labeling packages
All pieces for the same 5-digit Zip
code ( also called “direct”)
All pieces for the same first three digits of
a Zip Code
All pieces for the same area
distribution center Label List L004
Mixed ADC pieces for two or more area
distribution centers
Information Line Formats
Optional Endorsement
Line
************* 5 DIGIT 22030
Jonathan R. Marburger
3815 CHAIN BRIDGE RD
FAIRFAX VA 22030-3999
Nonautomation Letters
Packaging
5-digit
3-digit
5
10+
3
10+
ADC
A
Mixed-ADC
10
10+
X

Any remaining pieces must be put into mixedADC package(s)

Place tan label MS in lower left corner of top
piece of package
Nonautomation Letters
Traying - 3/5 Rate
5-digit
3-digit
5
10+
Full
5-digit
3
10+

Prepare full trays for
the same
5-digit ZIP Code
– Packaging is
optional for full
5-digit trays
Nonautomation Letters
Traying - 3/5 Rate
5-digit
3-digit
5
10+
3

Place remaining packages
(D’s & 3’s) for the same 3digit area in 3-digit trays

One less-than-full or
overflow tray allowed for
a 3-digit area
10+
Full
3/5 rate
5-digit
3-digit
Nonautomation Letters
Traying - Basic Rate
5-digit
3-digit
ADC
5
10+
3
10+
A
10+

Prepare full
trays with
packages to the
same ADC
–
Basic rate
Full
ADC
Consult
Labeling
List L004
to match
ZIPs with
correct
ADC
Nonautomation Letters
Traying - Basic Rate
5-digit
3-digit
ADC
5
10+
3
10+
A
Mixed-ADC
10+

Place any remaining packages
in mixed-ADC tray(s)

Tray need not be full
X
Basic rate
Mixed-ADC
Nonautomation Letters
Tray Labeling

Tray label for 5-digit tray

Line 1, use city, state, ZIP Code of destination
Destination
Contents
Origin
WASHINGTON DC
20036
STD LTRS 5D NON BC
WASHINGTON DC
MACHINABILITY STANDARDS
Aspect Ratio
Length Divided by Height =
1.3 - 2.5
Unacceptable
5 ÷ 4 = 1.25
4"
5"
Aspect
Ratio
Acceptable
4"
6 ÷ 4 = 1.5
6"
MACHINABILITY STANDARDS
Polywrap, Polybag, Shrink-wrap
0.32
Bill Russell
3447 Harbor Dr.
Westridge, MA 23435
AMY JONES
4532 WEST DRIVE
SAN ANTONIO TX 78284-9623
MACHINABILITY STANDARDS
BOOKLETS AND FOLDED SELF- MAILERS MUST BE TABBED
Multiple Sheets
Two Tabs
Fold Spine on bottom
Paper weight 20 lb
POSTAL BUSINESS CENTER
2035 HURLEY WAY STE 200
SACRAMENTO CA 95825-3209
There are many tabbing
options available,
depending on thickness
and folding method.
Refer to the Domestic
Mail Manual or
Publication 25-Designing
Letter Mail for illustrated
examples.
READABILITY STANDARDS
Barcode Clear Zone
Barcode Clear Zone
Barcode Clear Zone
4 3/4”
Barcode Clear Zone
Barcode Clear Zone
5/8”
Nonautomation Letters
Tray Labeling - MACHINABLE

Tray label for 5-digit tray

Line 1, use city, state, ZIP Code of destination
Destination
Contents
Origin
WASHINGTON DC
STD LTRS 5D MACH
WASH DC
20037
Nonautomation Letters
Tray Labeling - MACHINABLE

Tray label for 3-digit tray

Line 1, use Labeling List L002, Column A, for
destination facility
Destination
Contents
Origin
LAKELAND FL
338
STD LTRS 3D MACH
WASH DC
Nonautomation Letters
Tray Labeling - MACHINABLE

Tray label for AADC tray

Line 1, use Labeling List L801 for destination
facility
Destination
Contents
Origin
AADC WASHINGTON DC 200
STD LTRS AADC MACH
WASH DC
Nonautomation Letters
Tray Labeling - MACHINABLE

Tray label for mixed-AADC tray

Line 1, use Labeling List L803
Destination
MXD WASHINGTON DC 200
Contents
STD LTRS MACH WKG
Origin
WASH DC
UNITED STATES
POSTAL SERVICE
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• Local Postal Personnel
Mailpiece Design Analyst
(410) 347-4645
Reviews layouts before printing,
provides free Reply Mail artwork,
free design publications & templates.
Business Mail Entry
(410) 347-4436
Explains Postal requirements
concerning rates, mail sortation
& preparation.
National Contact
National Customer Support Center
(800) 238-3150
Postal services available for your address data base. Lists of certified
CASS & PAVE software. NCOA, ACS, Move Update Information. Free
Postal publications.
UNITED STATES
POSTAL SERVICE
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• US Postal Service Web site
www.usps.com
Latest information, Postal Bulletin, vendors list, ZIP+4 lookup,
forms and publications available for downloading, lots of stuff!
• Free Subscription
Mailers Companion
Address Quality
US Postal Service
6060 Primacy Pkwy Ste 201
Memphis TN 38188-0001
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS