USPS Priority Mail vs USPS Flat Rates
USPS Priority Mail vs. USPS Flat Rates
It is more important than ever to get your packages to your customers as soon as possible in today’s online shopping age. So, which shipping service should you choose: USPS Priority Mail or USPS Flat Rates? In this blog post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of both services so that you can make the best decision for your business.
What are the differences between USPS Priority Mail and USPS Flat Rates?
Businesses that ship items regularly using USPS are likely to have different shipping labels/accounts for priority mail, flat rate boxes, and regional box A/B. This can be not very easy if you need to ship out an item but aren’t sure which of your accounts the recipient will accept the package from. This post will help clarify your options to determine which is best for you.
First off, it’s important to know about Priority Mail vs. Flat Rate Boxes since both are not what they seem at first glance. The most significant difference between these two label types (typically printed directly on postage label stock) is how much they cost; one costs more than the other. There are some exceptions to this rule, though. For example, the Priority Mail label may be less expensive for lighter weight items (<13 oz.), while the flat rate box might be good for heavier packages. Also, if your shipping destination is not in one of the two regions covered by a flat rate box category (i.e., A or B), you’ll need to consult the priority mail chart — those rates apply instead.
Flat Rate Box Categories and Rates
The USPS has divided some domestic delivery zones into geographical regions so that businesses can use flat rate boxes and envelopes to ship within those zones without worrying about how much postage needs to be paid on each package. This helps simplify shipping procedures and reduces business costs because all that is required is a single flat rate box or envelope label to ship any item to one of these zones. The easiest way to determine whether your destination is within a flat rate zone is by consulting the USPS Destination Entry Quick Calculator. Enter your zip code, choose the type of service you want (priority mail or first class), and click “get prices.” If it tells you that the destination will cost more than $15 to ship, it’s NOT within a flat rate zone.
Here are some examples where items might be shipped using either the Priority Mail or Flat Rate Box A rates:
1) Items weighing <13 oz. that need to go from Chicago IL, USA (zip 60611) to St Louis MO, USA (63102) could be shipped using either the Priority Mail or Flat Rate Box A rates. The Quick Calculator above says priority mail (zone 3) would cost $7.90 while flat rate box A (zones 1 & 2) would cost $12.35; it’s clear that flat rate box A is the better deal here.
2) Items weighing <13 oz. that need to go from Mesa AZ, USA (85203) to Miami FL, USA (33122–9998) could also use either service type, but in this case, it’d be cheaper to ship via priority mail because these are both in zone 7 and box A only goes up to zone 6.
3) Now, let’s consider what might happen if you wanted to ship the same items from Chicago, IL, USA (60611) to Phoenix, AZ, USA (85003). Since this is not in a flat rate box A zone, you’d have to consult the priority mail rates table and choose zones 4 through 8. It costs $12.45 for “PRIORITY MAIL PACKAGE,” which is better than flat rate box A ($15.35) or flat rate envelope ($15.45) but still more expensive than Priority Mail ($13.25).
Flat Rate Box B works similarly, except its geographic scope is limited to delivery zones 9, 10, & 11. Thus, things get complicated if you need to ship something from one of these areas to a destination outside those zones. For example, in the case of Phoenix AZ, USA (85003), you could use Flat Rate Box B to ship to Miami FL, USA (33122–9998), if shipping from zone 9 or 10, but would have to revert to Priority Mail rates for any other destination.
By now, it should be apparent that flat rate envelopes and boxes are not always the best way to go because they only apply under certain conditions. What does this mean for your business? First, you’ll need to carefully consider your delivery destinations and optimize your shipping procedures according to the numbers.
Conclusion:
USPS Priority Mail and USPS Flat Rates are great shipping options for online sellers. However, there are a few key differences that you should be aware of before deciding which option is best for your business. In general, Priority Mail is better for smaller packages that need to arrive quickly. At the same time, Flat Rates are ideal for larger packages that don’t need to get to their destination ASAP. If you have any questions about which option would work best for your business, our team of experts would be happy to help. Thanks for reading.
