USPS first class max thickness?

[tommy50607]

I want to ship a couple lightweight things, less than 10oz but 2-3 inches thick. One is a metal cup and another is a metal bowl.  Does USPS first class have a max thickness? I want to put it in a bubble mailer. What is the cheapest way to ship it? 

[emerald40]

How big can a USPS First Class package be?

You can send standard postcards, letters and large envelopes and small packagesup to 15.99 ounces using First Class Mail. If your First Class package is over 15.99 ounces, you must upgrade the mail class to Priority Mail.

So according to above the only criteria is that is has to weigh under 15.99 ounces.

[thatsallfolks]

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@emerald40 wrote:

How big can a USPS First Class package be?

You can send standard postcards, letters and large envelopes and small packagesup to 15.99 ounces using First Class Mail. If your First Class package is over 15.99 ounces, you must upgrade the mail class to Priority Mail.

So according to above the only criteria is that is has to weigh under 15.99 ounces.

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When something says “SMALL packages”, i wouldn’t assume that there is no limit.

[emerald40]

According to their website, The Post Office does not define the size of the package just the weight.

[muttlymob]

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@emerald40 wrote:

According to their website, The Post Office does not define the size of the package just the weight.

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The Domestic Mail Manual is where you find the actual policies.  USPS help pages generally leave out a lot of detail.  There are indeed dimensional limits.  From the DMM:

RETAIL

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm#ep1002718

First-Class Package Service — Retail parcels are eligible for USPS Tracking and Signature Confirmation service. A First-Class Package Service — Retail parcel is:

1. A mailpiece that exceeds any one of the maximum dimensions for a flat (large envelope). See 2.1.
2. A flat-size mailpiece, regardless of thickness, that is rigid or nonrectangular.
3. A flat-size mailpiece that is not uniformly thick under 2.4.
4. A mailpiece that does not exceed 108 inches in combined length and girth.

COMMERCIAL

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/201.htm#ep1097318

The address side of the parcel must be large enough to contain all delivery and return address, endorsement, postage, and label elements. A First-Class Package Service — Commercial parcel is:

1. A mailpiece that exceeds any one of the maximum dimensions for a flat (large envelope). See 4.0.
2. A flat-size mailpiece, regardless of thickness, that is rigid or nonrectangular.
3. A flat-size mailpiece that is not uniformly thick (has bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities that cause the thickness to vary more than 1/4 inch).
4. A mailpiece that does not exceed 22 inches in length, or 18 inches in width, or 15 inches in thickness.

[berserkerplanet]

>>22 inches in length, or 18 inches in width, or 15 inches in thickness.

Is that a recent (last few years) additional constraint or have the numbers decreased? Don't recall seeing that before.

[partial*eclipse]

That showed up in the DMM only within the pat year or two, and only in the Commercial section.  For retail, it's still a length-plus-girth of 108 inches.

[berserkerplanet]

Thanks for the sanity check.
<br><br>
Well, we'll see if APV system knows about that clause too.
<br><br>
Sent a 29" x 12" x 2" 15.99oz FCP a few days ago. Wasn't rejected at dropoff (with APV do they do thay any more or just let APV handle it?), and has made it most of the way across the country so far with no tracking anomalies noted (still uncertain if tracking notes APV flaggings)

[siayan]

First class letter rate is for an envelope. First class business mail (or what ever you want to call it) has a maximum of 84 inches (L X W X H)

[siayan]

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@siayan wrote:

First class letter rate is for an envelope. First class business mail (or what ever you want to call it) has a maximum of 84 inches (L X W X H)

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This is not from the Post Office but is from eBay when you click to ship first class. I had to go look where I saw it.

...

First Class Package® (2-3 days) - Package/Thick Envelope

Up to 16 ounces and 84 inches in combined length and girth.

[greatwebcontent]

You got almost all the way there, and then stopped... and even at that, you didn't state a conclusion (like: "Yes, the limit is xyz", or "No, there is no limit")

"When a First-Class Mail item exceeds any one of the maximum measurements of a large envelope, it is classified and priced as a package (parcel)"

This says that if a First-Class Mail item exceeds, for  example the thickness of 3/4 inch thick, the mail item is classified and priced as a package (parcel). That's "USPS First Class Mail Parcel".

So, to finish it off, you have to answer, what is the maximum thickness (or other dimension) of a "USPS First Class Mail Parcel".

As others have stated (I haven't looked it up), the maximum package size for "USPS First Class Mail Parcel" is 108 inches of combined length and girth. Which if it was that big, it would most likely be over the weight limit of 13 ounces for "USPS First Class Mail Parcel" .

So in that case, it would probably ship by "USPS Priority Mail". Again here, (I haven't looked it up), the maximum package size for "USPS Priority Mail" is 108 inches of combined length and girth.

I hope I got all that correct... if not, I'm sure someone will (thankfully) correct me.

[greatwebcontent]

If it is over 3/4 inch thick, it would be classified as "USPS First Class Mail Parcel".

The maximum sixe for a "Parcel" is either 108 inches (or 84 inches) in combined length plus girth.

(Some "Packages" have a limit of 108 inches, and other packages have a limit of 84 inches. I'm not sure which limit applies to "USPS First Class Mail Parcel").

To exceed those size limits would be a big box, something over 21 x 21 x 21-inches (or over 16 x 16 x 16-inches if the limit is 84).

So as others have stated, you probably can't get anywhere near those limits with a weight of less than 1 pound.

So, if the package is less than 1 pound, and it is smaller than a toaster (or a toaster oven), than you could ship it by "USPS First Class Mail Parcel".

If it was also a "Thick Envelope", and less than 3/4 inch thick, you could ship it by "USPS First Class Mail Letter".

[clee1325]

as long as its under 16 ounces it can pretty much ship through first class package.

[partial*eclipse]

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@greatwebcontent wrote:

If it is over 3/4 inch thick, it would be classified as "USPS First Class Mail Parcel".

The maximum sixe for a "Parcel" is either 108 inches (or 84 inches) in combined length plus girth.

(Some "Packages" have a limit of 108 inches, and other packages have a limit of 84 inches. I'm not sure which limit applies to "USPS First Class Mail Parcel").

.... 

If it was also a "Thick Envelope", and less than 3/4 inch thick, you could ship it by "USPS First Class Mail Letter".

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@greatwebcontent  All of the bolded information is incorrect.

You seem to have not noticed muttlymob's post #19, which gave accurate information and even provided links to the appropriate sections in the DMM.

AFAIK, there is no class of packages with a maximum length-plus-girth of 84 inches.  The maximum L+G for USPS packages is 108 inches, with the exception of First Class commercial rate as detailed in muttly's post and for Parcel Select Ground and Retail Ground, which have a maximum L+G of 130 inches.

A First Class Mail letter must be no more than 1/4 inch thick.

[siayan]

On eBays drop down for first class it states 84 inches. Apparently this is meaningless as I can change to 200 inches 15oz and still get postage.

[partial*eclipse]

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@siayan wrote:

On eBays drop down for first class it states 84 inches. Apparently this is meaningless ....

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I've seen that, but it has never been correct, so it's a good thing they don't enforce it.