How Do I Ship to Military APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses?
Every military address is often considered domestic mail, despite the original destination being an outside country. It happens since USPS® ships the parcels to the military base of domestic mail.
Every military address is often considered domestic mail, despite the original destination being an outside country. It happens since USPS® ships the parcels to the military base of domestic mail.
After that, the military ships that mail across the countries. Remember the significance of this procedure. It means that the entire process may require a much longer time than usual for delivery.
While transporting to the military addresses, you would have to confirm certain things. Check whether you have added the assigned package number and weight of your content.
Suppose you want to put a stop to the entrance of packages in the network of foreign mail. Then, it would help if you did not mention the name of the city or country in your delivery addresses, FPO and APO. You should enter these three-lettered designators should in the field of City. Besides, you should enter AP, AA, or AE in the field of State.
How to Structure a Military Address Properly
The correct format to put down your military shipping address is:
- Mention The Name – Enter the full name (Both, First and Last)
- Your 1st Address Line: Put down the assigned box number and the unit of the package.
- Your 2nd Address Line: This is generally not necessary. Although if there’s a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the address, you can include it here.
- Mention The City’s Name – Enter the Diplomatic Post Office (DPO), Army Post Office (APO), or Fleet Post Office (FPO).
- Mention The State’s Name – Enter the Armed Forces Pacific (AP), Armed Forces Americas (AA), or Armed Forces Europe (AE).
- Mention The Zip Code – Enter the specific Zip Code
- Mention The Country’s Name – Enter the name of your country (United States)
For Example:
The First Name and The Last Name
Unit 6 Box 1096
APO AE
09696
United States
Remember that for the majority of military shipments, you will require a customs form. Hence, while creating your shipment via Pirate Ship, fill out the customs form mandatorily. If your shipment requires a label, then you would get it printed, along with your specific customs form.
Besides, you may utilize a preset for your package. In that case, to fill out the form, you would require to go to the Modify Package option.
Learn More: How to Format a Puerto Rico Address
Calculating Your Package's Cubic Tier
For Boxes and Rigid Packages:
- Measure the outer dimensions (length, width, height) in inches
- Round each measurement down to the nearest quarter inch
- Multiply length x width x height
- Divide the result by 1728 (cubic inches in a cubic foot)
- The result is your package's cubic feet measurement
Example: For a box measuring 12.3" x 9.5" x 3":
- Round down to 12.25" x 9.5" x 3"
- 12.25 x 9.5 x 3 = 349.125
- 349.125 / 1728 = 0.202 cubic feet
- This package falls into the 0.3 cubic feet pricing tier
Note: Maximum size for any single dimension is 18 inches
For Envelopes and Soft Packs:
- Measure the length and width of the empty envelope
- Round down to the nearest quarter inch
- Add the length and width together
- Use the total to determine the pricing tier:
- Tier 0.1: Up to 21"
- Tier 0.2: 21.01" to 27"
- Tier 0.3: 27.01" to 31"
- Tier 0.4: 31.01" to 34"
- Tier 0.5: 34.01" to 36"
Restrictions
- Tubes and rolls are not eligible for Cubic pricing
- Maximum combined length and girth is 84 inches
Benefits of Using Priority Mail Cubic
- Cost savings: Cheaper than weight-based pricing for small, heavy items
- Predictable pricing: Easy to calculate shipping costs based on box dimensions
- Fast delivery: 1-3 business day delivery to any US address, including PO boxes
- Free tracking: Monitor shipments at no extra cost
- Included insurance: $100 of coverage with every shipment
- No surcharges: Residential and fuel surcharges included in the price
Tips for Maximizing Savings
- Optimize packaging: Use the smallest box possible that safely fits your items
- Consider breaking up large orders: Sometimes shipping in multiple smaller boxes can be cheaper
- Use cubic feet calculators: Online tools can help quickly determine your package's tier
- Compare rates: Always compare Cubic rates with other shipping methods
- Use Commercial Pricing: Accessing Commercial Pricing rates can lead to even more savings
2024 USPS Priority Mail Cubic Rates
Accessing Priority Mail Cubic Rates
Priority Mail Cubic isn't available at regular Post Office counters. However, many online shipping platforms and 3PL providers offer access to these rates. By partnering with a fulfillment provider, you can easily access these discounted rates and streamline your shipping process. For small-scale sellers not yet ready for a 3PL, Pirate Ship offers free access to USPS Priority Mail Cubic rates with no monthly fees or minimums.
