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USPS, as an incentive to use its Priority Mail services, offers free Priority Mail branded boxes. There are three kinds of Priority boxes with different associated pricing schemes:

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USPS Regional Rate Shipping

Regular - priced by weight and distance (Measured by “Zone” with Zone 1 being local, Zone 8 cross-country, and Zone 9 a very distant location like certain U.S. territories)‍

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Flat - same price no matter the weight or distance

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Regional - priced by distance and as if a fixed weight

You can also provide your own “brown” boxes to ship Priority mail, but only at the regular Priority rate. In order to get Flat or Regional rates, you must use the branded boxes provided by USPS for the specific special rate.

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Regional Rate Pricing - priced at a fixed weight, variable by distance

Price varies by distance - closer is cheaper. However, always priced as if a fixed weight even if the actual weight is more (or less!)

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Pricing for Regional Rate Boxes is zone-based. There are 9 zones in the U.S., and the rates are based on the distance from the origin location to the delivery destination. You can go here to see our USPS Pricing, including our Regional Rate box pricing.

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5 Regional Rate Boxes

Similar to other USPS Priority Mail services, Regional Rate shipments are packaged in postal service-supplied boxes. These boxes come in five sizes, which in turn are divided into three pricing categories: A, B, and C.

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Regional Rate A Boxes – Maximum 15 pounds

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Sideloading – 11 1⁄16″ x 2 1⁄2″ x 13 1⁄16″

Top loading – 10 1⁄8″ x 7 1⁄8″ x 5″

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‍Regional Rate B Boxes – Maximum 20 pounds

Sideloading – 14 1⁄2″ x 3″ x 16 1⁄4″

Top loading – 12 1⁄4″ x 10 1⁄2″ x 5 1⁄2″

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Regional Rate C Box – Maximum 25 pounds

Top loading – 15″ x 12″ x 12″

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Ways to Save with Regional Rate Shipping

The USPS Priority Mail Regional Rate shipping service gives eCommerce businesses three opportunities to “save” on shipping, including saving on packaging, saving delivery time (in some cases), and saving money on shipping costs.

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Free Boxes Reduce Packaging Expenses

The first, but, perhaps, least obvious savings come from using USPS-supplied boxes. As mentioned above, there are five shapes or sizes of Regional Rate boxes. If a shipper had to buy these boxes, they would roughly cost between about 65 cents for the top-loading Regional Rate A box, which probably is the least expensive of the five, to something like $2.00 for a side-loading, self-adhesive Regional Rate A box.

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If you assumed an average box cost of $1.25, an eCommerce shipper sending 1000 packages per month this way would save $15,000 per year in packaging, using the free USPS Regional Rate boxes.

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Regional Rate Shipments Save Delivery Time

Because Regional Rate shipments are a subset of USPS Priority Mail Service, they are guaranteed to be delivered in two to three days, and they include free Saturday delivery. What’s more, when sent regionally they can often arrive in just one or two days.

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As an example, if a shipper in Salt Lake City, Utah, sent an item to Las Vegas, Nevada, on a Friday via the USPS Regional Rate service, that package would likely arrive on Saturday, the very next day.

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A similar package sent via a ground service may not arrive until the following Monday or Tuesday, meaning that in some cases, Regional Rate shipping could cut delivery times by a day or two. This is a specific example. The same orders sent on a Tuesday might not be delivered any more quickly. Even in the worst of scenarios, Regional Rate shipping is not slower than competitive ground services.

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Some Packages Ship for Less

Although USPS Priority Mail Regional Rate boxes may be shipping to and from anywhere in the United States, as the name implies, the Regional Rate service works best when a shipper is sending packages a relatively short distance.

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Learn More: What Do the USPS Tracking Status Updates Mean?

What is Priority Mail Cubic?

Priority Mail Cubic is a specialized service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that prices packages based on their outer dimensions rather than weight. This unique pricing model can lead to significant savings, especially for small, dense packages weighing up to 20 pounds.

Key Features:

Dimension-based pricing: Rates determined by package size, not weight
Weight limit: Up to 20 pounds
Delivery timeframe: 1-3 business days
Insurance: $100 included for free
Tracking: Free package tracking included
Savings: Up to 90% off retail shipping rates

USPS Cubic Pricing Tiers

Priority Mail Cubic uses a tiered pricing system based on the package's volume. There are five tiers:

Tier 0.1: Up to 0.1 cubic feet
Tier 0.2: 0.101 to 0.2 cubic feet
Tier 0.3: 0.201 to 0.3 cubic feet
Tier 0.4: 0.301 to 0.4 cubic feet
Tier 0.5: 0.401 to 0.5 cubic feet

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

[Insert current rate table here]

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.

USPS Regional Rate Shipping

Regional Rate is a cost-saving USPS mail service that utilizes a shipment's distance to its destination. Find out all about the USPS Regional Shipping rate in this article.