Why You Shouldn't Use Medium or Large Flat Rate Boxes

‍

USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes and Large Flat Rate Boxes are specific types of packaging that you can get from a Post Office or from USPS.com/supplies.

‍

To ship these boxes, you have to buy the corresponding kind of Flat Rate postage by specifying the exact type of packaging you're shipping when you're creating a label.

‍

Related: Compare USPS Priority Mail to Priority Mail Express

‍

Flat Rate is convenient, since you don't need to worry about the size or weight of the box... but that convenience comes at a price. If your items weigh less than 20 lbs, Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes can be much more expensive than using your own packaging and shipping with Priority Mail Cubic instead.

‍

Here's why:

‍

The Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box comes in two sizes

‍

• Medium Flat Rate Box 1: 11 x 8.5 x 5.5 inches

• Medium Flat Rate Box 2: 14 x 12 x 3.5 inches

‍

Related: How to Get Free Shipping Supplies from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL

‍

If you used your own box that was the same size or even a little bigger, like 14 x 12 x 4 inches, it would be in the 0.4 cubic feet pricing tier of Priority Mail Cubic and can save you up to $4.99, depending on how far you're shipping it. Note that for the furthest distances, and especially if you're shipping to territories like Palau or Guam, the Medium Flat Rate Box can still be a good deal:

‍

‍

Use your own box for a custom size that fits your products, or USPS offers two free "mailing boxes" that are the cubic 0.4 size:

‍

• Priority Mail Box - 1095 | 15-1/4" x 12-3/8" x 3" | Cubic Tier 4

• Priority Mail Box - Shoe Box | 7-1/2" x 5-1/8" x 14-3/8" | Cubic Tier 4

‍

You could save even more if your box was small enough to fit into the 0.3 cubic feet pricing tier of Priority Mail Cubic. You can see a rate comparison here.

The Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box comes in one size

‍

• Large Flat Rate Box: 12 x 12 x 5.75 inches

‍

If you used your own box that was the same size or even slightly larger, like 12 x 12 x 6 inches, it would be in the 0.5 cubic feet pricing tier of Priority Mail Cubic and can save you up to $9.96, depending on how far you're shipping it. Note that for the very furthest distances the Large Flat Rate Box does offer some savings:

‍

‍

You could save even more if your box was small enough to fit into the 0.4 cubic feet pricing tier of Priority Mail Cubic. You can see a rate comparison here.

‍

Learn More: "If It Fits It Ships"- Benefits of USPS Flat Rate Service