Can you send objects in an envelope?
USPS prohibits objects in letter envelopes other than plastic credit, debit and gift cards.
Anything sent as a letter should not have raised stickers or anything glued to the envelope, as those things don't fit through the sorting machine (and could even damage it), so they will need to be sent as a package.
The Postal Service does not permit pens, pencils, key rings, bottle caps, and other similar odd-shaped items in letter-size or flat-size paper envelopes unless they are wrapped within the other contents of the envelope to streamline the shape of the mailpiece and to prevent damage during postal processing.
Speaking of odd shapes, don't mail bulky, odd-shaped things like pens or bottle caps in regular letter-size envelopes. Not only will you pay more in postage, but these items are likely to poke through the envelope, fall out, and be lost -- they could even damage postal equipment or hurt someone.
Envelopes are for sending flat, flexible things, like letters, cards, checks, forms, and other paper goods. For just 1 $0.60 First-Class Mail® Forever® stamp, you can send 1 oz (about 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope) to anywhere in the U.S.!
Using multiple layers helps prevent jewelry from getting lost or damaged if the outer package is damaged. First, wrap your jewelry in bubble wrap and put it inside a small box or padded envelope. Finish it off by placing that package inside a slightly larger box or padded envelope.
As long as your box or envelope is less than 0.5 feet in cubic volume, you can load it up with up to 20 pounds of candy, and the price to ship with Priority Mail Cubic won't change at all!
- Cheer Pin. Cute little pins with inspirational messages are sure to bring a smile to your recipient's face.
- Face Mask. Send a little relaxing me time through the mail.
- Personal Tea. ...
- Music List. ...
- Landscape Photos. ...
- Seed Packet. ...
- Custom Message.
Pens, pencils, key rings, bottle caps, and other similar odd-shaped items are not permitted in letter-size or flat-size paper envelopes unless they are wrapped within the other contents of the envelope to streamline the shape of the mailpiece and prevent damage during postal processing.
If your package is less than one-half inch thick and weighs less than 10 oz, you may use postage stamps and do one of the following: Put it in your mailbox for carrier pickup. Drop it in a blue collection box or Post Office lobby mail slot. Request a free pickup.
What happens if an envelope is too thick?
If you are mailing overstuffed letters or home-made cards, be aware there is a limitation on the thickness of the envelope. A standard size card that is too fat (over ¼ inch) or too irregular in thickness will not go through automated processing equipment and will need to be processed by hand.
Customers must affix additional postage when mailing letters weighing in excess of 1 ounce and/or letters subject to the nonmachinable surcharge or mailpieces subject to another rate of postage (e.g., large envelopes or packages).
| Dimension | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 3-1/2 inches | 6-1/8 inches |
| Length | 5 inches | 11-1/2 inches |
| Thickness | 0.007 inch | 1/4 inch |
Maximum weight for First-Class Mail letters is 3.5 oz; for large First-Class Mail envelopes and parcels, the maximum weight is 13 oz. All postcards and envelopes (or flats) must be rectangular, otherwise an additional charge may apply.
Any tea bag should fit in a standard envelope, but you may want to aim for a plastic-wrapped option (or wrap it yourself) to prevent tears.
Use tabs to seal tri-folded pieces and non-envelope mail. Avoid the use of paper clips and staples. This can cause damage to the mail piece during processing and at USPS.
Chocolates, cookies, hard candies and homemade sweets, such as pralines and toffee, are safe to send either cold or at room temperature. Condiments, including hot sauce and seasonings, also are safe for mailing. But avoid sending breakable glass containers.
In some areas, you can send your pins using an envelope through standard mail starting at $1.50 for local areas and increasing based on weight and how far away the drop off address is located. The best standard shipping is first class because it includes more secure procedures such as a signature requirement.
A Rock. Let someone know they rock by sending them a rock in the mail. The company Send Some Rocks has actually made a business out of mailing rocks and, for $9.99, you can have one shipped anywhere in the U.S.
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You can't send these items in the U.S. mail:
- Air Bags.
- Ammunition.
- Explosives.
- Gasoline.
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise); hemp/CBD is allowed, but restricted.
Is it OK to send chocolate in the mail?
Before sending chocolate in the mail, use food-safe candy packaging to keep your sweets safe. Then, once individually taken care of, cushion and box your package in a larger shipping container. When you're picking out your shipping container, make sure it's large enough for cushioning, a cold pack, and your chocolates.
So, you won't need extra postage to mail a gift card. Regular gift cards will weigh 1-2 ounces on average. If your gift cards weigh more, then that's when you would end up needing extra postage. You can easily mail gift cards via the U.S. Postal Office.
- Tattoos.
- Stickers.
- Seeds.
- Spices (in small packs)
- Tea bags.
- Patches.
- Friendship bracelets.
- Recipes.
First Class Mail envelopes, flat rate envelopes, and USPS Priority Mail offer the lowest rates for small packages. Another option is to use cubic pricing. Cubic pricing is a special USPS service that offers lower shipping rates when sending small, heavy items that are under 20lbs with USPS Priority Mail.
Parcels (including fragile items) should be prepared to withstand normal mail processing and transportation. Contents can be padded with newspaper, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, tissue and ink-free packing paper.
If you mail a key or coins in a regular envelope. It probably won't make it to the destination. Every letter gets dumped in to a large dumper into the machines, rollers sort out the packages and larger overstuffed envelopes. All mail goes into these machines.
#1 Wrap It
If you choose to ship without the box, use plenty of packing material when wrapping and secure it with tape. Put a shipping label inside with the item as well as outside. Include your contact information for handlers to reach you if an accident occurs.
| Free Supplies8 | Shipping Price |
|---|---|
| Small Flat Rate Envelope | $7.75 Commercial Base $8.95 at Post Office & Online |
| Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $8.45 Commercial Base $9.65 at Post Office & Online |
| Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $8.05 Commercial Base $9.25 at Post Office & Online |
First-Class Mail® is an affordable mail service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes weighing up to 3.5 oz and large envelopes and small packages weighing up to 13 oz. Prices start at $0.60 at a Post Office.
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| Shape | Length | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Large Envelope | 11-1/2 inch min. | 6-1/8 inch min. |
How thick can an envelope be with one stamp?
To meet the standard envelope requirements for using only one Forever Stamp, the envelope needs to be a minimum of 3.5 inches in height by 5 inches in length and the thickness must be a minimum of 0.007 inches.
It is poly-bagged, poly-wrapped, enclosed in any plastic material, or has an exterior surface made of a material that is not paper. It has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices. It is too rigid or contains items such as pens, keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven.
3.5 Ounces is the Maximum for How Heavy a First Class Letter Can Be. A First Class letter can only weigh up to 3.5 ounces per each mail piece. If you need to send papers or documentation that weighs more than 3.5 ounces, a good strategy is to break up your mail into separate, multiple envelopes with their own stamps.
Use a Forever stamp for most standard mail items.
A single Forever stamp will be enough to send off an item in a commercial envelope measuring 11.5 inches (29 cm) by 5 inches (13 cm) and weighing 1 ounce (28 g) or less. Anything larger will require extra postage, which you can add up using a postage calculator.
You can use more than one Forever Stamp if you need to send a package or a letter that weighs more than an ounce. Each stamp is worth the current first-class rate (not what you paid for them).
You may use colored cards and envelopes for mailing (as well as different ink colors) if there is no interference with the reading of the information or postmark. First and foremost, the mailing recipient's information should be clear and legible.
- Cheer Pin. Cute little pins with inspirational messages are sure to bring a smile to your recipient's face.
- Face Mask. Send a little relaxing me time through the mail.
- Personal Tea. ...
- Music List. ...
- Landscape Photos. ...
- Seed Packet. ...
- Custom Message.
Pens, pencils, key rings, bottle caps, and other similar odd-shaped items are not permitted in letter-size or flat-size paper envelopes unless they are wrapped within the other contents of the envelope to streamline the shape of the mailpiece and prevent damage during postal processing.
Maximum weight for First-Class Mail letters is 3.5 oz; for large First-Class Mail envelopes and parcels, the maximum weight is 13 oz. All postcards and envelopes (or flats) must be rectangular, otherwise an additional charge may apply.
