How to Send a Package: Domestic
Send Packages: Step-by-Step Instructions
Before You Start:
Things You’ll Need
- The name and full address of the person or company you’re sending the package to.
- Packaging materials (boxes, padding, and tape).
- A way to pay for postage (if you’re sending from home, you can use stamps or create a prepaid shipping label using Click-N-Ship service).
- Recommended: A kitchen or postage scale (if you’re not using Flat Rate Boxes or Envelopes).
- Otherwise, you can weigh your package at the Post Office.
You Should Know
- For some shipping methods, like Media Mail® service or sending live animals, you must bring your package to a Post Office™ counter.
- You can get free Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Boxes and Envelopes (even shipped to you for free!), but remember: if you use a Priority Mail box, you must pay for Priority Mail service.
- When shipping to U.S. military bases abroad, you’ll pay domestic prices, though you’ll still need to fill out customs forms.
Step 1: Ask, “Can I Send This?”
The maximum weight for a USPS package is 70 lbs. Also, there are some things that you can’t send at all (prohibited) and other things you can only send under certain conditions (restricted). Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) might be prohibited or restricted.
As a rule of thumb, if what you’re sending could harm people or cause damage (like lithium batteries), very carefully check the list of Domestic Shipping Prohibitions, Restrictions, & HAZMAT.
Prohibited Items
Some items are prohibited (completely forbidden): You can’t send them through USPS, so you’ll have to choose another carrier. Prohibited items include:
- Ammunition, explosives, and fireworks
- Items containing liquid mercury
- Alcoholic beverages
Restricted Items
Other items are restricted: You have to follow the rules, stick to any limits, and properly package and label your items. Restricted items include:
- Lithium batteries (like the ones that come installed inside small electronics, like laptop computers or cell phones) are usually OK to send if the items are new (or a manufacturer-certified repair); if the items are used, they can only be sent via ground transport (can’t go on planes).
- Perishable items (like plants or food) are generally OK to send as long as they are properly packaged and won’t spoil or leak.
- Some items have special packaging requirements, or can only be sent via ground transport, like perfumes containing alcohol.
You have to follow all laws and USPS regulations. If you don’t follow the rules, you might face fines, or even criminal penalties.
If you have any questions about what you may ship through USPS, review the restricted and prohibited items list.
Step 2: Choose a Shipping Service
USPS offers 5 core shipping services for your domestic packages. Start by looking at what you’re sending, then make your decision based on price, speed, and whether you need insurance, tracking, and other extra services.
Choosing a USPS shipping service depends on where it’s going, how much you want to spend, how quickly you want it to arrive, what you’re sending (the contents of the package and its size, shape, and weight), plus any tracking or other special features you want to add.
For example, for packages up to 70 lbs, consider using USPS Ground Advantage, which will take about 2-5 business days to arrive. If it has to arrive faster, you can use Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail service.
See more details and features: Mail & Shipping Services
NOTE: You would also use USPS Ground Advantage if you’re trying to send packages that can’t travel by air because of the contents (such as items that contain HAZMAT or live animals).
Step 3: Pick & Prepare Your Packaging
Whether you’re using a box, padded envelope, or tube, use packaging that doesn’t bulge and is strong enough to protect what you’re sending. And accurately measure the size and weight of your package so you can avoid unexpected fees.
- Use strong packaging with enough room to add cushioning for fragile items and to prevent items from shifting. Remember: Your package will be going through automated processing machines and sharing space with other packages that could weigh as much as 70 lbs.
- If you’re reusing a box (be careful: boxes can weaken during shipping), make sure all old logos, barcodes, shipping labels, and addresses are covered or blacked out.
- Use enough 2-inch-wide packing tape to close and secure all seams. (But please don’t wrap your box in string, cord, or twine, which gets caught in USPS sorting equipment.)
- Packages can’t be larger than 130” total length (the longest side) + girth (the distance around the package, perpendicular to the length).
Step 4: Address Your Package
Please write the address parallel to the longest side of the package, and make sure your return address, the delivery address, and postage will fit on the same side.
TIP: If you’ll be printing a shipping label (with postage included), you can use that instead of a separate address label.
Address Tips
- Use a pen or permanent marker.
- Print neatly using capital letters.
Write Sender Address
Write your address (the “return address”) in the top-left corner. Include the following on separate lines:
- Your full name or company name
- Apartment or suite number
- Full street address
- City, State, and ZIP+4® Code
Write Delivery Address
Write the delivery address in the center of the label or package (below and to the right of the return address, if possible), using the same format:
- The recipient’s full name or company name
- Apartment or suite number
- Full street address
- City, State, and ZIP+4® Code
Special U.S. Addresses
Puerto Rico
Some Puerto Rico addresses include an urbanization or community code for a specific area or development. Addresses with an urbanization, abbreviated URB, should be written on 4 lines:
MS MARIA SUAREZ
URB LAS GLADIOLAS
150 CALLE A
SAN JUAN PR 00926-3232
U.S. Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands addresses have the same format as standard addresses. The right abbreviation for this territory is “VI,” not “US VI” or “USA VI”:
MS JOAN SMITH
RR 1 BOX 6601
KINGSHILL VI 00850-9802
Military and Diplomatic Mail (APO/FPO/DPO)
Mail to military and diplomatic addresses is treated differently:
- Do not include the city or country name when you send something to an APO/FDO/DPO address in another country. This keeps your mail out of foreign mail networks.
- Do include unit and box numbers if they’re assigned:
SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH
UNIT 100100 BOX 4120
FPO AP 96691