You could save up to 56% by NOT using Priority Mail Flat Rate®

The idea behind Priority Mail Flat Rate is that if you can fit something into a Flat Rate-branded box, there’s just one price to pay, no matter how much it weighs or where it’s going. This simplifies shipping a lot, but that simplicity comes with downsides:

1. You can’t use your own packaging, which can impact your customer's experience
2. It can be up to 56% more expensive than using your own plain or custom packaging. View comparisons of Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes vs. Priority Mail Cubic.

Priority Mail Flat Rate was really designed as a consumer product, and is not ideal for most business shippers. Even with Commercial Pricing shipping rates, there are only two types of Flat Rate packaging that are always a great deal: Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes (including Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope and Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope) and the Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box.

For other sizes, such as the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box and the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box, you could save up to 56% by shipping your items with Priority Mail Cubic® in your own comparably-sized packaging instead.

Priority Mail Flat Rate requires using Flat Rate-branded packaging, which you can pick up at any Post Office or order online for free from USPS.com/supplies. There are 7 different Flat Rate package types, and some types come in multiple package sizes:

• Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope®
• Priority Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope®
• Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope®
• Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box®
• Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box®
• Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box®
• Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box®