How to ship USPS tips tricks supplies recommendations

How to ship USPS

How to ship USPS

Shipping through the USPS is a fairly straight forward process.   In this article we will be discussing how to ship via USPS.   Since you are already reading this article, it means that you already have an interest shipping with USPS, that is a wide decision.  Did you know, shipping through the USPS is one of the most cost effective methods for shipping items?    USPS will beat out every other competitor until you start getting into the heavier packages, even then, USPS still has some great rates with their flat rate boxes.

Here are some items that you may  need in order to ship USPS.

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Shipping tape

A necessity for most shipping.  You can purchase tape online or directly at your local USPS office.

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Bubble mailers

Bubble mailers are great for shipping smaller items.  The ones shown are 8.5 x 11" which will fit most smaller items such as music Cd's, DVDs & video games.   There are many different sizes of bubble mailers to fit your need.

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Poly mailers

If you are shipping clothing or other textiles, you may want to look into poly mailers, they are light weight, water resistant, cheap and have self adhesive backs so you don't have to tape them up.  Like the bubble mailers there are many different poly mailer sizes.

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Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap great for filler, it will keep your items from being destroyed when going through the postal system.

How to ship USPS step #1. - Decide on shipping method

Here are a few tips on postage.    If your item is under 13 oz, ship it first class no matter what.  It is by far the cheapest method.   If you have a heavy item and it will fit in a flat rate box, use a flat rate box.  Do not ship light items in a flat rate box, it is a waste of money.   

Parcel Select ( Parcel Post ) can actually be more expensive to ship than priority depending on where it is going.  If you are shipping to the same state or surrounding states, chances are it is cheaper to ship priory.

There are also regional boxes that can save you money on postage.

How to ship USPS step #2 - Find a box

Find a box that will fit your item.  You can go to your local USPS office grab free boxes, use recycled boxes or buy boxes.  When it comes to choosing a box, it is important to leave enough space for cushioning material such as packing peanuts or bubble wrap.  This space should be 360 degrees around the item to ensure all sides are covered.

How to ship USPS step #3. - Wrap your item

Wrap your item in cushioning material such as bubble wrap.

How to ship USPS step #4. - Print postage at home or pay at USPS office

At this point, if you have a printer, you can decide to print postage at home.  This would require a printer as well as a scale to weigh your package.  If you do not have a printer or scale, it is time to head on over to your local post office and ship off your package.

Here is a recap of how to ship USPS.

Shipping USPS is one of the easiest, most cost effective way to ship an item.  It is important to have the proper packaging supplies to ensure that your package will arrive safely.   If you are shipping an item under 13 oz with USPS, make sure to ship it first class.    If you do a lot of shipping, it is worth the time to invest in a printer as well as a scale.  Printing shipping postage from home will save you time as well as money.    

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