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• Size standards and aspect ratios
The
USPS has minimum and maximum allowable sizes for the various
classes of mail. The following information will enable you to
stay within the size ranges for the mail type you desire.
1st
Class Letter Standards:
-
Minimum
Allowable Letter Size: 3.5 x 5 Inches
If the width is less than 5 inches or the height is less
than 3.5 inches the USPS will NOT mail your letter.
-
Maximum
Allowable Letter Size: 6.12 x 11.5 Inches
If the width is greater than 11.5 inches or the height is
greater than 6.12 (6 1/8) inches, the letter must be
mailed as a flat, higher rate and all.
-
Minimum
Thickness: .007 Inches
Any mail less than the minimum is considered Non-Mailable
and the USPS will NOT deliver it.
-
Maximum
Thickness: .25 inches
Exceeding the maximum puts the mail piece into a different
mail class, called a Parcel.
-
Weight
cannot exceed 1 oz.
-
Intermediate
Sizes are Allowable
A 4x5.5 inch letter is mailable at the 1st Class rate. As
long as a mail piece meets the size, thickness, weight and
aspect ratio requirements listed below, it can be mailed as a
1st Class Letter.
-
Minimum
Thickness: .007 Inches
-
Maximum
Thickness: .25 inches
Postcard
Standards:
-
Minimum
Allowable Postcard Size: 3.5 x 5 Inches
If the width is less than 5 inches or the height is less
than 3.5 inches the USPS will NOT mail your postcard.
-
Maximum
Allowable Postcard Size: 4.25 x 6 Inches
If the width is greater than 6 inches or the height is
greater than 4.25 inches, the postcard must be mailed as a
letter, higher rate and all.
-
Minimum
Thickness: .007 Inches
Any mail less than the minimum is considered Non-mailable
and the USPS will NOT deliver it.
-
Maximum
Thickness: .25 inches
Exceeding the maximum puts the mail piece into a different
mail class, called a Parcel.
-
Intermediate
Sizes are Allowable
A 4 x 5.5 inch postcard is mailable at the postcard rate.
As long as a mail piece meets the size, thickness, weight
and aspect ratio requirements listed below, it can be mailed
as a postcard.
-
Minimum
Thickness: .007 Inches
-
Maximum
Thickness: .25 inches
Aspect
Ratios
-
Aspect
Ratio Rule: a 1st Class mail piece (letter or postcard)
must have an aspect ratio that falls between 1 to 1.3 and
1 to 2.5 inclusive.
-
Definition
of Aspect Ratio: The length (width) of a piece divided by
the height of the piece.
-
A
letter with the dimensions of 4x6 has an aspect ratio of 1
to 1.5 which falls into the allowable aspect ratio range.
Height = 1 Width = 1.5 ( 6 / 4 )
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