
There are several standard letter sizes for US mail, with the most common being 3.5 x 5 inches and 5 x 7 inches.
The US Postal Service requires letters to be rectangular in shape with a maximum size of 11.5 x 6.125 inches.
Letters that are too large or irregularly shaped may be rejected by postal workers, so it's essential to check the size before mailing.
A standard #10 envelope, which is the most common size, measures 3.875 x 6.5 inches.
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Mail Size Requirements
To mail a letter, you need to know the size requirements. A letter must be rectangular in shape.
The dimensions for a letter are quite specific: at least 3½ inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick, and no more than 6⅛ inches high x 11½ inches long x ¼ inch thick.
The length of a letter is measured from the side parallel to the address. This is important to keep in mind when designing your mailing.
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To qualify as a letter, a mailpiece must meet these dimensions. It's also essential to ensure that your envelope or First-Class Mail piece is machinable to get through the USPS system.
Non-machinable characteristics include rigid, square, or unusually shaped mail pieces that often jam postal equipment. These characteristics will incur a non-machinable surcharge.
Here is a summary of the size requirements for a letter:
Keep in mind that these dimensions are crucial to avoid delays or blocking of your mailing.
Letters
Letters have specific size requirements to be eligible for mailing at the lowest rates. To qualify, a letter must be rectangular.
The minimum size for a letter is 3½ inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick. The maximum size is 6⅛ inches high x 11½ inches long x ¼ inch thick.
Letters that are too big or too small may not be eligible for the lowest rates. Non-machinable characteristics, such as being square or rigid, can also increase postage costs.
Here are the key size requirements for letters:
Letters that meet these size requirements are considered machinable and can be processed on postal equipment.
Machinable Mail
Machinable mail is a type of mail that can be processed quickly and efficiently by the Postal Service, thanks to its standardized size and shape.
To qualify as machinable, your mail must meet specific size and weight requirements.
Machinable mailpieces must be rectangular with four square corners and parallel opposite sides.
For First-Class Mail, machinable letters and Standard Mail machinable letters can weigh up to 3.3 ounces. Periodicals letters can weigh up to 3.5 ounces.
Here are the minimum and maximum dimensions for machinable mailpieces:
Machinable letters must not meet any of the nonmachinable characteristics, which include irregular shapes and weights over the maximum limit.
Sources
- https://www.asapeasy.com/copy-of-mail-info
- https://mmprint.com/mailing-size-chart/
- https://www.macalester.edu/mailing-services/chargesrates/
- https://ad-vantagemarketing.com/mailing-resources/usps-regulations-and-specs-for-letters-and-postcards.html
- https://www.mailing.com/blog/simple-guidelines-for-usps-mailings/
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