Flats (USPS) - Misplaced Pages

The United States Postal Service uses the words "flats" and "nonletters" interchangeably to refer to large envelopes, newsletters, and magazines.

Size restrictions

To fit the definition a flat must:

Have one dimension that is greater than 6-1/8 inches high OR 11-½ inches long (the side parallel to the address as read) OR ¼ inch thick.
Be no more than 12 inches high x 15 inches long x ¾ inch thick.
Weigh no more than 13 ounces.

Furthermore, the item must be somewhat bendable: see the USPS Domestic Mail Manual for exact details. This general rule does not apply to: Automation rate flats and Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route flats.

Postage

The maximum size for a flat provides enough room to enclose much material. An issue, however, is that the higher the weight the higher the postage, especially for First-Class Mail.

External links and references

Domestic Mail Manual 101.2 Flats Physical Standards

v t e United States Postal Service
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Related	2020 United States Postal Service crisis United States airmail service CAR-RT SORT Catcher pouch Cimarron Redoubt Domestic Mail Manual Facing Identification Mark Flats Grumman LLV Information-Based Indicia The Inspectors Intelligent Mail barcode Label 228 List of postal killings List of U.S. state abbreviations List of United States airmail stamps Mail bag Mail cover Mail hook Mail Isolation Control and Tracking Mail jumping Mail pouch Mail sack Mail satchel The Mail Story Nixie ORM-D Owney (dog) Pony Express mochila Postage stamps and postal history of the United States Postal Alpha Numeric Encoding Technique Postal Clause Postal voting in the United States Postal worker Postmaster General Prohibitory Order Remote Bar Coding System Rural Free Delivery Rural letter carrier STD-4C United States post office murals List of murals USPS Post Office Box Lobby Recycling program United States Postal Service creed

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