How to send USPS Priority Express Mail
Updated 2.12.2020
A lot depends on your company choosing the right shipping method. You need to get your packages and documents where they’re going on time, but you don’t want to overpay.
USPS Priority Mail Express is a great solution when time is of the essence. Read on to learn more about the service, including how it compares to others available.
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What Is USPS Priority Mail Express?
Priority Mail Express is how the United States Postal Service offers guaranteed overnight delivery. In terms of Priority Mail versus Priority Mail Express, the latter is one service level higher. It includes guarantees and can deliver on Sundays, holidays, and by 10:30 a.m.
USPS Priority Mail time ships in one to three business days. Priority Mail Express will deliver on the next business day in most cases, by 12 p.m. or 3 p.m. depending on origin and destination.
How Much Is Priority Mail Express?
Pricing for Priority Mail Express depends on the size of the letter or package. Flat rates are available for envelope mailings:
- $26.35 for a standard flat rate envelope (12.5” x 9.5”)
- $26.50 for a legal-size flat rate envelope (15” x 9.5”)
- $26.95 for a padded flat rate envelope (12.5” x 9.5”)
For packages, the price depends on the weight and shipping zone. Zoning is numbered from one to nine depending on ZIP codes of the origin and destination. The longer the distance, the higher the zone number.
The least expensive price for a Priority Mail Express package is the same as a standard flat rate envelope: $26.35 for a package less than 0.5 lbs. to be shipped locally or in Zones 1 and 2. Prices continue to increase as the package gets heavier and/or the distance increases, all the way up to $604.40 for a 70 lb. package to Zone 9.
For an extra fee, you can get packages delivered by 10:30 the next morning, on a Sunday, or on a holiday, assuming your recipient lives in an area where this option is available. A 10:30 a.m. delivery requires an extra $5 and Sunday or holiday delivery costs an additional $12.50.
What Can You Send Using Priority Express?
Priority Express shipment is available for letters, envelopes, and packages weighing up to 70 lbs. Package size must be no more than 108” when you add the length to the girth (the full distance around the thickest part of the package).
In terms of package contents, there are no restrictions other than the limitations and prohibitions that the USPS places on all domestic or international mail. If you’re at all uncertain about whether the contents of your package are acceptable for Priority Mail Express®, check Publication 52 of the USPS or the official list of international mailing prohibitions and restrictions.
Priority Mail Express Service Limitations
Exceptions and Limitations
The US Postal Service offers Priority Express delivery to “most” US locations. Although there isn’t a comprehensive list of ineligible addresses available to the public, you can check on the availability of your intended destination on the USPS Service Commitments webpage.
Some locations deliver Priority Mail Express letters and packages but cannot support 1-Day Delivery. Your local post office will have a list of destinations that can get packages overnight. In most cases, if your destination doesn’t deliver overnight, Priority Mail Express will arrive via 2-Day Delivery.
Beyond any geographical restrictions, your primary concern in deliverability is whether Priority Express aligns with your Service Level Agreement (SLA).
SLAs and Priority Express Shipping
Priority Express is the fastest service available through the US Postal Service. It’s generally the safest way to go if you need to guarantee a quick turnaround, but you still need to be careful not to overpromise. There are always limitations and exceptions.
Standard terms of Priority Express say that your recipient will get their package by 12 p.m. or 3 p.m. the next day, depending on local delivery standards. You can pay extra for a 10:30 a.m. delivery, but Priority Express isn’t compatible with an SLA that guarantees delivery before 10:30 a.m.
Also, Priority Express’s terms of service state that overnight delivery is only available when your local post office receives the letter or package before its cutoff acceptance time. If there’s any chance that your packages might not reach the post office before that cutoff, you might want to adapt your SLA accordingly.
How to Send Priority Mail Express
If you need to send a box, USPS is your main option for Priority Mail Express. Documents can be sent through the Postal Service or via Click2Mail, SendOvernightMail, or Mailform. Each service has different terms and conditions.
Click2Mail.com
Click2Mail is an online service that handles Priority Mail Express only in document format.
Pros:
- Free personalization including customer name, date, invoice amount, etc.
- Signature confirmation included
- Single or multiple documents
- Upload PDF, .doc, or .docx files
Cons:
- No options for quantities between 12 and 500 pieces
- Overnight guarantees only available in major metropolitan areas
SendOvernightMail
SendOvernightMail prints and mails documents that you upload in PDF format. Shipping options include Priority Mail and FedEx in addition to Priority Mail Express.
Pros:
- Options to specify printing conditions, including color versus black and white and single versus double-sided
- USPS Tracking Number and delivery notification provided immediately
Cons:
- Orders must be entered by 9:30 a.m. to go out the same day
- Due to processing time, documents might take up to three business days to arrive—SendOvernightMail considers USPS Priority Mail Saturday delivery but not Sunday delivery when estimating delivery time
- Markups mean that the cost is $48.52 and up for a two-page document, compared to $26.35 if you go through the post office
Mailform
Mailform will send documents via FedEx and USPS. Priority Mail Express mailings are available for an extra fee.
Pros:
- Easy PDF uploads on your browser
- Options for color and double-sided printing
- Same-day processing for all orders entered before 11 a.m. EST
- Tracking numbers and delivery notifications sent automatically
Cons:
-
Extra charge for Priority Express mail ($39.99 per envelope)
Priority Mail Express isn’t your only option for guaranteed overnight delivery, though it’s often the least costly. Here is a comparison of the most popular options, including a breakdown of priority mail express versus priority mail.
Price
SLA
Speed
Coverage Area and Destinations
Insurance Options
Rate Options
Signature and Delivery Confirmation Options
Tracking number options
Guarantees
Priority Mail
$7.75 & up
Delivery speed based on origin, destination, and time of dropoff
1-3 business days, 6-10 business days for international
Domestic and international
$50 included
Discounted commercial base rate ($7.15)
Flat rate available (retail only)
Weight-based, regional, or dimensional rates
Delivery confirmation available at no charge, signature confirmation for a fee
Included with most shipments
No
Priority Mail Express
$26.35 & up
Packages must be dropped off by the local cutoff time
By 12 pm or 3 pm next day, or by 10:30 am with extra cost
Domestic and international.
1-Day Shipping to most metropolitan areas, 2-day Shipping to most other US locations
$100 included
Discounted commercial base rate ($22.75 and up)
Weight-based rate
Flat rate (packages and envelopes)
Proof of Delivery signature record on request
Included with most shipments
Standard
Fedex Overnight
$23.94 & up
Standard, Priority, or First Overnight
Next business day, 3 pm or sooner with exceptions
Domestic only
Third-party only
First Overnight $54.40 & up, Priority Overnight $24.40 & up, Standard Overnight $23.94 & up
Available through FedEx tracking. Multiple signature options available.
Included
Standard
UPS Next Day
$23.38 & up
Next business day
10:30 am, 12 pm, or EOD depending on location
Domestic only
$100 included, up to $50,000 per package for a fee
Daily rates by agreement, Retail rates for all others
Delivery, Signature Required, or Adult Signature Required
Included
Standard
DHL
$45.80 & up
Next business day, terms dependent on selected arrival time
By 9 am, 10:30 am, 12 pm, 6 pm, or EOD
Domestic or international
Standard liability included. Additional insurance for a fee
Rates dependent on arrival time selection
Proof of Delivery standard
Real-time tracking included
Standard
Here’s how to send USPS Priority Express Mail Online with Mailform
- First, head to https://www.mailform.io, and upload your document
- Provide a return address as well as a destination
- Choose which printing options you’d like, including color vs. black/white or single vs. double sided
- Orders entered before 11am EST are fulfilled that same day, and others will be fulfilled next day
- We’ll send you a tracking number when it’s shipped, and a delivery notification when it arrives
The Takeaway
When choosing your overnight shipping provider, consider factors like delivery guarantees and confirmations as well as price. It may cost extra to guarantee on-time arrival, but a happy customer is always worth the expense.
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