USPS Priority Mail Cubic: What is it?
For small, heavy packages, USPS offers a unique cost-saving option called USPS Cubic pricing, which bases shipping costs on package dimensions, not weight. Priority Mail Cubic rates can help you save on packages up to 20lbs. and up to 0.5 cubic feet. The service comes with 1–3 business day delivery and $100 of package insurance at no extra cost.
Table of contents
- Is Priority Mail Cubic available for small shippers?
- How to calculate pricing for Priority Mail Cubic packages
- What are the package tiers for USPS Priority Mail Cubic?
- USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing by package tier and zone
- How long does Priority Mail Cubic take to ship and deliver?
- Where does Priority Mail Cubic ship?
- Can I use my own box or envelope for Priority Mail Cubic?
- How can you prepare to save on shipping and mailing costs in 2023?
Is Priority Mail Cubic available for small shippers?
Although Priority Mail Cubic pricing is generally only available to customers who ship 50,000 packages a year, Pitney Bowes software gives lower-volume shippers access to USPS Priority Mail Cubic rates.
How to calculate pricing for Priority Mail Cubic packages
The USPS Cubic pricing is based on the dimensions of your box. Measure the length, width and height of your package in inches and round down to the nearest 1/4 inch. Multiply the length by the width by the height. Now divide the result by 1,728 (which is 12”x12”x12” or one cubic foot). This will give you the size of the package in cubic feet. Note that the size of the package cannot be greater than 0.5 cubic feet, and no dimension can be greater than 18”.
Use the USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing rate chart to determine the pricing. Round up to the next tier. Or use Pitney Bowes software to calculate Priority Mail Cubic pricing for you.
What are the package tiers for USPS Priority Mail Cubic?
Based on the cubic feet measurement of your package, the pricing will fall into one of five tiers for USPS Cubic pricing. Packages up to .10 cubic feet are Tier 1. Packages more than .10 cubic feet and up to .20 cubic feet fall into Tier 2 Priority Mail Cubic pricing. Packages more than .20 cubic feet up to .30 cubic feet are Tier 3. Tier 4 includes packages more than .30 and up to .40 cubic feet. Your package will be Tier 5 USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing if it’s more than .40 and up to .50 cubic feet.
USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing by package tier and zone
USPS Cubic pricing is set by the tier and the geographic zone. See the table below for an overview of USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing.
| Cubic feet up to | 0.10 | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.40 | 0.50 |
| Zone 1 | $7.79 | $8.23 | $8.42 | $8.55 | $8.74 |
| Zone 2 | $7.91 | $8.31 | $8.58 | $8.76 | $8.95 |
| Zone 3 | $8.12 | $8.45 | $8.86 | $9.16 | $9.30 |
| Zone 4 | $8.37 | $8.74 | $9.25 | $9.83 | $10.27 |
| Zone 5 | $8.70 | $9.39 | $10.23 | $12.38 | $13.89 |
| Zone 6 | $9.54 | $11.29 | $13.74 | $16.41 | $18.32 |
| Zone 7 | $10.07 | $11.97 | $15.48 | $19.31 | $22.97 |
| Zone 8 | 10.85 | $13.17 | $18.45 | $22.48 | $26.76 |
| Zone 9 | $20.42 | $27.59 | $37.43 | $46.99 |
$56.29 |
How long does Priority Mail Cubic take to ship and deliver?
Yes, the prices are good, but you might be asking, “How long does Priority Mail Cubic take?” USPS usually delivers a Priority Mail Cubic package within 1–3 business days; however, the timing is not guaranteed.
Where does Priority Mail Cubic ship?
You can ship at USPS Priority Mail Cubic rates to all 50 U.S. states. Priority Mail Cubic service also includes all U.S. territories.
Can I use my own box or envelope for Priority Mail Cubic?
One question that often comes up is “Can I use my own box for Priority Mail Cubic?” And the answer is yes, as long as your box meets the dimension and weight requirements for Cubic rates. Note that tubes and rolled shipments are not allowed.
How can you prepare to save on shipping and mailing costs in 2023?
When you use Pitney Bowes shipping software for discounted Cubic rates, you can save on USPS shipping costs like high-volume shippers do. And PitneyShip® software lets you skip the line at the post office and quickly calculate shipping prices. How’s that for squared-away shipping?