The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20180920123129/https://www.usps.com/business/postage-options.htm
Skip all category navigation links
hamburger menu Icon Search Icon

Top Searches

 

Alert: Due to the flooding from Hurricane Florence, many Post Offices in the Carolinas have suspended operations.
Deliveries and other services have also been affected. Read more ›

Postage Options

Print Postage Labels on USPS.com

If you’re shipping a few packages a day, you can pay for postage online and print Priority Mail Express® and Priority Mail® shipping labels from your home or office printer.

Requirements:

  • USPS.com® account
  • Computer
  • Standard Printer
Start Shipping Learn More

 

Calculate Postage Correctly

Save Time By Doing It Right

Make sure you round the weight of your package up to the nearest pound or ounce to avoid underpayment and delaying delivery. For example, if your package weighs 3 lbs 5 oz, it would be charged at the 4 lb-rate. If you have a First-Class Package Service-Retail™ that weighs 7.3 oz, it must be charged at the 8 oz-rate.

Calculate a Price Learn More
Image of a woman preparing to send Priority Mail.

 

Quick Compare

At-a-glance, see the USPS services that are available and the different ways to pay for and print your postage.

Compare Options Now

Ways to Print Postage

Image of picture permit indicia.

USPS Picture Permit™ Indicia

USPS Picture Permit indicia (referred to as “Picture Permit”) provides an opportunity for an organization to customize the Permit Imprint Indicia on their First-Class Mail® and USPS Marketing Mail™ letters, postcards, and flats by incorporating their organization logo, brand image, or trademark.

Register Online
For requirements and additional resources, select “Show Details.”

Show Details about Picture Permit Imprint Indicia

How It Works

Apply for a Mailing Permit

Register Online

After registration, follow instructions in the email you received to complete your application. Submit your signed PS Form 3615-A (Mailing Permit Application) to [email protected].

PDF (2 MB)file for PS Form 3615-A Mailing Permit Applicationfile for PS Form 3615-A Mailing Permit Application

Requirements

  • Color images only, including logos, brand images, or trademarks
  • Full-Service Intelligent Mail® barcode
  • Nominal per piece fee in addition to postage (1¢ per First-Class Mail® piece and 2¢ per USPS Marketing Mail™ piece)
  • Available only for First-Class Mail® and USPS Marketing Mail™ letters and postcards

 

Resources

Picture Permit Fact Sheet PDF (32 KB) file for Picture Permit Fact Sheet | RTF (2 MB) file for Picture Permit Fact Sheet Picture Permit Technical Requirements PDF (2 MB) file for Picture Permit Technical Requirements | RTF (29 MB) file for Picture Permit Technical Requirements
Picture Permit Product Requirements PDF (70 KB) file for Picture Permit Product Requirements | RTF (2 MB) file for Picture Permit Product Requirements

Have more questions?

Browse Picture Permit FAQs

Send us an email: [email protected]

 

Image of a postage meter printing.

Postage Meter Printing

A postage meter prints postage directly onto your mail or onto a meter tape. Postage meters can be used for all mail services except Periodicals.

Show Detailsabout Metered Postage

How It Works

Apply for a permit

There are special markings required for bulk mailings that can be applied with your meter stamp.

PS Form 3615 to Apply for a Permit PDF (2 MB) file for PS Form 3615 to Apply for a Permit

Pay annual fees

The annual mailing fee allows you to send bulk mailings from one Post Office for 1 year. The mailing fee is separate from the application fees and postage.

 

Get a postage meter

Postage meters are only available from authorized providers. Vendors set service and leasing fees.

Data-Pac Mailing Systems Corp
Neopost
Pitney Bowes
FP Mailing Solutions

Disclaimer: The Postal Service® does not endorse any company or product not offered by the Postal Service, including the advertisers on this web page.

Image of a permit imprint stamp.

Permit Imprints

If you're a large volume mailer, using a permit imprint to make postage payments, you don't have to buy postage in advance, reset your meter, or affix stamps. Simply print postage information in the upper right corner of the mailpiece and only pay for postage when mailings are sent.

Show Details about Permit Imprints

How It Works

Apply for a permit

You must apply for a permit to use permit imprint.

PS Form 3615 to Apply for a Permit PDF (2 MB) file for PS Form 3615 to Apply for a Permit form

Pay permit and annual fees

The annual mailing fee allows you to make commercial mailings from one Post Office™ for 1 year. This fee is separate from the permit imprint application fees and postage and fees for the mailpiece.

Permit Imprint Fee Information

 

Design & Mailing Requirements

When designing your permit imprint, include the following:

Line 1: Rate Marking (includes mail class in all capital letters)
Line 2: The words "U.S. Postage Paid"
Line 3: City and state where permit is held
Line 4: The words “Permit No.” and your permit imprint number

Examples of Indicia Formats

Mailing Requirements

  • At least 200 mailpieces or 50 lbs with each piece weighing the same.
  • Create a mailing at least once every 2 years to keep permit account active.
  • Do not hand-draw or use type-written Permit Imprint Indicia on mailpieces.
  • Mailpieces must be delivered to a Post Office or Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU).

    • Additional Permit Imprints Details

Image of a precanceled stamp.

Precanceled Stamps

Using precanceled stamps is an easy way to get started with bulk mailing.

Show Detailsabout Precanceled Stamps

How It Works

Apply for a permit

There is no application fee associated with the permit. After you receive your permit number and receipt, you’ll be able to purchase and use precanceled stamps.

Download PS Form 3615 PDF (2 MB) file for PS Form 3615 to Apply for a Permit

Prepare postage statement

Fill out a postage statement to determine how much postage you owe when you drop off your mail at the Post Office™.

 

Pay for stamps used

Establish an advance deposit account to pay for the postage you owe on your precanceled stamp mailings.

  • Mailpiece must have a complete domestic return address in the upper-left corner.
  • Precanceled stamps must be placed in the upper right corner of the mailpiece.
  • Mail with precanceled stamps must be brought to the Post Office™ where you have your permit.
  • You can’t return unused stamps to the Post Office.

Precanceled Stamps Details and Examples

Ways to Pay for Postage

USPS® Share Mail™ Options

Encourage "word of mouth" recommendations through direct mail. Send customers Single-Piece First-Class Mail® cards or letters with prepaid postage to forward to friends or associates. Because Share Mail pays the advanced postage, your customers can address your note and drop it in the mailbox.

Show Details about Share Mail Prepaid Options

How Share Mail™ Works

What Share Mail Can Do

  • Send mail from multiple locations to multiple locations, anywhere in the U.S.
  • Give you rich tracking information to monitor campaign success with unique IMbs
  • Add a QR code or augmented reality trigger to connect your mail campaign to digital outreach
  • Provide postage-paid envelopes to help encourage prompt replies

Have more questions?

 

Start Your Share Mail Campaign

  • Get or have a USPS CAPS account
  • Meet USPS mailpiece design requirements PDF
  • Be able to print unique or static Intelligent Mail® barcodes (IMb)
  • Show quality-control measures that ensure mail production meets standards

 

Automated Clearing House (ACH) Credit & Debit

Pay directly from your bank account and ensure you have the necessary postage for large volume mailings. Use ACH for permit imprints and postage meter resetting.

Show Detailsabout Automated Clearing House (ACH) Credit & Debit

How It Works

You can either pre-funded your postage (ACH Credit) or fund your postage on-demand (ACH Debit). You’ll need to contact your bank to specify how you’d like to pay for your postage.

For PC Postage®, contact your PC Postage company and ask for PostageNow® (specify ACH Debit).

To use ACH Credit for Permit Imprints, you’ll need to establish a PostalOne!® Postage Payment Account.

Set up a PostalOne! Account

To reset your postage meter, call your meter company and initiate an ACH Credit or ACH Debit.

Fedwire®

For postage purchases greater than $25,000. Fund your postage or permit account with money transferred from your bank account.

Show Details about Fedwire

How It Works

Set up a PostalOne!® Postage Payment Account

Get Started file explaining the PostalOne system

Contact your bank to initiate a Fedwire payment

You’ll need the following information for each wire payment:

  • PostalOne! Postage Payment Account bank account number and routing transit number
  • Payment amount
  • PostalOne! Postage Payment Account number

Approved PC Postage® Providers

  1. Stamps.com stamps.com logo

    Stamps.com is a fast, easy, and convenient way to manage all your postage needs. You can save up to 80 percent compared to leasing a postage meter.

    Features

    • Import orders from eBay® and Amazon.com®
    • Receive additional discounts
    • In some cases, more cost-effective than leasing a postage meter

    Visit Stamps.com
  2. Endicia Endicia logo

    Print complete, postage-paid USPS® shipping labels and Pay-on-Use return labels with Endicia’s feature-rich electronic postage technologies and services.

    Features

    • Several service plans and APIs.
    • Integration into more than 200 ecommerce partner applications.
    • Direct integration into eBay® and Amazon®, allows you to import orders, print shipping labels, and automatically update information.

    Visit Endicia.com
  3. pbSmart Postage pbSmartPostage logo

    Print USPS® postage and shipping labels with pbSmartPostage™ from Pitney Bowes − the simple, web-based postage solution that requires no ongoing software downloads for postage updates.

    Features

    • Print postage with existing printer
    • Save as much as 9% off retail when using Priority Mail Express® and Priority Mail® services
    • 60-day free trial

    Visit PB.com
  4. EasyPost EasyPost logo

    EasyPost® offers a modern way to print postage with our easy-to-use API. Print USPS® postage and shipping labels, track packages, and automate your entire delivery process.

    Features

    • Easy integration with our RESTful API
    • Access to USPS Commercial Pricing
    • Verify addresses before shipping, track packages after shipping

    Visit EasyPost.com