What Is Priority Mail and How Long Does It Take?

What is USPS priority mail?

Priority mail is one USPS' premium and faster delivery service. Essentially, the name gives it away: This delivery service is USPS' top priority to ship out.

Some of the standout features of priority mail packages include:

• Delivery within one-to-three business days, which is faster than their first-class mail service.
• Real-time tracking via phone or online for no extra charge.
• Free package pickup from your home or office if you don't have the time to make it to your local post office.
• Insurance coverage of up to $100.
• No extra charge for Saturday delivery.
• No surcharges for fuel or rural delivery.

One thing to note is that while priority mail service includes mail delivery six days a week, it doesn't include Sunday delivery. If you need guaranteed service on Sunday, then it's better to opt for priority mail express service.

How long does USPS priority mail take?

USPS offers several different options for priority mail. Here's a breakdown of their delivery times and service days.

Standard delivery times. Priority mail promises delivery within one to three business days for domestic shipments. Transit times will probably vary depending on the originating and final package locations. However, if you want your package to arrive faster, you have options to expedite delivery even further with the USPS priority mail express option.

Service days. USPS priority mail is delivered Monday through Saturday. There's no extra cost for Saturday delivery. But, with USPS priority mail, there is no delivery on Sunday. And, there's no guaranteed delivery date.

What is priority mail express?

Priority mail express is USPS' fastest delivery offering—it's a level up from their standard priority mail. Items arrive either the next day or, if traveling a longer distance, within two days by 6 p.m. This service option includes free USPS tracking, a money-back guarantee of delivery time, and $100 of insurance on the package. With priority mail express, customers from major metro areas can pay an additional fee for Sunday or holiday delivery. This is the only service option within USPS that offers Sunday delivery option.

Proof of delivery signature record and package pickup (from home or office) are also available at no cost—just be sure to request it when checking out.

How much does USPS priority mail cost?

The cost of sending a letter, package, or item via USPS priority mail varies depending on its weight, dimensions, and the distance it's traveling. Here's a closer look at the priority mail prices.

• Flat-rate. USPS provides standard envelopes and boxes for priority mail items. With priority mail's flat rate pricing, all items under 70 pounds ship at the same price. The package's maximum combined length and width are 108," and flat-rate envelopes or boxes' flaps must be able to close. So, if your mail fits, it ships for the standard rate. Priority mail flat rate prices for a small envelope (12.5" x 9.5") starts at $10.10, and a small box starts at $10.65 (8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″).
• Weight and zone. If you prefer to use your own packaging, the cost depends on size and shipping zone. So the heavier and further your package has to travel, the higher the shipping costs will be. The priority mail service price for using your own box or envelope starts at $9.35. You can utilize USPS Price Calculator to determine your exact domestic priority mail postage cost.
• Priority mail express. USPS priority mail express prices start at $31.40 at the local post office. The pricing also increases based on the mail item's weight. Guaranteed Sunday and holiday delivery comes at an extra fee of $12.50.

How to use priority mail

Eager to send a postcard or small care package via USPS? Here's how to go about it, from picking the right packaging to tracking your shipment.

Packaging

The first thing you'll need to decide is what type of packaging you are going to use. Can your mail piece fit in one of USPS’ standard flat-rate envelopes or boxes? Or would you prefer using your own box and then paying postage based on weight and shipping zone? This decision impacts the priority mail prices you may pay.

If you decide to go with your packaging, make sure it's a sturdy box or envelope that adheres to USPS shipping standards. Priority mail packages' total length and girth must be less than 108 inches and under 70 lbs.

The United States Postal Service has put out this informative video on how to measure your packages so you get the best prices for your shipment.

Labeling

How you label and address your package impacts the speed and accuracy of delivery. Ensure you clearly write the delivery address with a pen or permanent marker. All shipments must have a return address affixed to the top left-hand corner.

You can purchase shipping labels in person at your local post office or online with USPS' “Click-N-Ship" service, which gives you access to lower commercial pricing. No printer? Don't worry. You can still utilize the "Click-N-Ship" portal. USPS will print and ship the label to you for $1.55.

USPS recommends that you place all the labels on the longest side of the package or envelope. But try not to overlap the labels, especially if you purchased add-ons like Shipment Confirmation and insurance coverage. This can create confusion and potentially delay the delivery.

Shipping

There are multiple ways to send out your mail piece. You can:

• Drop it off at a blue collection box.
• Take it to your local post office.
• Schedule a pick-up from your home or office.
• Place it in your mailbox.

But, if your package weighs more than 10 lbs., is more than half an inch thick, and you have put postage stamps on it, you have no option but to go to the retail counter at your post office to send the shipment.

Say your package qualifies for USPS' free package pickup, there are two ways you can go about scheduling this:

• Package pickup. Is your package ready for pickup? Log in to www.usps.com/pickup and submit a package pickup request. It's really that quick and straightforward.
• Pickup on demand. This service lets you pre-select two-hour time slots during which a letter carrier will make a special trip to your home or office to collect the mail. There is no extra payment for this.

Tracking

Through USPS priority mail tracking, customers receive a tracking number and have access to the status of their mail item. Details such as when it was shipped, where it's currently temporarily housed, and when it's out for delivery are provided. It also gives customers point-to-point tracking information, such as a live map.

Your tracking number will typically be on the shipping or sales receipt or in the confirmation email if you use their website to make shipping labels. There are three ways to track the shipment status for your priority mail packages.

• Online. Go to the USPS Tracking website and enter the tracking number. You can enter up to 35 codes, separated by commas, and get the latest shipment updates.
• Text message. Send a message to 28777 (2USPS) with your tracking number in the message body. This method will incur your mobile phone carrier's standard data charges.
• USPS app. Download the official United States Postal Service app from Google Play or Apple App Store on your phone.

What are some of the advantages of USPS priority mail?

Customers enjoy using priority mail because the U.S. Postal Service administers it. Additionally, priority mail service offers:

• Convenience. When you send an item through USPS priority mail, you can do so at a post office or give the package to your mail carrier.
• Tracking. USPS offers priority mail tracking, so you can see where your items are at any point at any time, at no additional cost.
• Forwarding and return. Priority mail can be forwarded and returned to the sender at no additional cost.
• Affordable. USPS offers fast shipping at a lower price point than some competitors, such as FedEx, DHL, or United Parcel Service (UPS).
• Free supplies. Standard priority mail envelopes and boxes are available for use at most post office locations.
• Reliability. USPS has a vast network, boosting over 30,000 post offices, warehouses, and delivery hubs. Their experience in delivering mail and packages to 169 million addresses, including rural areas and P.O. boxes, make it a dependable option for standard, domestic deliveries.

Get your mail delivered digitally with virtual mail

Priority mail shipping is a bestseller and for a good reason. It gives customers a quick, reliable, and relatively inexpensive way to ship their items. But you know what's better than that? Having someone else do the heavy lifting for you.

With LegalZoom’s Virtual Mail service, our trained staff handles all of your incoming mail and packages. Items are scanned and uploaded to your account. Physical mail becomes digital mail—and now, you have all your mail as searchable PDFs on any device. It all lives in your preferred cloud storage forever.

Another bonus is that a LegalZoom virtual mailbox protects your privacy while adding a professional flair to your business. For example, if you run your graphic design business from home with our Virtual Mail, you won't get bombarded with junk mail at your home address. Also, you will have a prestigious business address that tells customers, suppliers, and investors that you are a legit business.

Need a package forwarded, mail shredded, or even your checks deposited to your bank? Simply choose what you want to be done via your account's dashboard. It's never been easier. LegalZoom’s Virtual Mail service starts at $29/month.

FAQs

Is priority mail guaranteed to arrive within three days?

Priority mail does not provide a money-back guarantee if a mail item doesn't get delivered within three business days. If a money-back guarantee is something you want, then sending via priority mail express is the best option as it provides money back if an item doesn't arrive within two days.

Does USPS priority mail deliver on Sundays?

Priority mail does not deliver on Sundays but includes Saturdays. If you need a package to arrive on a Sunday or holiday, priority mail express offers this service for an additional cost.

How is priority mail different from first-class mail?

First-class mail is ideal for letters, postcards, or any envelope that’s easily bendable. It usually gets delivered between one to five business days. The postage pricing starts at $0.73 for standard-sized envelopes weighing up to 3.5 ounces and $1.50 for large envelopes (maximum weight of 13 ounces).

So, if you wish to send a valuable document, like a property deed, urgently, it's best to go with priority mail or priority mail express services. With the Signature Confirmation Service, which you can get for just $4.55 at the post office, you can get the name and signature of the person who signed for the package.

What add-on services can I purchase for priority mail packages?

You can certainly purchase extra services with priority mail or any other mailing service provided by USPS. A popular choice for many is purchasing certified mail, certificate of mailing, or additional insurance coverage. Certified mail, which costs an extra $4.85, provides a mailing receipt and electronic verification of delivery.

A Certificate of Mailing, which costs an additional $2.20, serves as official proof that you did indeed ship the package. The document shows the date the mail was received by USPS.