USPS Homepage Skip Navigation Home   |   Help   |   Sign In
Find a ZIP Code   /   Locate a Post Office   /   Track & Confirm   /   Calculate Postage   /   Change Address   /   Find a Form
Buy Stamps and Shop. Get stamps online and order shipping supplies. Grow Your Business. Here are effective ways to get more customers and keep them. Send Mail and Packages. We've made it easy to send and ship. Receive Mail and Packages. Hold and redeliver mail online. Send Money and Payments. Send money and pay your bills online. All Products and Services. Comprehensive list of what USPS has to offer. About USPS and News. Learn more about what USPS is doing.
Buy Stamps and Shop. Get stamps online and order shipping supplies. Grow Your Business. Here are effective ways to get more customers and keep them. Send Mail and Packages. We've made it easy to send and ship. Receive Mail and Packages. Hold and redeliver mail online. Send Money and Payments. Send money and pay your bills online. All Products and Services. Comprehensive list of what USPS has to offer. About USPS and News. Learn more about what USPS is doing.

Home > Send Mail & Packages > Prepare Mail & Packages > Prepare Packages
Ways to Send Mail & Packages
  Prepare Mail & Packages
 
  Measuring Tips
  Labels & Addressing
  Address Quality
Business Tips & Tools
Postage Rates

Prepare Packages
Safe delivery starts with careful preparation.
When sending a package, there are several easy steps that make your package more secure and easier to ship.

The Box
Choose a box with enough room for cushioning material around the contents. If you are reusing a box, cover all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker or adhesive labels.

Cushioning
Place the cushioning all around your items. Close and shake the box to see whether you have enough cushioning. Add more newspaper, styrofoam, bubble wrap if you hear items shifting.

Sealing
Tape the opening of your box and reinforce all seams with 2” wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape or paper tape. Do not use cord, string or twine because they get caught in mail processing equipment.

Correct Address
Using a complete and correct address is critical for efficient delivery. Use ZIP Code + 4 when possible. Locate a correct address for accurate mailing.

Drop Off
Packages may be handed to your carrier or taken to the Post Office. Packages may also be dropped into a blue collection box with the following restrictions:

Stamped packages should weigh less than one pound
Packages with postage printed using Click-N-Ship or another PC Postage provider may weigh more than one pound, but must fit in the collection box


 
  International Tips
Tips for when you are shipping globally.
Go to International Tips

  Labels & Addressing
Get addressing tips for both domestic or international mail.
Go to Labels & Addressing

  Address Quality
Improve the quality of your address list(s).
Go to Address Quality

  Help with Customs
Rules and restrictions you need to know before sending to another country.
Go to Help with customs

POSTAL INSPECTORS Web Page POSTAL INSPECTORS
Preserving the Trust
INSPECTOR GENERAL Web Page INSPECTOR GENERAL
Promoting Integrity
site map    contact us    government services    jobs   
National & Premier Accounts  
No FEAR Act EEO Data
Copyright © 1999-2004 USPS. All Rights Reserved.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy