How to Calculate USPS Insurance
If you plan to ship an item using the United States Postal Service (USPS) and are concerned about it being lost or damaged, you can purchase insurance for the item. There are prices for domestic and international shipping and the price of insurance depends on the value of your item. You only need to access the USPS Price List Web page to get started.
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Instructions
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Estimate Domestic Insurance Price
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Estimate the price to replace the item you plan to mail using the USPS. For example, if you plan to ship a laptop, estimate the cost of replacing the laptop if it were lost or damaged.
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Go to the USPS Domestic Insurance Prices Web page.
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Decide whether you want to ship the item using Domestic shipping or Express Mail. There is a price chart for each.
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Find the value of the item you plan to ship on the Domestic Insurance Prices list if you plan to use standard shipping. The cost across from the value of your item up to $600 is the price you must pay for insurance. For items over $600, you must pay a base insurance price of $7.70 plus an additional $1.00 per every $100 the item is worth. For example, if you were shipping a laptop valued at $400, you would pay $5.70 for insurance. If you were shipping a laptop valued at $700, you would pay $7.70 plus an extra $1.00 for a total of $8.70 for insurance for your item. You can use your calculator to do the math if needed.
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Find the value of the item you plan to ship on the Express Mail Insurance Prices list if you want to use expedited shipping. The price across the value of your item up to $500 is the price you must pay for insurance. If your item costs more than $500 to be replaced, start with a base price of $2.15 for insurance and then add $1.40 for each additional $500 your item is valued at. For example, if you want to ship a laptop priced at $400, you would pay $2.15 for insurance. If the laptop costs $700 to be replaced, you would add $2.15 plus $1.40 for a total of $3.55. Use a calculator if needed.
Estimate International Insurance Price
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Estimate the price to replace the item you plan to mail using the USPS. For example, if you plan to ship a laptop, estimate the cost of replacing the laptop if it were lost or damaged.
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Go to the USPS International Insurance Prices Web page.
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Decide whether you want to ship your item by Express Mail or Priority Mail. There are insurance price lists for each method of shipping.
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Find the value of your item on the list if you plan to ship by Express Mail International. The price across from the item value is the cost you must pay for insurance.
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Find the value of your item on the Priority Mail International list. There are insurance prices for shipping to Canada and prices all other countries. If you plan to ship to any country other than Canada, refer to the "All Other Countries Column." For example, if you plan to ship a laptop to Canada and the laptop is worth $300, you would pay $4.70 for insurance. If you shipped a laptop worth $300 to another country, you would pay $5.40 for insurance. Items shipped to other countries worth more than $700 cost a base insurance price of $9.40 plus an additional $1.00 per extra $100 the item is worth. For example, if you shipped a laptop worth $900 to a country other than Canada, you would pay $9.40 plus $2.00 for a total of $11.20. Use a calculator if needed.
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