How to Post Parcels
The United States Postal Service (USPS) processes more than 584 billion pieces of mail per year, ranging from Express Mail to Parcel Post. Posting a parcel is a simple process and can be done at your local post office and you can obtain the postage from the comfort of your own home.
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Instructions
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Prepare your parcel for shipment. Place your items in a sturdy box. Priority Mail parcels may utilize free boxes from the post office or www.usps.com. Cushion your items with bubble wrap, newspaper or shredded paper to protect against breakage or damage. Tape the box securely with packing tape. Choose the class of mail you wish to use.
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Address a mailing label with the recipient's name, street address, city, state and zip code. Address a return label with your name, street address, city, state and zip code. Affix the labels with tape or self-adhesive strips to the top of the box.
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Obtain postage for your parcel via the USPS's website on the "Click 'N Ship" section, or at your local post office. To print postage online, you must input your recipient's information, your information, select a mail class and enter your credit or debit card information for payment. You must also specify the weight and dimensions of the package as some classes of mail are not available to large packages.
To obtain postage at the post office, you must present cash, check, credit card or debit card.
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Hand your parcel to the clerk at your local post office, or to your mail carrier. The USPS employee ensures that your parcel arrives at the local mail distribution center where it will be sorted and sent to the destination that you specified on the mailing label.
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Tips & Warnings
Tape all openings of the box, even if they are pre-sealed, to ensure that your parcel does not open in transit.
First Class mail is available for parcels under 13 ounces. Media and Library mail are available only for non-promotional books and papers. Priority mail is available for packages up to 70 pounds. Parcel Post and Express mail are available for all weights.
Do not ship prohibited items in your parcel. These include, but are not limited to, paint, aerosol cans, batteries, explosives, knives, guns, and certain food items. A full list of prohibited items is available on the USPS website (pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/welcome).
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