Running a business always comes with unexpected expenses, and it’s important to take advantage of cost-cutting tactics wherever possible. Shipping is one of those areas that can easily put you in the red if you don’t know the tricks to keep your costs down, and one of the best ways to do that is by using USPS boxes free of charge.
What boxes can I get for free from USPS?
You may already know that anyone shipping a package through USPS can walk into a post office, pick up a free Priority Mail® envelope or box, and pay a flat rate to ship it. But are post office shipping boxes free for businesses as well?
The answer is yes, you can pick up free boxes at the post office. What’s more, you can order USPS boxes free online. Not ALL of their boxes are free, however. Here’s a rundown on what boxes and envelopes you can get free online from the U.S. Postal Service.
Priority Mail Boxes
Shipping boxes can be ordered online
in packs of 10 or 25 (DVD boxes are only available in packs of 25). You can order Priority Mail boxes, including Flat Rate boxes, free of charge.
Priority Mail Boxes
Pay postage based on weight when you ship using these boxes.
- Box – 4 (7 ¼” x 7 ¼” x 6 ½”)
- Box – 7 (12 ¼” x 12″ x 8 ½”)
- Box – 1092 (13 11/16″ x 12″ x 2 ⅞”)
- Box – 1095 (15″ x 12″ x 3 ⅛”)
- Box – 1096L (9 7/16″ x 6 7/16″ x 2 3/16″)
- Box – 1097 (13 7/16″ x 11 ⅝” x 2 ½”)
- Shoe Box (14 ⅞” x 5 ¼” x 7 ⅜” )
- DVD Box (8 ¾” x 5 9/16″ x ⅞” )
Flat Rate® Boxes
Ship these boxes based on a fixed postage amount. If it fits, it ships.
- Flat Rate Small Box (8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 ¾”)
- Flat Rate Medium Box – 1 (11 ¼” x 8 ¾” x 6″)
- Flat Rate Medium Box – 2 (14 ⅛” x 12″ x 3 ½”)
- Flat Rate Large Box (12 ¼” x 12″ x 6″)
- Flat Rate – APO/FPO Box (12 ¼” x 12 ¼” x 6″)
Priority Mail Envelopes
Envelopes can be ordered free online in packs of 10.
Priority Mail Envelopes
Pay postage based on weight when you ship using these envelopes.
- Tyvek Envelope (15″ x 11 ⅝”)
- MILI-PAC Envelope (15″ x 11 ⅝”)
Flat Rate Envelopes
Ship these envelopes based on a fixed postage amount. If it fits, it ships.
- Flat Rate Envelope (12 ½” x 9 ½” )
- Flat Rate Padded Envelope (12 ½” x 9 ½”)
- Flat Rate Small Envelope (10″ x 6″)
- Flat Rate Legal Envelope (15″ x 9 ½”)
- Flat Rate Window Envelope (10″ x 5″)
- Flat Rate Window Envelope (12 ½” x 9 ½”)
Priority Mail Express® Boxes
Boxes can be ordered free online in packs of 10 or 25. Pay postage based on weight.
- Box – 1 (11 ¾” x 8 ¾” x 5 ¾”)
- Box – 2 (14 ⅛” x 12″ x 3 ½”)
- Box – 1093 (15″ x 12″ x 3 ⅛”)
Priority Mail Express Envelopes
Envelopes can be ordered free online in packs of 10.
Priority Mail Express Envelopes
Pay postage based on weight when you ship using these envelopes.
- Tyvek Envelope (15″ x 11 ⅝”)
- Window Envelope (5 ⅞” x 10″)
Flat Rate Envelopes
Ship these envelopes based on a fixed postage amount. If it fits, it ships.
- Flat Rate Envelope (12 ½” x 9 ½”)
- Padded Flat Rate Envelope (12 ½” x 9 ½”)
- Legal Flat Rate Envelope (15″ x 9 ½”)
Dual-Use Priority Mail/Priority Mail Express
Boxes can be ordered free online in packs of 10 or 20. Pay postage based on weight when you ship.
- Small Tube (25 9/16″ x 6″ x 5 ¼”)
- Medium Tube (38 3/16″ x 6 ¼” x 4 ¼”)
How to get USPS boxes free?
If you’re looking for free boxes and envelopes for your business, they are available. Can you pick up free boxes at the post office? Yes, you can. But there is an easier way! You can order both boxes and envelopes online and have them delivered to your place of business in packs of 10, 20, or 25, depending on what you’re ordering.
What are the restrictions?
One thing to keep in mind when you’re ordering your free USPS boxes is they must be used as intended. You are obligated to pay Priority Mail shipping costs if you’re using Priority Mail boxes, for example. The shipping service is tied to the packaging.
The good news is that these are all fast shippers, and when you subtract the cost of packaging, it brings down the overall cost of some of the most reliable shipping in the industry. Free boxes solve half the cost equation; postage is the other half. With EasyPost Nexus, small businesses get USPS commercial pricing without negotiating anything — pair free Priority Mail packaging with below-retail postage and both sides of your shipping cost drop. Get started free with Nexus →
Priority Mail is delivered in 1 to 3 business days. Domestic boxes have a weight limit of 70 pounds, and if you’re not using a Flat Rate box, the cost is tied to the weight and delivery zone. For Flat Rate you pay a flat fee to ship the package no matter the weight – but you can’t exceed the 70-pound limit.
You can use Priority Mail for international delivery as well, but the weight limits change to 4 pounds for Flat Rate Envelopes, the Small Flat Rate Box, the DVD Box, and the Large Video Box. The weight limit for international delivery is 20 pounds for the Medium and Large Flat Rate boxes.
Priority Mail Express has a next-day to 2-day delivery with a money-back guarantee. You can ship packages up to 70 pounds domestically. The weight limit for Flat Rate Envelopes is 4 pounds for international delivery.
How to minimize shipping costs with EasyPost
If you’re picking up free boxes at the post office, odds are you’re also paying retail postage — and that’s where the bigger savings are. EasyPost Nexus gives you commercial pricing on Priority Mail and other services, plus order importing and label printing from one dashboard. No integration work, and it’s free to start.
