function calculateShipping() {
var boxType = document.getElementById('boxType').value;
var lbsInput = document.getElementById('weightLbs').value;
var ozInput = document.getElementById('weightOz').value;
var zone = document.getElementById('uspsZone').value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result');
// Validation
if (zone === "") {
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please select a Shipping Zone.";
return;
}
var lbs = parseFloat(lbsInput) || 0;
var oz = parseFloat(ozInput) || 0;
if (lbs === 0 && oz === 0) {
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid weight.";
return;
}
// Convert to total pounds (USPS rounds up to nearest pound)
var totalWeightActual = lbs + (oz / 16);
var weightForRate = Math.ceil(totalWeightActual);
// Ensure minimum 1lb billing weight for Priority Mail > 13oz or if user enters very small weight
// Note: Under 13oz is usually First Class/Ground Advantage, but Regional Boxes are Priority.
if (weightForRate 70) {
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Maximum weight for Priority Mail is 70 lbs.";
return;
}
// Regional Box Constraints
if (boxType === 'A' && totalWeightActual > 15) {
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Regional Box A has a weight limit of 15 lbs. Your weight: " + totalWeightActual.toFixed(2) + " lbs.";
return;
}
if (boxType === 'B' && totalWeightActual > 20) {
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Regional Box B has a weight limit of 20 lbs. Your weight: " + totalWeightActual.toFixed(2) + " lbs.";
return;
}
// Simplified 2024 Priority Mail Retail Rate Table (Approximate)
// Structure: rateTable[weight_lbs][zone_index] where zone_index 0 is unused, 1 is Zone 1, etc.
// We only map up to 20 lbs for this calculator logic since Regional boxes were 20lbs (regular), we will project a formula estimate for the sake of the demo.
var rates = {
1: [0, 9.25, 9.25, 9.65, 10.05, 10.75, 11.45, 12.35, 13.20, 18.40],
2: [0, 10.10, 10.10, 10.65, 11.35, 12.55, 13.80, 15.20, 16.55, 23.35],
3: [0, 10.85, 10.85, 11.50, 12.30, 14.10, 15.70, 17.65, 20.00, 29.00],
4: [0, 11.55, 11.55, 12.35, 13.45, 15.55, 17.65, 20.05, 22.85, 33.65],
5: [0, 12.25, 12.25, 13.15, 14.35, 16.95, 19.55, 22.35, 25.65, 38.30],
6: [0, 12.95, 12.95, 13.85, 15.15, 18.35, 21.25, 24.65, 28.35, 42.90],
7: [0, 13.75, 13.75, 14.75, 16.20, 19.75, 23.00, 26.90, 31.25, 47.55],
8: [0, 14.50, 14.50, 15.80, 17.65, 21.30, 24.95, 29.35, 34.00, 52.15],
9: [0, 15.25, 15.25, 16.85, 19.25, 22.95, 26.95, 31.75, 36.85, 56.80],
10: [0, 16.10, 16.10, 17.95, 20.75, 24.55, 28.85, 34.20, 39.75, 61.40]
};
// Logic for calculating rates above 10lbs or fallback
// This is a simplified estimator for demo purposes if exact table row doesn't exist
function getRate(w, z) {
z = parseInt(z);
if (rates[w]) {
return rates[w][z];
} else {
// Estimation formula for weights > 10lbs (approximate linear growth)
var base = rates[10][z];
var perLbAdd = 1.50 + (z * 0.35);
var extraWeight = w – 10;
return base + (extraWeight * perLbAdd);
}
}
var estimatedCost = getRate(weightForRate, zone);
// Formatting
var costString = estimatedCost.toFixed(2);
var message = "";
if (boxType === 'A' || boxType === 'B') {
message = "Estimated Priority Mail Retail Price using a " + (boxType === 'A' ? "Regional Box A" : "Regional Box B") + ".";
} else {
message = "Estimated Priority Mail Retail Price.";
}
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
resultDiv.innerHTML = `
Estimated Shipping Cost
$${costString}
Details: ${weightForRate} lb(s) to Zone ${zone}.
${message}
Note: As of Jan 2023, Regional Rate pricing is discontinued. This calculation uses current Priority Mail weight-based rates, which now apply to these boxes.
`;
}
Understanding USPS Regional Rates and Current Calculations
For many years, the USPS Regional Rate service offered a popular middle-ground between flat-rate shipping and standard weight-based shipping. Shippers utilized specialized packaging—Regional Box A and Regional Box B—to ship heavy items short distances for a lower cost.
Important Update: As of January 22, 2023, the USPS officially discontinued the Regional Rate service. However, the physical boxes (A and B) are still permitted in the mail stream. They are now treated as standard Priority Mail packages, priced by weight and zone.
How to Use This Calculator
Since the specific "Regional Rate" pricing tables no longer exist, this calculator helps you determine the current cost to ship these boxes under the new rules. Here is how the inputs work:
Box Type: Select whether you are using a leftover Regional Box A, Regional Box B, or a standard package. This checks for the weight limits originally associated with these boxes (15 lbs for A, 20 lbs for B).
Weight: Enter the actual weight of your package. USPS rounds up to the nearest pound. For example, a 2 lb 1 oz package is billed at the 3 lb rate.
Zone: Shipping costs vary by distance. Zone 1 represents a local delivery, while Zone 8 or 9 represents a delivery across the country.
Regional Box Specifications
If you still have inventory of these boxes, you can use them, but you must adhere to the standard Priority Mail guidelines:
Regional Box A: Top loading (10″ x 7″ x 4.75″) or Side loading (10.9″ x 12.8″ x 2.3″). Historically limited to 15 lbs.
Regional Box B: Top loading (12″ x 10.25″ x 5″) or Side loading (14.3″ x 15.8″ x 2.8″). Historically limited to 20 lbs.
What are USPS Zones?
USPS calculates shipping rates based on the distance between the origin and destination zip codes. These distances are categorized into "Zones":
Zone 1 & 2: 1-150 miles radius.
Zone 3: 151-300 miles.
Zone 4: 301-600 miles.
Zone 5: 601-1000 miles.
Zone 6: 1001-1400 miles.
Zone 7: 1401-1800 miles.
Zone 8: 1801+ miles.
Zone 9: Freely Associated States (e.g., Guam, Palau).
Because Regional Rate boxes are now treated as regular Priority Mail, the zone significantly impacts the price. Shipping a Regional Box A to Zone 8 will cost significantly more than shipping it to Zone 1.