Your Own Packaging (By Weight)
Flat Rate Envelope (12.5″ x 9.5″)
Legal Flat Rate Envelope (15″ x 9.5″)
Padded Flat Rate Envelope (12.5″ x 9.5″)
Flat Rate options ship for one low price regardless of weight (up to 70 lbs).
Zone 1 (Local / < 50 miles)
Zone 2 (51 – 150 miles)
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 / Continental US)
Zone 9 (US Territories / Freely Associated States)
Zones are based on the distance from the origin zip code.
Estimated Retail Postage Cost
$0.00
Guaranteed Next-Day to 2-Day Delivery by 6 PM
Understanding USPS Priority Mail Express
Priority Mail Express is the United States Postal Service's fastest domestic shipping service. It provides a money-back guarantee for overnight to 2-day delivery to most U.S. addresses and PO Boxes. Unlike standard Priority Mail, Express offers guaranteed delivery times, making it the ideal choice for urgent documents and time-sensitive merchandise.
How Rates Are Calculated
The cost of shipping Priority Mail Express depends on three primary factors used in this calculator:
Package Type: You can choose between Flat Rate Envelopes (where weight doesn't affect the price) or using your own packaging.
Weight: For non-Flat Rate packages, the weight is rounded up to the nearest half-pound or pound. The heavier the item, the higher the cost.
Zone (Distance): USPS divides the U.S. into 9 zones based on the distance from the sender to the receiver. Zone 1 is local, while Zone 8 represents cross-country shipping.
Flat Rate vs. Weight-Based Pricing
One of the most cost-effective ways to ship heavy documents or small items is via Flat Rate Envelopes. If your item fits inside a USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelope, you pay a fixed price regardless of the weight (up to 70 lbs) or the destination zone. This is often significantly cheaper than "Your Own Packaging" rates for cross-country shipments.
However, if your item is bulky and does not fit in a standard envelope, you must pay based on weight and distance. Prices for weight-based shipping escalate quickly, especially for Zones 5 through 9.
Service Features
Delivery Speed: Overnight scheduled delivery by 6:00 PM (with an option for 10:30 AM delivery for an additional fee in some markets).
Insurance: Includes up to $100 of insurance coverage.
Tracking: Full USPS Tracking included.
Signature: Signature confirmation can be required for an added fee.
Note: The rates calculated above are estimates based on standard retail pricing. Commercial Base Pricing (available via online shipping software) may offer discounts of up to 10-15%.
function toggleWeightInputs() {
var type = document.getElementById('pmePackageType').value;
var weightContainer = document.getElementById('weightContainer');
// If it's a flat rate envelope, weight doesn't determine price (up to 70lbs),
// but practically we hide it to reduce user friction, or keep it optional.
// For clarity, we will disable/opacity it.
if (type !== 'variable') {
weightContainer.style.opacity = '0.5';
document.getElementById('pmeWeightLbs').disabled = true;
document.getElementById('pmeWeightOz').disabled = true;
} else {
weightContainer.style.opacity = '1';
document.getElementById('pmeWeightLbs').disabled = false;
document.getElementById('pmeWeightOz').disabled = false;
}
}
function calculateShippingRate() {
// Inputs
var type = document.getElementById('pmePackageType').value;
var weightLbs = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pmeWeightLbs').value) || 0;
var weightOz = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pmeWeightOz').value) || 0;
var zone = parseInt(document.getElementById('pmeZone').value);
var totalCost = 0;
// Current Retail Estimates (2024 Approximation)
// These are base estimates. USPS rates change annually.
if (type === 'flat-envelope') {
totalCost = 30.45;
} else if (type === 'legal-envelope') {
totalCost = 30.65;
} else if (type === 'padded-envelope') {
totalCost = 31.20;
} else {
// Variable / Own Packaging Logic
// 1. Calculate Total Weight in Lbs
var totalWeight = weightLbs + (weightOz / 16);
// USPS rounds up to the nearest 0.5 lb up to 1 lb, then nearest 1 lb?
// Actually PME retail is usually 0.5lb increments indefinitely or 1lb.
// For estimation simplicity, we will round up to nearest 0.5 lb.
if (totalWeight < 0.1) totalWeight = 0.5; // Minimum weight
var roundedWeight = Math.ceil(totalWeight * 2) / 2;
// 2. Define Base Rate Matrix (Approximation for 0.5 lb)
// Zones: 1&2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
var baseRates = {
1: 30.45, 2: 30.45,
3: 31.00,
4: 33.20,
5: 35.80,
6: 38.30,
7: 41.25,
8: 44.50,
9: 58.50
};
// 3. Define Per Pound Add-on (Approximation)
// This varies wildly, but we will use an average increment per zone to estimate.
var costPerLb = {
1: 4.50, 2: 4.50,
3: 5.50,
4: 7.20,
5: 9.00,
6: 10.50,
7: 12.00,
8: 13.50,
9: 17.00
};
var basePrice = baseRates[zone] || 44.50;
var perLbRate = costPerLb[zone] || 13.50;
if (roundedWeight <= 0.5) {
totalCost = basePrice;
} else {
// Calculate excess weight
var excessWeight = roundedWeight – 0.5;
// Calculate additional cost
var additionalCost = excessWeight * perLbRate;
totalCost = basePrice + additionalCost;
}
}
// Formatting
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result');
var costDiv = document.getElementById('totalCost');
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
costDiv.innerHTML = '$' + totalCost.toFixed(2);
}