Basic Bulk Mail
Preparation and
Mailpiece Design
Presented By: Felicia Carter
Basic Bulk Mail Acceptance and Mailpiece Design

What is Bulk Mail?

Basic Mailpiece Design

Addressing Requirements

Preparation Requirements
What is Bulk Mail?

The term "bulk mail" refers to quantities of mail
prepared for mailing at reduced postage rates.

“Bulk mail" means discounted First-Class Mail and
advertising mail (called "Standard Mail" by the Postal
Service).

The Postal Service uses the terms "bulk" and
"presorted" interchangeably.

Bulk rates are discounted from "single-piece" rates.
"Single-piece" means that you pay the full postage rate.
What is Bulk Mail?

Bulk mail is a “workshare” process

The Postal Service offers discounts for bulk
mailings because you do some of the work
that otherwise would have to be done by the
Postal Service

Mailers make an investment in time and
technology, and the Postal Service’s costs are
reduced and you pay less postage.
Basic Mailpiece Design
What is Mailable?

Not everything. Some items cannot be mailed, for legal
and safety reasons.

It is the mailer’s responsibility to ensure that they do not
mail anything that can injure postal employees, postal
equipment, or customers’ mail.

Some mailpieces are too small to be mailed -- they are
likely to get lost or jammed in postal equipment.

Some mailpieces are too large to be mailed -- they are
simply too big for the Postal Service to handle. Some
things are not the right shape to be mailed.
Basis Mailpiece Design
Min.
Length
5”
Height
3-1/2”
Thickness 0.007”
Max.
11-1/2”
6-1/8”
1/4”
Letter Size Pieces
NOTE: Pieces
exceeding 4 1/4”
high or 6” long
must be at least
.009” thick.
5" Min. Length
Maximum Weight
3 1/2”
Min.
Height
First-Class
3.3 oz.
Machinable Presort
3.5 oz.
Automation
Standard Presort
3.3 oz.
Machinable Presort
3.5 oz.
Automation
Basic Mailpiece Design – Nonmachinable Criteria
Aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than
1.3 or greater than 2.5
5"
• Square
Unacceptable
4” ÷ 5” = 1.25
4"
6"
Acceptable
• Rectangular
4” ÷ 6” = 1.5
4"
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in any
plastic material = Nonmachinable Mail
PLASTICS INC
PO BOX 0000
ANYWHERE IN 46206-0001
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT
xxx
City State
POSTAL FORUM
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington DC 20001
Also not permitted on automation-rate letter-size mail.
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure
devices = Nonmachinable Mail
Also not permitted on automation-rate letter-size mail.
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Odd shaped items such as pens, pencils, or loose keys or coins that
cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven.
Also not permitted on automation-rate letter-size mail.
Letters must be uniformly shaped.
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
If it is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a
transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch
diameter turn).
Automation-rate letter-size mail must be flexible.
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Pieces exceeding 4 ¼” X 6” and less than .009” thick.
5” to 6” Long
3.5” to
4.25”
High
Thickness: .007”
- up to .016” for postcards
- up to .25” for letters
6” to 11.5” Long
Thickness:
.009” to .025”
Automation letter rate pieces must meet the above dimensions.
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the
mailpiece.
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT
xxx
City State
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT
xxx
City State
POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL
475 L’Enfant Plz
Washington DC 20260-0846
POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL
475 L’Enfant Plz
Washington DC 20260-0846
Automation rates require that the delivery
address be parallel to the longest dimension.
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Booklet-type pieces having the bound edge (spine) along the
shorter dimension of the piece or at the top, regardless of the
use of tabs, wafer seals, or other fasteners.
SPINE
POSTAL FORUM
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington DC 20001-3614
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT
xxx
City State
Basic Mailpiece Design- Nonmachinable Criteria
Self-mailers with a folded edge perpendicular to the
address if the piece is not folded and secured according
to DMM 201.13.02.
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT
xxx
City State
POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington DC 20001-3614
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
F
O
L
D
F
O
L
D
PERMIT
xxx
City State
POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL
801 Mount Vernon Place NW
Washington DC 20001-3614
Automation rates require that self-mailers with the fold along
the shorter dimension have the fold on the right or leading
edge.
Basic Mailpiece Design
Flat Size Pieces



Must be flexible
Uniform in thickness
Rectangular in shape
Minimum*
Maximum
Length
11-1/2 inches
15 inches
Height
6-1/8 inches
12 inches
Thickness
1/4 inch
3/4 inch
* Flats exceed at least one of these
dimensions
Addressing

You’ve gone through a lot of time and expense to create
a mailpiece that is attractive and effective. Now you
need to make sure that it gets to your customer.

The Postal Service processes your mail on machines
that read address information and translate it into a
barcode. When a machine misreads an address, that
mailpiece may get mis-sorted or delayed.

Believe it or not: over 42 million Americans move every
year.
Addressing
Delivery Address

The delivery address is the most important information
on your mailpiece.

Use the following format for your delivery addresses:
Name or attention line: JANE L MILLER
Company: MILLER ASSOCIATES
Delivery address: 1960 W CHELSEA AVE STE 2006
City, state, ZIP Code: ALLENTOWN PA 18104
Addressing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
When is a Return Address Required?
Mail of any class, when its return and/or address correction is
requested
Official Mail
Mail paid with precanceled stamps
Matter bearing a company permit imprint
Priority Mail
Periodicals in envelopes or wrappers
Package Services (except unendorsed Bound Printed Matter)
Registered Mail
Insured Mail
Collect on Delivery (COD) Mail
Certified Mail if a return receipt is requested
Express Mail if a return receipt is requested. The return
address on the Express Mail label meets this standard
Addressing
Tips on Addressing

Always put the address and the postage on the same side of
your mailpiece.

On a letter, the address should be parallel to the longest side.

All capital letters.

No punctuation.

At least 10-point type.
Addressing
Tips on Addressing

One space between city and state.

Two spaces between state and ZIP Code.

Simple type fonts.

Left justified.
Addressing
Tips on Addressing

Black ink on white or light paper.

No reverse type (white printing on a black background).

If your address appears inside a window, make sure there is at
least 1/8-inch clearance around the address. Sometimes parts
of the address slip out of view behind the window and mail
processing machines can’t read the address.

If you are using address labels, make sure you don’t cut off
any important information. Also make sure your labels are on
straight. Mail processing machines have trouble reading
crooked or slanted information.
Addressing

Automated mail processing machines read addresses
on mailpieces from the bottom up and will first look for a
city, state, and ZIP Code.

Then the machines look for a delivery address. If the
machines can’t find either line, then your mailpiece
could be delayed or misrouted.

Any information below the delivery address line (a logo,
a slogan, or an attention line) could confuse the
machines and misdirect your mail.
Addressing
Window envelopes must have 1/8” clearance between the
address printing and any window edge throughout maximum
insert shift.
1735 N LYNN ST
ARLINGTON VA 22209-6030
Logos should
be placed above
address line
1/8”
1/8”
Min.
Min.
National Postal Forum
810 Mount Vernon Pl NW
Washington DC 20001-3614
1/25”
Min.
Addressing
Tap Test
2 taps on bottom
How is the Tap Test Performed?
2 Taps on the bottom,
then 2 taps on each end
Then 2 taps. on each end
Addressing
Tabbing Requirements
DOUBLE
POSTCARD
BOOKLET
Tabs
Spine
Sheets
Basis Weight
FOLDED
SELF-MAILER
Tabs
Folded Edge
Sheets
Basis Weight
1 Needed
Bottom
Single
28 lbs.
2 Needed
Bottom
Multiple with cover
20 lbs. (Cover)
Tabs
Folded Edge
1 Needed
Prefer Bottom,
Top Acceptable
Sheets
Single
Basis Weight 75 lbs.
FOLDED
SELF-MAILER
Tabs
Folded Edge
Sheets
Basis Weight
1 Needed
Bottom
Multiple
24 lbs.
FOLDED
SELF-MAILER
Tabs
Folded Edge
Sheets
Basis Weight
2 Needed
Top or Bottom
Single
20 lbs.
Mail Preparation




 Annual Fee - $175.00
 200 pieces (or 50 lbs)
minimum
Printed material or
merchandise < 1 lb
Deposited at designated entry
point
Sorted into bundles, trays
and/or sacks
Postage paid on all pieces
SomeWhere Repertory TheatrePO BOX 1111
“
BUD,
“
“
SomeWhere Repertory Theatre
PO SomeWhere
BOX 1111 Repertory Theatre
SOME
PO WHERE
BOX
1111AR 72203-1111
SomeWhere
Repertory Theatre
SOMEPO
WHERE
AR 72203-1111 OR
BOX
1111
SomeWhere
Repertory
Theatre
STAMP
OR
SOME
AR 72203-1111
POWHERE
BOX 1111
STAMP
SOME WHERE AR 72203-1111
US POSTAGE
PAID
PMT #XXX
SOME WHERE AR
US POSTAGE
PAID
PMT #XXX
SOME WHERE AR
SRT
“VIEWS OF EGYPT...”rep
SPIRIDONADRESS LABEL
ADRESS LABEL
LABEL
SCARVELLI ADRESS
ADRESS LABEL
ADRESS LABEL
ETC
“
BUD,
THIS IS APPROX WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT...
BUD,
LINE THIS
IN MIDDLE
TELLSWHAT
OCR NOT
LOOK
AT AT...
1/2”
IS APPROX
YOU TO
ARE
LOOKING
1/2”
LEFTLINE
SIDEINOF
POSTCARD
FOR
BUD,
TELLS
OCRADDRESS
NOTARE
TO LOOK
AT AT...
1/2”
THISMIDDLE
IS APPROX
WHAT
YOU
LOOKING
1/2”
INFORMATION.
SPECIFICATIONS
BAR
CODE
LEFT
SIDE
OF
POSTCARD
FORFOR
ADDRESS
BUD,
LINE
IN
MIDDLE
TELLS WHAT
OCR
NOT
TO
LOOK
AT
CLEAR
ZONE
AND
PLACEMENT
OF ADDRESS
1/2”
THIS
IS SPECIFICATIONS
APPROX
YOU
ARE
LOOKING
1/2”
INFORMATION.
FOR
BAR
CODE AT...
LEFT SIDE
OF
POSTCARD
FOR
ADDRESS
4-3/4”
LABEL
ALLOW
US
TO
WORK
THIS
MAIL
PIECE
LINEAND
IN MIDDLE
TELLSWHAT
OCR
NOT
TO
LOOK AT AT...
CLEAR
ZONE
PLACEMENT
OF
ADDRESS
1/2”
THIS
ISSPECIFICATIONS
APPROX
YOU
ARE
1/2”
INFORMATION.
FOR
BAR LOOKING
CODE
ON OUR
AUTOMATED
EQUIPMENT.
LEFT
SIDE
OF
POSTCARD
FOR
ADDRESS
LABEL
ALLOW
USAND
TO
MAIL
PIECE
5/8” THIS
LINE
IN WORK
MIDDLE
TELLS
OCR
NOT TO LOOK4-3/4”
AT
CLEAR
ZONE
PLACEMENT
OF
ADDRESS
LEAVE
THIS
AREA
CLEAR FOR BARCODING 1/2”
1/2”
INFORMATION.
SPECIFICATIONS
FOR
BAR
CODE
ON LABEL
OUR AUTOMATED
EQUIPMENT.
LEFTUS
SIDE
OF
POSTCARD
FOR
ADDRESS
4-3/4”
ALLOW
TO
WORK
PIECE
5/8”THIS MAIL
GOOD LUCK.
CLEAR
ZONE
AND
PLACEMENT
OF
ADDRESS
LEAVE
THIS
AREA
CLEAR
FOR
BARCODING
INFORMATION.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR BAR CODE
ON OUR
AUTOMATED
4-3/4”
LABEL
ALLOW
USEQUIPMENT.
TO
WORK
THIS MAIL
PIECE
5/8”
GOOD LUCK.
CLEAR
ZONE
AND
PLACEMENT
OF
ADDRESS
LEAVE THIS AREA CLEAR FOR BARCODING
ON OUR
AUTOMATED
4-3/4”
LABEL
ALLOW US EQUIPMENT.
TO WORK
5/8” THIS MAIL PIECE
GOOD LUCK.
LEAVE THIS AREA CLEAR FOR BARCODING
ON OUR AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT.
5/8”
GOOD LUCK.
Mail Preparation

Mailers who elect to presort their mailings must pay postage by:
1. Permit Imprint,
2. Postage Meter
3. Precanceled Stamps

An annual mailing fee must be paid once each 12-month period at each post office of
mailing.

The fee may be paid in advance only for the next 12 months and only during the last 60
days of the current serviced period. The fee charged is that which is in effect on the date
of payment.

***A mailer paying this fee may enter clients’ mail as well as the mailer’s own
mail.***

Presorted mail
1. Cannot be deposited in collection boxes, mail boxes, or other mail receptacles
2. Cannot be given to a letter carrier
3. Must be brought to a business mail entry (BMEU), a detached mail unit (DMU), or to a designated
post office where it is accepted and verified by postal employees.
Mail Preparation
Payment Methods
Permit
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NEW YORK, NY
PERMIT NO. 1
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATI
ON
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
Precanceled
Stamp
Meter
O.16
5¢
9
NON PROFIT
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NEW YORK, NY
PERMIT NO. 3
10¢
0.23
5
PRSRT
STD
BULK
RATE
3 Options
Mail Preparation- Machinable Mailing
3-DIGIT/ORIGIN
(Optional)
Rate : AADC (1)
AADC
(Required)
Rate : AADC
NP
Rate .113
Rate .113
STD
Rate .204
Rate .204
SPRINGFIELD MA
010
STD LTRS 3D MACH
MILWAUKEE WI
AADC SPRINGFIELD 010
STD LTRS AADC MACH
MILWAUKEE WI
MIXED AADC
(Required)
Rate :MXD ADC
Rate .164
Rate .255
MXD MILWAUKEE WI 530
STD LTRS MACH WKG
MILWAUKEE WI
(1) AADC Rate for Any 3-Digit/Origin Tray for the Origin SCF Containing Fewer Than 150 Pieces.
* 3 digit origin trays required for FCM and optional for STD mail. Postcard-Size Pieces Always
Banded;
Other Pieces Banded Only If Placed in Less-Than-Full Tray or Overflow Trays.
Mail Preparation
Machinable Tray Label
 Barcoded Tray Label
PITTSFIELD
MA
STD LTR 3D MACH
012
LINE 1
(Destination
LINE 2
(Content)
Label Barcode
0120155401
MILWAUKEE WI
Machinable
STD LTR 3D MACH
STD LTR AADC MACH
STD LTR MACH WKG
Numeric HumanReadable of
Barcode
LINE 3
(Origin)
Mail Preparation- Nonmachinable Letter
More money and more work.
5-DIGIT
(Required)
Rate : 5D
3-DIGIT
(Required)
Rate : 3 digit /ADC
ADC
(Required)
Rate : ADC
MIXED ADC
(Required)
Rate: MXD ADC
NP
Rate .195
Rate .278
Rate .307
Rate .429
STD
Rate .286
Rate .369
Rate .398
Rate .520
3
5
WEST BEND WI 53095
STD LTRS 5D MAN
MILWAUKEE WI
X
A
MILWAUKEE WI
530
STD LTRS 3D MAN
MILWAUKEE WI
ADC MILWAUKEE WI 530
STD LTRS ADC MAN
MILWAUKEE WI
MXD MILWAUKEE WI 530
STD LTRS MAN WKG
MILWAUKEE WI
Mail Preparation- Nonmachinable Mailing
Nonmachinable Tray Label
LINE 1
(Destination
MILWAUKEE WI
STD LTR 3D MANUAL
530
LINE 2
(Content)
Label Barcode
Numeric HumanReadable Barcode
5300155407
LINE 3
(Origin)
MILWAUKEE WI
STD LTR 5D MANUAL
STD LTR ADC MANUAL
STD LTR MANUAL WKG
Mail Preparation- Presorted Flats
5-DIGIT
(Required)
Rate : 5 digit
3-DIGIT
(Required)
Rate : 3 digit
ADC
(Required)
Rate : ADC
MIXED ADC
(Required)
Rate: MXD ADC
Rate.195
Rate .259
Rate .293
Rate .389
STD Rate .321
Rate .385
Rate .419
Rate .515
NP
5
PHILADELPHIA PA 19118
STD FLTS 5D NON BC
TOPEKA KS
3
A
PHILADELPHIA PA 191
STD FLTS 3D NON BC
TOPEKA KS
ADC PHILADELPHIA PA 190
STD FLTS ADC NON BC
TOPEKA KS
X
MXD KANSAS CITY KS 66340
STD FLTS NON BC WKG
TOPEKA KS
Helpful Information

WWW.USPS.COM/PRICES

http://pe.usps.com

http://ribbs.usps.gov

1-800-ASK-USPS
Basic Bulk Mail Preparation and Mailpiece Design
Questions?