Determining Standard Mail Eligibility

Standard Mail consists of mailable matter that is neither mailed or required to be mailed as First-Class Mail nor entered as Periodicals (unless permitted or required by standard) and that weighs less than 16 ounces.

As advances in technology have enabled mailers to increase the amount of “personal information” in computer-generated mailings, including advertising material typically entered as Standard Mail, the Postal Service has determined the need for guidance concerning the inclusion of “personal information” in Standard Mail or Nonprofit Standard Mail.

The following “decision tree” along with Customer Support Rulings will assist you in determining if your mailpiece is eligible at the Standard Mail rates of postage.

These eligibility standards for Standard Mail are effective June 1, 2005. On October 27, 2004, the USPS published the Federal Register Final Rule for Eligibility Requirements for Standard Mail.

Standard Mail Eligibility Decision Tree (PDF)