Postage

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U.S. Postal Service Postage Rates

When ShipitAPO® mails out a package on behalf of its Members, postage is charged at published U.S. Postal Service rates. See rate details below. Our Pennsylvania package processing facility is strategically located to service those from Military States AA and AE. Our California package processing facility is strategically located to service those from Military State AP, Hawaii and Alaska.

Reminder:

The only way to get packages to an APO/FPO address is via the U.S. Postal Service. This means that ALL size, weight and content restrictions must be adhered to in order for a package to be mailed out. While each APO/FPO has its own specific set of APO/FPO Zip Code Restrictions, in general no package can exceed 70 pounds, be larger than 130 inches when you add the length (always the longest side) and the girth, or contain prohibited items (flammables, air conditioners, etc.). NOTE: ANY APO/FPO/DPO ZIP CODE SIZE OR WEIGHT RESTRICTION ALWAYS SUPERCEDES THE NORMAL WEIGHT LIMIT OF 70 POUNDS AND NORMAL SIZE LIMIT OF 130 INCHES (length + girth), where the length cannot exceed 72 inches. Please see your local Postmaster for further details.

Postage Rates are now based on both size and weight!

The United States Postal Service postage rates, which went into effect January 18, 2009 brought with them many fundamental changes as to how postage for a package is determined. These changes, which carry forward to all future postage rate changes, subsequently affect how ShipitAPO handles and processes packages to ensure compliance with these new Postal regulations.

As postage rates change, these links will be updated as the USPS transitions from Rate Case terminology to actual/effective rates.

• For an overview of the new Postal Rate changes, click here.
• For the new Express Mail Rates, click here.
• For the new Priority Mail Rates, click here.
• For the new Parcel Post Rates, click here.

Important new facts!

While postage has always been determined based on the weight of a package and the distance it traveled before being delivered using a "Zone" structure, the new postage rates now couple the "Zone distance" with the shape and size of a package. There are eight (8) postal Zones, each one a predetermined distance from the point of origin to the destination, Zone 1 being the shortest distance, Zone 8 the longest.

Shape-Based Pricing

Balloon Rates: Packages addressed for delivery in Zones 1-4 (including Local) for mail class Priority Mail and all Zones for mail class Parcel Post that weigh less than 20 pounds but measure more than 84 inches (and not more than 108 inches) in combined length and girth (where girth is the measurement all the way around the thickest part of the parcel) are charged the applicable zone rate for a 20-pound parcel (balloon rate).

Dimensional Weights: Packages addressed for delivery in Zones 5-8 for mail class Priority Mail that measure more than 1 cubic foot in volume will be charged the higher of their actual weight and a dimensional weight. The dimensional weight is the volume of the parcel divided by 194 and rounded up.

Oversize Parcel Post: Packages that exceed 108 inches in postal dimension but do not exceed 130 inches in postal dimension (where the length cannot exceed 72 inches) are considered oversized and can only be mailed as oversized Parcel Post as long as they do not exceed 70 pounds. Postage for oversized Parcel Post is a flat rate, independent of weight, priced per Zone. See rate Parcel Post rate table.

Here are the mailing Zones from our package processing facilities:

Important Note

To ensure compliance with these shape-based postage requirements, ShipitAPO® has to measure each package so affected. These dimensions are entered into our package processing system; a proprietary system that incorporates the USPS certified "PC postage" services of Endicia to determine the proper postage for each package we mail out. Accordingly, you will note "Balloon," "Dimensional" and "Oversize" on ShipitAPO® invoices when those types of postage rates are determined to be applicable.

Balloon Rate Postage Determination
(Priority Mail: Zones 1-4 -- Parcel Post: All Zones)

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch: (length = 21, height = 20, and width = 20).
2. Add the length and the girth: 21 + (20+20+20+20) = 101
3. If the result exceeds 84 inches but does not exceed 108 inches, the package falls into the balloon rate category, the balloon rate weight being 20 pounds.
4. The rate is based on the actual weight or balloon rate weight, whichever is greater.

In the example above, the balloon weight for this package is 20 pounds. For Priority Mail postage for Zones 1-4 apply; for Parcel Post all Zones apply.

Dimensional Weight Postage Determination
(Priority Mail: Zones 5-8 -- Parcel Post: N/A)

Rectangular Shaped Example. For the box illustrated below, compute the dimensional weight as follows:

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch: (length = 21, height = 20, and width = 20).
2. Multiply length x height x width: (21 x 20 x 20) = 8,400 cubic inches.
3. If the result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 194 and round up (i.e. round to the next highest whole number) to determine dimensional weight in pounds: (8,400/194 = 43.29) 43.29 rounded up to the next pound is 44.
4. The rate is based on the actual weight or dimensional weight, whichever is greater.

In the example above, the dimensional weight for this rectangular package to zones 5-8 is 44 pounds.

Non-Rectangular Shaped Example. For the case illustrated below, compute the dimensional weight as follows:

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches at their extreme dimensions. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch: (length = 30, height = 9, and width = 18).
2. Multiply length x height x width: (30 x 9 x 18) = 4,860 cubic inches.
3. Multiply the result by an adjustment factor of 0.785: 4,860 x 0.785 = 3,815.1 cubic inches.
4. If the final result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 194 and round up to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds: (3,815.1/194 = 19.66) 19.66 rounded up to the next pound is 20.
5. The rate is based on the actual weight or dimensional weight, whichever is greater.
6. If the dimensional weight exceeds 70 pounds, the package pays the 70 pound rate.

In the example above, the dimensional weight for this non-rectangular package to zones 5-8 is 20 pounds.

Oversized Parcel Postage Determination
(Priority Mail: N/A -- Parcel Post: All Zones)

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch: (length = 31, height = 20, and width = 20).
2. Add the length and the girth: 31 + (20+20+20+20) = 110
3. If the result exceeds 108 inches but does not exceed 130 inches, the package falls into the oversize Parcel Post rate category, the postage being a flat rate (Zone dependent) regardless of weight but the weight cannot exceed 70 pounds.
4. The rate is based on destination Zone.

In the example above, the package is considered to be oversized and must mailed out in mail class (oversized) Parcel Post.

Note: Oversized Parcel Post packages usually take a very long time to be delivered. While the MPSA indciates a 30 day delivery timeframe, we see more like 6-8 weeks. Please do not associate long delivery times with ShipitAPO. We are at the mercy of the U.S. Postal Service and MPSA, just like everyone else.

Why Did The USPS Make These Changes?
The most important factor in the cost to ship an item via air is not the weight of the item so much as the amount of space that item takes up in the plane. By setting costs based only on weight, the USPS has been undercharging for many larger lightweight packages and overcharging for many smaller heavy packages. This rate change for packages shipping via air (zones 5-8) is an attempt to more adequately and fairly cover the actual cost of shipping.