Free USPS Shipping Supplies: What You Can Get and How to Use Them

Boxes, envelopes and mailers add up quickly if you ship often. A pack of new boxes from a store can cost almost as much as the postage itself. What many people do not realize is that USPS gives away a range of shipping supplies at no charge, and will even deliver them to your door. The catch is that these supplies come with rules, and using them the wrong way can lead to extra postage or returned packages.

This guide covers what free USPS supplies are available, how to order them, which services each one can be used with, and how to decide when a free box is actually the cheapest way to ship. It also explains the most common mistakes people make with USPS packaging.

What USPS offers for free

The Postal Service provides free packaging mainly for its Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services. The selection changes from time to time, but typically includes:

• Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes in several sizes. One price covers any weight up to the limit, regardless of distance.
• Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes, including standard, padded and legal size versions.
• Regular Priority Mail boxes in a range of shapes, including flat boxes, shoe box sizes and tubes. These are priced by weight and zone, not at a flat rate.
• Priority Mail Express envelopes, including Flat Rate versions, for the fastest USPS domestic service.
• Labels and certain forms, such as Priority Mail labels and some customs forms for international mail.

There is no USPS-branded free packaging for USPS Ground Advantage or Media Mail. For those services, you supply your own box or mailer.

How to get free USPS supplies

Order online

The USPS Postal Store on the USPS website lets you order free supplies and have them shipped to your address. Many items come in packs, such as bundles of 10 or 25 boxes. Ordering online is the easiest way to keep a stock on hand.

Pick them up at a post office

Most post office lobbies stock common Flat Rate boxes and envelopes. The selection is usually smaller than online, but it is handy when you need a box the same day.

Ask at an approved USPS shipping location

Some retail shipping stores that sell USPS services also keep USPS packaging on hand for customers sending Priority Mail.

The rules that come with free packaging

Free USPS packaging is provided for specific services, and the Postal Service expects it to be used that way. Keep these rules in mind:

• Use Priority Mail packaging only for Priority Mail services. Do not use it for Ground Advantage, Media Mail or First-Class Mail.
• Use Priority Mail Express packaging only for Priority Mail Express.
• Do not use USPS packaging with other carriers. USPS-branded boxes are not meant for FedEx or UPS shipments.
• Close Flat Rate boxes as designed. The flaps should close along their normal folds. Do not cut down, reshape or extend a Flat Rate box to fit more inside.
• Reinforce with tape if needed. Taping the seams is fine and recommended for heavy contents.

If a package does not follow these rules, it may be charged at a different price or returned for additional postage.

When a free box is the cheapest option

Free packaging saves you the cost of a box, but the postage still has to make sense. Here is how to think about each type.

Flat Rate boxes: best for small, heavy items

Flat Rate pricing ignores weight up to the limit and ignores distance. That makes it a strong choice for dense items going long distances, like tools, books, canned goods or hardware. For a light item going a short distance, weight-based pricing is often lower.

Regular Priority Mail boxes: best when you need Priority anyway

If you have already decided Priority Mail is the right service, the free regular boxes save you the cost of buying packaging. Pricing is based on weight, zone and, for boxes over 1 cubic foot, dimensional weight.

Flat Rate envelopes: best for documents and flat items

A Flat Rate envelope is a convenient way to send documents, a book or a flat item with tracking at a single price. The padded version adds a little protection for items like small electronics accessories.

Worked example: deciding between Flat Rate and your own box

You are sending an 8 pound box of hardcover books that fits in a medium Flat Rate box, and also a 1 pound sweater.

• For the books, compare the Flat Rate price with Ground Advantage in your own box at 8 pounds to the destination zone. For long distances, the Flat Rate box often wins because weight and distance do not raise the price.
• For the sweater, a poly mailer sent by Ground Advantage at 1 pound is very likely to cost less than any Priority Mail option, so free packaging does not help here.

The rule of thumb is simple: free packaging is a bonus when Priority Mail is already the best service for the item, not a reason to choose Priority Mail on its own.

Tips for using free supplies well

• Order a mix of sizes so you are not forced into a box that is too big.
• Keep Flat Rate boxes for heavy, compact items and use your own boxes for light, bulky ones.
• Measure items before ordering. Check the inside dimensions of each box listed on the USPS website.
• Add cushioning. Free boxes are sturdy but not padded, so fragile items still need wrap and fill.
• Store boxes flat and dry so they keep their strength until you need them.
• Combine with free pickup. USPS offers free package pickup with eligible services, so you can ship Priority Mail without leaving home.

Packing a Flat Rate box properly

Flat Rate boxes are sturdy, but heavy contents still need care. Put the heaviest items on the bottom, fill gaps with crumpled paper or air pillows so nothing shifts, and tape every seam with pressure-sensitive packing tape. Because the price does not change with weight up to the limit, it is tempting to fill the box with as much as possible. That is fine as long as the flaps close flat and the box does not bulge. A bulging box is weaker and may not be accepted at the Flat Rate price.

Setting up a small supply station at home

If you ship regularly, keep your free supplies organized in one spot: a few Flat Rate boxes in each size you use, a stack of Flat Rate envelopes, a roll of packing tape, cushioning and a scale. Add your own plain boxes and poly mailers for Ground Advantage shipments, so you always have the right packaging for whichever service turns out to be cheapest.

Common mistakes with USPS packaging

• Using a Priority Mail box for Ground Advantage. The packaging is for Priority Mail services only.
• Turning a Priority Mail box inside out to use it for another service. USPS-branded packaging is still meant for its intended service, regardless of which side faces out.
• Overstuffing a Flat Rate box so the flaps bulge or will not close properly.
• Assuming Flat Rate is always cheaper. For light items, weight-based pricing often costs less.
• Skipping cushioning because the box looks strong.

Frequently asked questions

Are USPS boxes really free?

Yes. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packaging is free to order online or pick up at a post office. You only pay for postage when you ship.

Can I use a free Priority Mail box for Ground Advantage?

No. Priority Mail packaging is meant for Priority Mail services. Use your own box or mailer for Ground Advantage.

How long does it take to receive supplies ordered online?

Delivery time varies. Order before you run out so you are not waiting on boxes when you need to ship.

Can I reuse a Priority Mail box for another Priority Mail shipment?

Yes, as long as it is still sturdy, the old labels are removed or covered, and you ship it with a Priority Mail service.