Shopify Shipping with USPS
If you're shipping from a location in the United States, then you can buy Shopify Shipping labels from USPS. You can ship your packages domestically and internationally.
The shipping rates that you're charged are based on Shopify's account with USPS.
On this page
Domestic shipping with USPS
You can ship domestically within the United States with USPS using the following mail types:
| Shipping service | Delivery timeline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Advantage | 2-5 business days | An economical and reliable way to ship packages within the United States. |
| Priority Mail | 1-3 business days | Ship orders within the United States. |
| Priority Mail Express | 1-2 business days | The fastest way to ship orders within the United States and a money-back guarantee. |
| First-Class Mail | 1-5 business days | An easy way to ship large envelopes. |
| Media Mail | 2-10 business days | A cost effective way to send media, such as books, music, and other media. For more information, refer to USPS approved list for media mail. |
Package requirements for USPS domestic shipments
The following are the maximum values that USPS allows for domestic shipments:
- maximum weight is 70 lb (31.75 kg)
- maximum girth and length combined is 108 inches (274 cm)
For more information about package requirements, refer to the USPS website.
USPS domestic prohibited goods and hazardous materials
Shopify Shipping does not support the shipping of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) or USPS prohibited goods. As the shipper, it's your responsibility to understand and comply with all USPS regulations and guidelines. Although USPS allows some HAZMAT to be shipped following their rules and regulations, shipments containing these items are prohibited through Shopify Shipping and must be shipped through USPS directly.
For more information on domestic prohibited goods and HAZMAT, refer to the USPS Domestic Shipping Prohibitions, Restrictions, & HAZMAT page.
International shipping with USPS
You can ship internationally with USPS using the following mail types:
| Shipping service | Delivery timeline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Package International Service | Varies | An economical way to ship small packages internationally. |
| Priority Mail International | 6-10 business days | Ship orders internationally to 190 countries. |
| Priority Mail Express International* | 3-5 business days | The fastest way to ship orders internationally to 190 countries and a money-back guarantee to specific destinations. |
Package requirements for USPS international shipments
The maximum values that USPS allows for international shipments vary per destination country. To find the maximum package values, go to the USPS Index of Countries and Localities page, and then select your shipment's destination country.
USPS international prohibited goods and hazardous materials
Shopify Shipping does not support the shipping of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) or USPS prohibited goods. As the shipper, it's your responsibility to understand and comply with all regulations and guidelines for the USPS, US, and the destination country you are shipping to. While USPS allows some HAZMAT to be shipped following their rules and regulations, shipments containing these items are prohibited through Shopify Shipping and must be shipped through USPS directly.
For more information on international prohibited goods and HAZMAT, refer to the USPS International Shipping Prohibitions & Restrictions page.
Getting your products to USPS
You can drop off your products at a USPS drop-off location or schedule a pickup.
Schedule a pickup for your USPS shipment
Pickup times are based on the time zone of the pickup address. Any pickup times are estimates and depend on traffic, weather, and pickup address.
Pickups from USPS are free unless you want to specify a pickup time. Free pickups can be scheduled at any time during regular mail hours. It costs 24 USD to select the time of day for the pickup. Each pickup needs be scheduled separately through USPS.
For any assistance with scheduling a USPS pickup, contact USPS or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
Steps:
From your Shopify admin, go to Orders.
-
To schedule a pickup, do either of the following:
- To schedule a pickup immediately after you purchase a shipping label, in the Package pickup section, click Schedule USPS pickup.
- To schedule a pickup for an order that was fulfilled with USPS, open the order, click the
...icon, and then click Schedule pickup. - Schedule a pickup directly from USPS's website.
Complete USPS's pickup form.
You can view your scheduled pickups from the Orders page in your Shopify admin.
If a driver doesn't show up for your scheduled pickup, then call USPS at 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) with your pickup confirmation number. You can find your pickup confirmation number in the order's Timeline.
Cancel a USPS pickup
Do one of the following to cancel a USPS pickup:
- Visit USPS's pickup scheduler, and then click Modify an Existing Pickup.
- Contact USPS at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
Signature Confirmation with USPS
You can set your shipments to require a signature upon delivery by adding Signature Confirmation when you buy a shipping label for your order.
Shipments that use Priority Express Mail include Signature Confirmation by default. You can also pay $2.60 USD to add Signature Confirmation to the following USPS mail types:
- Ground Advantage
- Priority Mail
- Parcel Select Ground
- Media Mail
You can learn more about Signature Confirmation at USPS extra services page.
Shipping date with USPS
You can set a shipping date for your order. The date that you choose will print on the shipping label.
Order free USPS shipping supplies
You can order free shipping supplies directly from USPS. You need to sign up for a free USPS account to receive your supplies.
USPS Cubic Pricing
USPS offers discounted rates for packages, envelopes, and soft-packs on Priority Mail and Ground Advantage shipping services. If you typically send small and heavy products, such as weights or coffee beans, then consider using Cubic Pricing.
Review the following table to learn more about maximum shipment size values for USPS Cubic Pricing:
| Shipping service | Dimensions and weight |
|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail |
|
| USPS Ground Advantage |
|
Calculating USPS Cubic pricing
USPS offers separate Cubic Pricing for packages, soft-packs, and padded envelopes. You can add small boxes to an envelope as long as the envelope keeps its flat shape. Expandable envelopes don't qualify for the envelope pricing and need to use cubic pricing for packages.
Review the following table to learn how to calculate the volumetric size of your shipment:
| Shipment type | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Package | Length (in inches) x Width (in inches) x Height (in inches) / 1728 = cubic feet | 14" x 8" x 5" / 1728 = 0.4 cubic feet |
| Envelope or soft-pack | Length (in inches) + Width (in inches) = Total package length | 14 + 8 = 22 |
USPS shipping manifests
If you have multiple shipments to give to USPS, then you can create a shipping manifest that links all your shipments together in a single barcode. USPS also refers to these shipping manifests as Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice forms, or SCAN forms.
Creating a manifest means that when USPS comes to collect your shipments, or when you drop off your shipments, USPS can scan the single barcode on your manifest to accept your shipments, instead of scanning each shipment individually.
Each shipping label in the manifest must have the same shipping origin address and the same Shipping date.
Considerations for creating USPS shipping manifests
Review the following considerations when creating shipping manifests:
- Each shipping label in the manifest must have the same shipping origin address and the same Shipping date.
- Shipping dates for international labels on a manifest need to match the date that the labels were purchased.
- If you void a shipping label that was added to a manifest, then the manifest is no longer valid. You need to have USPS scan the other shipments in that manifest individually. If you use a manifest that has voided labels on it, then you'll be charged for the voided labels.
- To add shipping labels to the same day's manifest, you need to purchase them by 9:00 pm local time at the location from where the items are shipped.
- You can't add labels purchased after the cutoff time to the same day's manifest. If you're buying labels after the cutoff time, then you can postmark them to the next day and add them to the next day's manifest.
Create a USPS manifest
You can use the Shipping Manifests app to create a manifest directly in the app, or from the Orders page.
When you create a manifest, labels that meet the following conditions are added:
- tracking is included in the label
- the Shipping date is the same day that you’re creating the manifest
- the label hasn’t been added to another manifest
To avoid issues with multiple manifests, it's best to create your manifest at the end of the day before you drop off your shipments, or USPS comes to collect your shipments.
Steps:
- Create a new manifest using one of the following options:
- From the app:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Shipping Manifests.
- Click Create manifest.
- From the Orders page:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Orders.
- Click More actions > Create manifests.
- From the app:
- Select the fulfillment location. All available shipping labels from the fulfillment location will be added to the manifest.
- Click Create manifest.
- Click Print manifest.
Reprint a USPS manifest
You can reprint a manifest up to 6 months after you created the manifest.
Steps:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Apps > Shipping Manifests.
- Click the manifest.
- Click Print manifest.
Getting support for USPS shipments
To get help with your USPS shipment, such as rerouting a package or submitting a claim, you can contact Shopify Support or USPS directly depending on your issue.
Included insurance coverage for USPS shipments
Shipping insurance typically covers damaged and lost items, and lost shipments. The amount that your shipment is insured for depends on the shipping service that you're using.
The following shipping services have liability coverage:
- Ground Advantage (up to $100 USD)
- Priority Mail (up to $100 USD)
- Priority Mail Express (up to $100 USD)
- Priority Mail International (up to $200 USD)
- Priority Mail Express International (up to $200 USD)
You can add more shipping insurance when you buy a shipping label.
Submitting a shipping claim for a USPS shipment
If you're using USPS with Shopify Shipping and your USPS shipment is lost or damaged, then you need to submit the claim to USPS online within 7 to 60 days of shipping your package. If you purchase additional shipping insurance when you purchase a shipping label through Shopify, then you can submit your Shipsurance insurance claim in the Shopify admin.
In certain cases of lost or delayed shipments, USPS offers refunds without the need for an insurance claim. For more information on domestic shipments, refer to the USPS's domestic refunds page. For more information on international shipments, refer to the USPS's international refunds page.
If your claim is approved, then you receive a check mailed to the address that is in the USPS online account.
Intercepting USPS shipments
USPS can stop the shipment or redirect your package that isn't out for delivery or already delivered.
You can check if your package can be intercepted by entering the USPS tracking number at the Package Intercept page. If the package can be intercepted, then refer to the USPS interception instructions for submitting a request to change your shipment.
Requesting support for USPS shipments
If you're using USPS with Shopify Shipping and you need help, then review the following table to learn who to contact.
| Situation | Contact |
|---|---|
| Get help before you buy a label. | Shopify Support |
| Get assistance after buying a USPS label, such as rerouting a package. | 1-800-275-8777 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 8:30 pm ET Saturday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm ET TDD/TTY Relay: Call 1-800-877-8339. Ask for 1-800-275-8777. |
| Submit a USPS claim. | Submit a shipping claim to USPS through the Shopify admin |
| Dispute a USPS shipping adjustment. | Shopify Support |