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New USPS Rules Take Effect Soon for Folded Self-Mailers
and Unenveloped MailpiecesThe U.S. Postal System (USPS) will soon be implementing new rules for folded self-mailers (FSM) and unenveloped mailpieces. Heeding these new rules will help to ensure you continue to receive automated letter rate discounts.
The changes are a result of a three-year study the USPS conducted with assistance from the mailing industry. The study's goal was to develop new standards that would improve the handling and physical integrity of FSMs as they go through high-speed processing equipment.
Although the full ruling has yet to be published, a link to a PDF of the USPS quick reference guide, "Folded Self-Mailer Reference Material," can be found on our website.:https://ribbs.usps.gov/fsm/documents/tech_guides/FSMReference.pdf
Here are some brief highlights of the proposed ruling:
- Length — minimum 5 inches and maximum 10.5 inches.
- Height — minimum 3.5 inches and maximum 6 inches.
- Weight — minimum up to 1 ounce for 70# text and more than 1 ounce for 80# text, and maximum up to 3 ounces.
- Tabs — two 1-inch tabs for up to 1 ounce and two 1.5-inch tabs for over 1 ounce
- Panels — maximum of 8 (e.g., a single sheet folded in half equals 2 panels, a single sheet folded in thirds equals 3 panels, two sheets folded in half equals 4 panels, two sheets folded in thirds equals 6 panels). (Note: Both sides of a panel count as one-and-the-same panel.)
