USPS Priority Mail® vs Priority Mail Express®: A Guide

Sometimes express shipping is too expensive, but snail mail is too slow. Your customers want to get the items they purchase quickly, but high shipping costs can be a major turnoff. Many will abandon their cart if they think they’re paying too much for shipping. That’s when USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express can be particularly valuable.

The express shipping options from USPS are reliable, economical alternatives to high-priced overnight and 2-day shipping services. They’re often faster than ground shipping and very competitively priced. Plus, Priority Mail Express includes a money-back guarantee. In this article, we’ll compare Priority Mail vs Priority Mail Express and explain how much they cost, the best way to use them, and how Pitney Bowes can help you get the lowest rates—even lower than commercial rates—through our long-standing partnership with USPS.

What is USPS Priority Mail^®?   

USPS Priority Mail provides air shipment of packages within a 1-3 day window. Of the two priority shipping services offered by USPS, Priority Mail offers the lowest rates and the most packaging options. You can use USPS Priority Mail to ship to any address in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can also ship to Post Office boxes, U.S. military bases and embassies. Another big advantage of using USPS Priority Mail is that there is no additional charge for residential, rural or Saturday delivery, and you never have to worry about being hit with a surcharge for fuel. Free pickup, tracking and insurance up to $100 are included. But there is no money-back guarantee – so if your customer needs delivery by a specific date, you should consider using a different shipping service.

To take advantage of flat rates when shipping via USPS Priority Mail, you must use branded USPS packaging, which is available free of charge at your local Post Office or can be ordered online. You can also order prepaid Forever packaging, which may save you money if you know that rates will soon increase. You also have the option to use your own packaging, but if so you will be charged by weight and distance, and you could have to pay an additional fee on large, lightweight packages, non-standard packaging, or if you provide inaccurate dimensions.

Postal regulations restrict on what you can ship via USPS Priority Mail: restricted items include alcoholic beverages and ammunition. For a complete list of restrictions, consult your postmaster or the USPS web site.

What is USPS Priority Mail Express^®?

USPS Priority Mail Express is the faster and more expensive of the two USPS priority shipping services. You can use it to ship packages weekdays and Saturdays to almost any address in the U.S. including military bases and U.S. territories— but the commitment of 1-2 day delivery by 6pm is backed by a money-back guarantee. Sunday and holiday delivery is available in select markets for an additional fee.

Priority Mail Express rates include signature confirmation of delivery at no extra cost if you request it at the time of purchase. Like Priority Mail, USPS Priority Mail Express also provides free tracking, insurance and package pickup service. You have the choice of conventional (weight/distance based) or flat rate shipping: the latter requires that you use branded USPS Priority Mail Express packaging. Because USPS flat rate packaging is free, you could potentially save $1 or more per shipment. If you choose to use your own packaging, you could get hit with additional fees if it doesn’t conform to USPS standards. There are also restrictions on what you can ship via Priority Mail Express, such as cigarettes or hazardous materials. You can find the complete list of restricted items on the USPS web site.

What are the differences between Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express?

There are two primary differences between Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. The first is guaranteed shipping. If your Priority Mail Express shipment is delivered late, you are entitled to a refund. The second is cost: shipping via Priority Mail Express can cost 2-3 times as much as Priority Mail.

Of course, these are not the only differences, and deciding which priority shipping service to use can be a challenge. The chart below compares Priority Mail vs Priority Mail Express to help you understand how they resemble each other or differ, to help you make the right decision.

USPS Priority Mail^® packaging options

When you ship via USPS Priority Mail you have a wide range of flat rate packaging options to choose from. The free USPS flat rate packaging accommodates many of the most commonly shipped items. As long as your item or items fit, you can ship anywhere in the U.S. for one low price regardless of weight. And because it complies with all USPS standards, you never have to worry about being hit with surcharges or additional costs due to non-standard or oversized packaging.

* Also available prepaid

USPS Priority Mail Express^® packaging options

Priority Mail Express was initially developed to meet rising demand for overnight document delivery, so it makes sense that the packaging options focus on envelopes rather than boxes. The selection of flat rate packages is limited to three envelopes, including one that accommodates legal-sized documents and one that is padded to provide additional protection to the contents.

Although free packaging options are limited, it’s important to remember that you can also ship packages via Priority Mail Express: you’ll just be charged by weight and distance rather than package size. Be careful to use standard package sizes to avoid any additional costs.

How can you prepare to save on shipping and mailing costs in 2023?

Shipping with USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express can help you keep rising shipping costs under control while keeping your customers happy and loyal. But if you are paying retail rates, you are leaving money on the table. That’s where Pitney Bowes can help. Pitney Bowes shipping software makes it easy to compare the rates of all three major carriers (USPS, FedEx and UPS) in just a few clicks, so you can choose the best option for every package. You’ll also get access to the deepest discounts available anywhere, and easy-to-use controls that help you analyze and manage your organization’s shipping spend.