How to Send Media Mail: USPS Rules & Guidelines

Need to ship some books, DVDs, or other physical media? Shipping with USPS Media Mail may save you some money! This shipping service is specifically designed for shipping media and educational materials at a lower price than first-class or priority mail. Keep reading to learn how to ship Media Mail, what items you can and can’t ship with Media Mail, and more.

How do you ship USPS Media Mail?

Make sure your package meets all Media Mail requirements.
Package and address your shipment as usual.
Get your package weighed and priced at the post office.
Decide if you want insurance, certified mailing, or tracking.
Ship your package.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Ship Media Mail

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1
Make sure your package is eligible for Media Mail. Media Mail is a shipping service specifically designed for books, video and sound recordings, and other forms of media. Review the types of media the USPS lists as being eligible for Media Mail to avoid having to pay higher postage rates for attempting to ship items that do not qualify.^{[1]
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- We’ll list which items are eligible (or not eligible) for Media Mail below.
- Your package cannot weigh more than 70 pounds (31.75 kg).
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Package and address your item as usual. Media Mail does not require any specific packaging or wrapping, so pack the item you’re shipping as you usually would in an envelope or box. Print the recipient address and the return address neatly on the package, then seal the package with tape.^{[2]
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- The maximum dimensions for envelopes are 12 by 15 inches (30.5 by 38.1 cm) and 3/4 inches (1.9 cm) thick. For boxes, the distance around the thickest part of the package plus the length of the package can’t exceed 108 inches (274 cm).
- Envelopes and boxes can be purchased at most USPS locations or office supply stores.
- If the item you’re mailing is small enough to shift around in the box, fill the empty space with packing peanuts or newspaper.
- The return address goes in the upper left corner of the envelope or at the top of the box. The recipient address goes in the middle.
- Place a postage stamp in the upper right corner of the envelope or at the top of the box. USPS’s website has a tool for calculating and purchasing the correct postage.
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Take your package to the post office and ask how much Media Mail will cost. The cost of Media Mail varies between items. In some cases, it’ll be cheaper to ship your package via Priority Mail, especially if it is under 9 ounces (255 g). The worker at the post office will weigh your package and determine the cost for you.
- Media Mail shipping currently starts at $4.47 and increases by $0.50 per pound over 1 pound, up to $37.22 for a 70-pound package.^{[3]
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- If you’re not sure where your nearest post office is, look up the nearest locations on USPS’s website.
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Ship your package. If you decide to ship it via Media Mail, the cashier will stick a label on the package. You then have the option to add additional services, such as mailing certification and insurance.
- Certified mailing means that you will receive an official mailing receipt, tracking, and proof of delivery.^{[4]
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- Media Mail includes USPS tracking, so that you can know when the estimated delivery date and time will be.
- The cost of insuring your mail depends on the value of the item or items inside, and it can be insured up to $50,000.^{[5]
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Section 2 of 4:

What can you ship with Media Mail?

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Ship books, sound and video recordings, and other printed media with Medial Mail. Most forms of physical media, like books, CDs, and DVDs, are eligible for Media Mail. Here’s a complete list of items the USPS currently lists as eligible for Media Mail:^{[6]
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- Books that are at least 8 pages
- Sound recordings and video recordings, such as CDs and DVDs
- Play scripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music
- Printed music (such as sheet music)
- Computer-readable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media
- Sixteen-millimeter or narrower-width films
- Printed objective test materials and their accessories
- Printed educational reference charts
- Loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctors, hospitals, medical schools, and medical students
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Do not ship video games, comic books, or items containing advertising. While you can ship most forms of media with Media Mail, there are some limitations. You aren’t able to ship things that aren’t media, and the media you ship cannot contain advertising. Media Mail is strictly for education materials, books, films, printed music, and sound recordings. Here are the types of media you cannot ship with Media Mail:^{[7]
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- Comic books
- Video games and software
- Personal correspondence
- Blank media (CDs, DVDs, USB)
- Advertising (except books that may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings that may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings)
- Packages over 70 pounds (31.75 kg)
- You can include the following enclosures if your package otherwise meets content guidelines:
  - Bills and invoices
  - A brief personal note that introduces the media
  - Instructions for the media’s use
  - Corrections to printed information in the media

Section 3 of 4:

What is Media Mail?

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Media Mail is a cost-effective way to send books, media, and educational materials. While you can only send certain types of media, it typically offers significantly lower rates than standard shipping, as shipping costs are primarily based on weight. Packages must be under 70 pounds (31.75 kg) and cannot contain advertising.^{[8]
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- Average shipping time: 2-8 days
- All Media Mail packages are subject to opening and inspection by the Postal Service. If you include anything that is not eligible for Media Mail, you or your recipient will have to pay higher postage rates.

Section 4 of 4:

Other USPS Shipping Services

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Priority Mail Priority Mail is a fast, reliable, and cost-effective shipping service from the USPS. It includes free tracking, insurance, and boxes or envelopes. Priority Mail comes with a flat shipping rate, meaning you don’t need to weigh shipments that are 70 pounds (31.75 kg) or under. Prices currently start at $10.20, though this is subject to change.^{[9]
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- Average shipping time: 2-3 days
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Priority Mail Express Priority Mail Express is the USPS’s fastest shipping service, and it delivers 7 days a week, 365 days a year (with limited exceptions). It includes insurance and uses flat-rate envelopes so you don’t have to weigh packages of 70 pounds (31.75 kg) or under. Prices currently start at $33.25.^{[10]
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- Average shipping time: 1-3 days to most U.S. addresses and PO boxes, with a money-back guarantee
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USPS Ground Advantage Ground Advantage is a reliable, cost-effective shipping service for packages up to 70 pounds (31.75 kg). Packages up to 15.999 oz are priced by the ounce, rounded up, and packages heavier than 15.999 oz are priced by the pound, rounded up. Prices currently start at $7.30.^{[11]
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- Average shipping time: 2-5 days
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First-Class Mail First-Class Mail is an affordable shipping service for postcards, letters, and envelopes up to 3.5 oz and large envelopes weighing up to 13 oz. It features free return/forwarding services and is ideal for personal correspondence, bills, and small, lightweight items. Prices currently start at $0.78.^{[12]
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- Average shipping time: 1-5 days

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I print out the label on my home printer?

Community Answer

USPS.com does not provide an option for "Click 'n Ship" postage labels to be created online for media mail. You'll need to mail it from the post office.

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Can I put clothing in the media mail box?

Community Answer

No. Only items eligible for media mail can be in the box.

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Question

What is the difference in delivery time when using media mail?

Community Answer

In my experience, it's about a four day difference.

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Tips

Weigh the pros and cons. If your package needs to be there quickly, you should probably send it first-class. If it's something that's not really needed right away, send it Media Mail. Media Mail isn't guaranteed to arrive by any specific date, and is estimated to take two to eight days.^{[13]
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Make sure to wrap your packages well. Media Mail is not as comfortable as first-class mail, so packages will, more often than not, be jumbled and tossed around.

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Warnings

Be aware that Media Mail is not "closed to inspection." This means that the USPS can inspect the contents of your mail to make sure you are only sending eligible media.

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