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Did you know that you can get USPS boxes and envelopes for totally free? That’s right…zero dollars. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. No cost to you whatsoever. As long as you’re after USPS Priority Mail packaging, you can either pick up free boxes by walking into your local Post Office, or you can order them online on the USPS website. When you order these boxes and envelopes online, USPS will even deliver them directly to your doorstep!
Table of Contents
- USPS Will Never Charge You for Priority Mail Packaging
- ReadyPost Boxes and Envelopes Are NOT Free USPS Packaging
- There is No Free Packaging for USPS Ground Advantage or Media Mail
USPS Will Never Charge You for Priority Mail Packaging
When it comes to Priority Mail packaging, USPS will never charge you for any boxes or envelopes. They’re always free, no matter if you get them at your local Post Office or on USPS.com. This includes Priority Mail Flat Rate and Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes, as well. The only thing you’ll need to pay for is the cost of postage.
Since all USPS Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are free, they are one of the most popular packaging options for shippers on a budget, and small businesses just getting started that haven’t decided to invest in custom packaging.
ReadyPost Boxes and Envelopes Are NOT Free USPS Packaging
If you walked into your local Post Office recently, you’ve likely noticed an abundance of brown packaging for sale near the counter. These are not the USPS Priority Mail packaging options you’ll get for free; instead, these are packaging options that USPS provides and calls ReadyPost.
Unlike the free Priority Mail packaging supplies that USPS offers, you’ll need to pay for these ReadyPost boxes and envelopes if you want to use them. You’ll also need to pay for the cost of postage to ship them, and you can only use ReadyPost packaging for weight-based (not Flat Rate) shipping). So, all things considered, ReadyPost packaging isn’t the best deal, especially with all the free Priority Mail packaging options available to you.
There is No Free Packaging for USPS Ground Advantage or Media Mail
USPS Ground Advantage, the new shipping service that USPS debuted in the summer of 2023, does not feature any free USPS packaging. Similar to its predecessors First Class Package and Parcel Select Ground—the two services that USPS combined into Ground Advantage—shippers who use this service must provide their own packaging. You can provide either boxes with three dimensions, or poly mailers (thick envelopes).
Similarly, USPS doesn’t provide any free packaging options for USPS Media Mail, either.
If you’re planning on shipping with either USPS Ground Advantage or Media Mail service and are looking for affordable boxes that won’t break your bottom line, a great place to find them is on the ULINE website:
Last Updated:
Raul Montero
I need a free package slot in my front door or a box please call me for orangements I’ll pay anything,I can’t cash to good.please help.😢 My phone number is 1(760)879-4323 Raul Montero
[email protected]
free boxesOP
http://www.usps.com SIGHN UP— priorty maiol boxes order as many cases as youd like i think 25 boxes per case ORDER 1 OR HUNDRED CASES OR MORE
no charge aLL FREE
Pat Jackson
Hello my daughter is moving and in need of boxes. Does anyone know where I can get free boxes?
cory Long
free flate rate priorty mail boxes sighn up for free usps .com or usps.gov
and get all the boxes you want for free free delivery
no cost to you
Galen
The USPS flat rate boxes are free but you agree to only using them for mail service. You might find yourself being stopped for taking a lot. Their ReadPost boxes are not free. Boxes are cheap at Lowes or Home Depot,
Pat
A tenant moved out leaving 27 bundles of varying sized boxes (nearly 700) and 2 cases (100 each) of mailers. How can we responsibly get rid of them
Sonia Serrano
I’m in the process of moving and I’m in need of boxes. I can sure use some boxes.
tim
recycle them
Jennifer
Try selling them on Offer Up-it’s free to seller and purchaser. I don’t work there or anything, but I’ve used it several times with good results. Good luck!!
cory
take em to recycler or call the post office
cory
take to recycling center
CHUCKEY
recycle them
Tim Boltz
how you know when priorty mail packages are ready for pick up
[email protected]
Is there free Pokémon cards for free shipping to
Rosa
I would like shipping suplies
Candace acuff
Want free assortment free shipping boes delivered to me please
carl
if you need to boxes priorty mail flate rate boxes
go to usps .com
and order 1000 cases all free no charge free free delivery to your home
Leslie Haynes
I dont have a trusted neighbor so I would like my priority mail to go somewhere safe and cheap to pick up.
Shirley Nelsen
Is the postage free when you use the free boxes provided by the post office
Rockwell Sands
Hi Shirley – Unfortunately, no. You still have to pay for the postage, though the boxes are free.
Andrea Townsend
I seen a few comments saying you can get the free boxes from the USPS post offices. I was there today in LaPlata and nobody … not even the manager… knew anything about free boxes. I think the USPS should contact their offices and inform them on what is free and how to get it instead of seeing their confused faces and hearing that all the boxes are priced.
Galen
The ReadyPost bixes are not free so maybe that is all they order in. They probably stopped stocking the flat rate free boxes because too many people were using for home packing. They record the number of boxes people take verses those actually use for mail
Robin Buckner
I am trying to find a good way to ship a bunch of Pokemon cards but I don’t want them to get all bent and there’s so many I can’t put them all in sleeves what do I do I havent gotten them sold yet but it shouldn’t be long before someone wants to buy I’m selling it as a lot.
Jess
Put the card into stacks that will fit nicely into the box you’re shipping in and wrap each stack in some paper. Secure with a little tape to keep it from unraveling and place the stacks together so they won’t shift around in the box. Any space left where they can move/slide around can be filled with some crumpled paper. As long as there isn’t much space for the cards to fly around during shipment you’ll be good.
Mary
I ordered boxes from the USPS website weeks and weeks ago, and they are still not here. I used to receive them within 3 to 5 days after I placed an order. Where are my boxes?
Faith Atikson
I know BoxGiver is also a great resource for free moving boxes. It’s a platform where people donate unwanted packaging materials. I hope this helps!
Sikander Lodhi
When we use the Priority Mail boxes or envelopes, it must go via Priority Mail rates also? right?
We are mailing a book and workbook for our financial literacy course and saw the option you mentioned for using Medial Mail to keep the cost low, as the books are being sent for free to low income people who are trying to get financially literate. Thanks for the help.
Rockwell Sands
Hi Sikander – happy to help! Yes, this is correct. When you use Priority Mail packaging, you have to pay for the corresponding Priority Mail service marked on the box or envelope. You can definitely ship workbooks via Media Mail to reduce costs, but you need to use your own packaging.
Jeff Gindin
HI – is there a limit to the number of boxes that can be acquired for free? Thank you.
Rockwell Sands
Hi Jeff – good question! You might get some funny looks if you take all the Priority Mail packaging from your local Post Office, but I’d be surprised if anyone officially stops you. If you order the boxes online, there are quantity limits, depending on what you’re ordering, and the number of boxes in the “pack.” For instance, play around with the amounts of Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate boxes you can order here, and you’ll see what I mean. I hope this helps!