How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Bubble Mailer with USPS?

Bubble mailers are a fine packaging option for smaller, lightweight items that don’t require too much cushioning or protection. Wondering how much it’ll cost you to ship a bubble mailer with USPS? Then, read on, young grasshopper!

Table of Contents

• The Cost of Shipping a Bubble Mailer with USPS Depends on Size, Weight, and Distance
• First Class Package is the Cheapest Service for Bubble Mailers Under 15.99 Ounces
• Save Money on Sending Bubble Mailers with Online Shipping Software

The Cost of Shipping a Bubble Mailer with USPS Depends on Size, Weight, and Distance

Unfortunately, there’s no way to say, “It costs ‘x’ amount of dollars to send a mailer with USPS.” The truth is, the cost of shipping a bubble mailer all depends on three factors: the weight of your mailer, the size of it, and the distance it needs to travel. These three things determine the cost of shipping any package with any carrier, not just bubble mailers with USPS.

As a rule of thumb, the smaller and lighter your mailer is, the cheaper it will be to ship it. In addition, the less distance it needs to travel to reach your recipient, the cheaper it will be to send.

First Class Package is the Cheapest Service for Bubble Mailers Under 15.99 Ounces (1 lb)

When you’re sending a lightweight bubble mailer, the cheapest service by far is USPS First Class Package Service. This is the cheapest service that USPS offers for packages under 15.99 ounces, or 1 lb*. Typically, sending a parcel via First Class Package runs anywhere from $3 to $5, which is a total steal for a lot of shippers!

On the other hand, bubble mailers over 1 lb typically have defaulted to Priority Mail as the next-cheapest service. However, starting in 2022, USPS drastically lowered the cost of Parcel Select Ground service compared to Priority Mail…by a lot. A whole lot. As a result, we’ve seen more shippers opting for Parcel Select Ground to send their packages, taking on longer delivery times in exchange for cheaper rates.

*Note: The weight limit for First Class Package is 13 ounces at the Post Office, and 15.99 ounces when you use shipping software to buy discounted postage online…which we’re about to get into next.

Save Money on Sending Bubble Mailers with Online Shipping Software

As is the case with shipping any kind of package, you should never go to the Post Office to send it! Instead, purchase your label with free online shipping software. When you use the right shipping software, you can save tons of money on your postage, and print your label from the comfort of your own home. In some cases, you can save up to 89% off what you’d pay to send the same package at the Post Office. Plus, you won’t need to stand in those crazy long lines! Once you print your label and affix it to your package, you can just drop it off at your Post Office’s collection bin and get on with your day.

If you’re not convinced yet, here’s a little example: think of buying labels with shipping software kind of like buying a $10 T-shirt for $1. There’s no reason not to take advantage of those savings, especially when the best shipping software options out there are totally free!

Take Advantage of “Box in a Bag” Shipping

If you’re shipping heavier boxes that are still relatively small, a great way to save money is to throw your box inside of a poly mailer, and designate the package as an envelope rather than a box. This is known as the “box in a bag” shipping method, and is one of the shipping industry’s biggest cheat codes for cutting down shipping costs.

When your box fits inside of a poly mailer, you may qualify for cheaper rates than you would by sending your box through the specially-discounted service USPS Priority Mail Cubic…but you’ll never see this service at your local Post Office. Priority Mail Cubic is only available on certain shipping software platforms, which is even more of a reason to check out shipping software options that will help you start saving money on your postage today.