Why Package Dimensions Can Make or Break Your Small Business

Do you remember that iconic scene from the movie Seven where Brad Pitt’s character yells, “What’s in the box?!” We won’t go into the details (they’re a tad graphic), but we bring up that quote for a reason. Too many eCommerce businesses only focus on what’s INSIDE of their packages, and they overlook the packaging itself. Specifically, they don’t focus on optimizing the dimensions of their packages. As a result, they incur tons of shipping costs they could have avoided. For the record, we’re not telling you to abandon your focus on your product. However, we are telling you that your package dimensions can make or break your small business. Every dollar counts if you’re an eCommerce business owner, so we’re here to make sure you don’t make that mistake!

Table of Contents

• Priority Mail Cubic is a USPS Service Only Based on the Dimensions of Your Package
• How Can I Ship Priority Mail Cubic?
• Pay Attention to Your Package Dimensions to Keep Your Costs Low

Priority Mail Cubic is a USPS Service Only Based on the Dimensions of Your Package

eCommerce business owners, listen up! We’re about to change your life with three simple words: Priority Mail Cubic. Priority Mail Cubic (or “Cubic,” for short) is a “secret” mail class of USPS that the Post Office doesn’t publicize. However, it’s BY FAR the cheapest and fastest way to ship small packages up to 20 pounds!

This is where the dimensions of your package come into play. The price of Priority Mail Cubic isn’t weight-based like other mail services. Instead, the OUTER DIMENSIONS of your package determine the price of cubic postage. That means you can load those suckers up with as much product as possible (up to 20 pounds) and it won’t affect the postage price at all! Like all Priority Mail services, delivery occurs between 1-3 business days, it comes with free tracking, and automatically includes $100 of insurance.

Here’s the bottom line. If you’re an eCommerce business owner shipping small parcels up to 20 pounds with USPS, ALWAYS ship Priority Mail Cubic. Shipping Priority Mail Cubic is the best way to access the deepest level of discounts on USPS postage and minimize your shipping costs. Accessing those discounts can be the difference between your small business succeeding or failing…and we want you to succeed!

How Can I Ship Priority Mail Cubic?

Priority Mail Cubic isn’t something USPS offers to the public. Typically, the only way to access this “secret” mail class is to enter into a direct contract with USPS. Those contracts have tough requirements to meet, such as shipping over 50,000 packages per year. However, there are a lot of different shipping software options that let you ship Priority Mail Cubic at Commercial Pricing rates.

To see which shipping software company is right for you, check out our guide: Choosing the Best Shipping Software.

Pay Attention to Your Package Dimensions to Keep Your Costs Low

Have you ever heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well, we came up with a little phrase of our own: “Paying attention to dimensions leaves you with more cash retention.” Okay, maybe it’s not the most catchy saying, but you get the point. All rhyming aside, when it comes to Priority Mail Cubic, it’s ALL about your package dimensions. Priority Mail Cubic has its own pricing tiers, and the tier your package falls in is determined by its total volume in cubic feet.

Learn how to determine which cubic tier your package falls into.

Pro Tip: There’s a special formula to calculate the total cubic volume of your package. However, if you don’t want to crunch the numbers, feel free to use this Smart Cubic Calculator. Just type in your dimensions, and the calculator will tell you which pricing tier your package belongs to. It even helps you better optimize your outer dimensions so you get the most bang for your buck!

That’s a Wrap!

Nice work—you made it through this article on optimizing package dimensions! Hopefully, now you have a much clearer understanding of Priority Mail Cubic and the importance of optimizing your package dimensions. If you make smart decisions about your package dimensions, you’ll save tons of money as your business grows!