Shipping information
Determining the Weight of Your Books for Shipping
When preparing to ship your books using USPS services, accurately determining their weight is crucial to ensure you purchase the correct shipping amount. Here’s a simple guide to help you find the weight of your books:
- Look Up Book Weights Online:
- One of the easiest ways to find the weight of your books is by searching for them on popular online retailers like Amazon.
- Navigate to the book’s product page, where you will typically find the weight listed under the product details section.
- Combine Weights for Multiple Books:
- If you are shipping multiple books together, sum up the weights to get the total weight. For instance, if one book weighs 1.2 pounds and another weighs 0.8 pounds, their combined weight will be 2.0 pounds.
- Round Up to the Nearest Pound:
- USPS charges shipping rates based on weight increments of full pounds. If the combined weight of your books is slightly over a whole number (e.g., 2.3 pounds), round up to the next whole number (3 pounds) to determine your shipping cost.
- Select the Appropriate USPS Service:
- Use the total weight to choose the right USPS shipping service and rate. For example, if your total weight is 3 pounds, refer to the rate for 3 pounds for the selected shipping method (e.g., Priority Mail, Library Mail).
- Ensure Accurate Weights:
- Double-check the weight information to avoid underestimating or overestimating the shipping cost. Accurate weights help ensure your package is shipped without delays or additional charges.
By following these steps, you can easily determine the correct weight of your books and select the appropriate USPS shipping service, ensuring a smooth and cost-effective shipping process.
These are the updated USPS shipping rates for books within the continental United States, effective from July 2024, including delivery times, insurance, tracking costs, and availability:
Library Mail:
- Delivery Time: 2-8 days
- Insurance: No insurance included. Additional insurance can be purchased up to $5,000.
- Tracking: Available for an additional $0.90.
- Rates:
- 1 pound: $4.40
- 2 pounds: $5.11
- 3 pounds: $5.82
- 4 pounds: $6.53
- 5 pounds: $7.24
USPS Ground Advantage:
- Delivery Time: 2-5 days
- Insurance: No insurance included. Additional insurance can be purchased up to $5,000.
- Tracking: Included at no additional cost.
- Rates:
- 1 pound: $5.25
- 2 pounds: $5.55
- 3 pounds: $5.82
- 4 pounds: $6.15
- 5 pounds: $6.45
Priority Mail:
- Delivery Time: 1-3 days
- Insurance: Up to $50 included. Additional insurance can be purchased up to $5,000.
- Tracking: Included at no additional cost.
- Rates:
- 1 pound: $9.85
- 2 pounds: $10.15
- 3 pounds: $10.60
- 4 pounds: $11.20
- 5 pounds: $11.80
Priority Mail Express:
- Delivery Time: 1-2 days
- Insurance: Up to $100 included. Additional insurance can be purchased up to $5,000.
- Tracking: Included at no additional cost.
- Rates:
- 1 pound: $30.45
- 2 pounds: $34.75
- 3 pounds: $39.05
- 4 pounds: $43.35
5 pounds: $47.65