Effective July 13, 2025, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 201.7.6.2 and 601.3.1.2, to clarify Postal Service parcel-packaging integrity standards.
The Postal Service is revising section 601.3.1.2 to reformat the text and add a new item 601.3.1.2b to clarify the standard for parcel-packaging integrity. Packaging that does not maintain its integrity during processing may cause the piece to lose machinability, or damage the piece or processing equipment.
To be eligible for use, packaging:
n Must be sized based on the contents (rightsized) to maintain integrity during processing, e.g., a 3-inch by 2-inch item enclosed in soft-type packaging that maintains its integrity for machinabilty and minimizes excess selvage.
n Must maintain its integrity (not bend, fold, or collapse) to avoid obscuring the required address label and all applicable markings.
n May contain an insert (e.g., cardboard) to maintain the container’s integrity.
Packaging that does not maintain its integrity may be subject to the nonstandard fee.
The Postal Service is revising section 201.7.6.2 to add a reference to section 601.3.1.2.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until July 13, 2025, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
201 Physical Standards
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7.0 Physical Standards for Parcels
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7.6 Nonstandard Parcel
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7.6.2 Characteristics
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[Revise the text of item d. to read as follows:]
d. Other (e.g., parcels prepared under 601.3.0 and 601.4.0 with contents that may cause the parcel to roll or not maintain the packaging’s integrity during processing). (See 601.3.1.2.)
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
601 Mailability
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3.0 Packaging
3.1 General
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3.1.2 Parcels
[Revise the text of 3.1.2 to read as follows:]
In addition to 3.1.1, except for hazardous, restricted, and perishable items as provided in Publication 52, all other parcel-priced pieces must be packaged as follows:
a. In a box or other acceptable container that meets the applicable standards under 3.0 and 4.0.
b. Sized based on the contents (rightsized) to maintain integrity during processing. The packaging:
1. Must maintain its integrity (not bend, fold, or collapse) to avoid obscuring the required address label and all applicable markings.
2. May contain an insert (e.g., cardboard) to maintain the container’s integrity.
3. May be subject to the nonstandard fee if it does not maintain its integrity.
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 5-29-25
