{"id":3192,"date":"2023-06-02T14:29:03","date_gmt":"2023-06-02T14:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/threaller.com\/?p=3192"},"modified":"2023-06-02T14:29:05","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T14:29:05","slug":"non-machinable-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/threaller.com\/non-machinable-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Non-Machinable Letter: Meaning, Shipping Process & Cost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sending letters has been a popular way of communication for centuries. The USPS alone oversees the processing of billions of mail items annually. During processing, a letter gets classified as either machinable or non-machinable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machinable letters are mail that can be processed directly by USPS’s automated machines. On the other hand, mail pieces that cannot be processed directly are regarded as non-machinable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand this concept, this guide explains what a non-machinable letter is, how mail processing works, and the USPS standards for machinable letters. You will also learn how USPS handles non-machinable letters and how much it costs to ship them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Non-Machinable Letter? <\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"what-is-a-non-machinable-letter-Threaller\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A non-machinable letter is a mail piece that cannot be processed by USPS automated machines. Typically, these are letters with unusual shapes or non-standard sizes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They undergo manual handling and sorting since they cannot be processed efficiently or directly via the automated machine. This process is time-consuming and more expensive.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Mail Processing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before delving into what makes a mail or letter non-machinable, it is crucial to understand how USPS mails are processed: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. USPS collects mail from mailboxes, businesses, drop boxes, and other post offices. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. After collection, this mail undergoes “culling”. This process separates machinable letters from those that are not. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Mail categories are transported to a processing facility via trucks, planes, or trains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Processing involves sending machinable letters through high-speed automated machines, which can sort up to 36,000 mail pieces per hour. On the other hand, non-machinable letters are sorted manually.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Sorted mail pieces eventually get transported to individual post offices for delivery to the recipient. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    USPS Criteria for a Machinable Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. A machinable letter should have a length not greater than 11.5 inches or a height above 6.125.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. The ideal weight for a machinable letter is anything below or at 3.5 ounces. Anything above is non-machinable. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. A machinable letter should have an aspect ratio (length divided by height) between 1.3 to 2.5, with a thickness of not more than 0.25 inches. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. A machinable letter must have a uniform thickness and contain no rigid items such as pens, jewelry, keys, or discs that can get dislodged.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. The letter’s address must be in the right spot (upper-left corner) or be non-machinable.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Can You Ship a Non-Machinable Letter? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      You can ship a non-machinable letter, but it has to be done manually and will cost you a few extra bucks. USPS charges an additional non-machinable surcharge of $0.25 per piece on top of the standard First-Class mail rate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This is currently at $0.55 for letters weighing up to 1 ounce. Here is what you need to ship a non-machinable letter: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Enclose the letter in a sturdy or rigid envelope. This protects the letter’s content from being damaged during manual handling.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Properly address the letter. It is best to print such an address or legibly write them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Pay the postage fee for using stamps, online postage, or metered mail. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Other Key Takeaways <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. You can use a Forever stamp<\/a> instead of a non-machinable stamp. However, it means you will be paying more. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. USPS also imposes a non-machinable surcharge fee for postcards. The fee is currently $0.20 per postcard. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. A non-machinable flat mail shares the same criteria as a non-machinable letter. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          FAQs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Do non-machinable stamps expire?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Non-machinable stamps do not expire. The stamp will always remain valid for the printed rate, just like a Forever stamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Can you send a letter without a stamp?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          No, such a letter will be returned to the sender for postage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          What happens if you put the wrong stamp on a letter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          It will be returned to you for additional postage. Your letter will not be shipped until it has the correct postage amount.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Non-machinable letters are mail pieces that cannot be processed efficiently by the USPS automated machines. Therefore, they require manual handling and sorting, which usually attracts extra surcharges and is time-consuming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          If you wish to avoid this, it is essential to understand and obey the USPS criteria for machinable letters. On the other hand, if you insist on shipping a non-machinable, ensure the letter is in a sturdy envelope with the right address printed on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          You can then pay the postage for the stamp and ship the letter without any issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          I hope you found this guide helpful. Feel free to explore Threaller<\/a> for other USPS-related guides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Thanks for reading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Sending letters has been a popular way of communication for centuries. The USPS alone oversees the processing of billions of … <\/p>\n

          Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-delivery","category-guides","category-shipping","resize-featured-image"],"yoast_head":"\nNon-Machinable Letter: Meaning, Shipping Process & Cost - threaller<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you interested in knowing what a non-machinable letter is? 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