USPS First Class Lettermail is the ideal shipping solution if you’re looking to send machinable letters or flat envelopes (documents, postcards, paper) to the U.S. at affordable rates. This service ensures your shipments reach their destinations across the U.S. quickly and efficiently with the support of our trusted partner, USPS.
While this service is only partially tracked, you’ll receive updates until your shipment is handed off to our partner carrier. Please note that delivery confirmation is not included with this service.
Service Features
USPS First Class Lettermail postage has you covered with the following features:
Eligibility
Before you start shipping, let’s determine if USPS First Class Lettermail is the best option for your packages.
This service is designed for shipments weighing up to 3.5 oz for letters and 15.99 oz for flat envelopes. Be sure to check the maximum dimensions to avoid surcharges or the risk of shipment rejections:
Maximum dimensions:
Letters: 6-1/8" x 11-1/2" x 1/4"
Flat envelopes: 12" x 15" x 3/4"
With this service, packages need to be machineable.
Buying Postage
There are two ways to buy USPS First Class Lettermail for your shipments:
“Create a Shipment” one at a time in your account or import multiple shipments via a connected store, the Chit Chats CSV or API
You’ll need to select a compatible package type to ensure you receive a postage rate. USPS First Class Lettermail is compatible with your shipments packaged in letters and flat envelopes.
If you create shipments one at a time, you'll select the package type under the Package step.
If you import shipments from your store, save time by updating your shipping presets. If you import your shipments with a CSV or API connection, you’ll need to use the following inputs for the importer:
package_type: letter OR flat_envelope
postage_type: usps_first_class_lettermail
Once your details for returns and insurance are confirmed, select the shipments you want to pay postage for and click “Pay for Shipment.” You’re now ready to print your labels. Apply them to your packages, ensuring the barcode is visible and flat for easy scanning. Don't forget to follow our best practices for packaging!
Sending Your Shipments
Once your shipments are ready to be dropped off at Chit Chats, take a moment to organize and sort them alongside any other US postage types you may have.
For efficiency, batching is the way to go, especially when you have multiple shipments. Using a batch label helps you stay organized and provides simultaneous acceptance scans for tracking all your shipments at once.
After our team processes your shipments, you'll want to share tracking details with your customers. Chit Chats US Slim shipments come with partial tracking, meaning you'll receive tracking updates through Chit Chats until the shipment is handed off to our delivery partner. However, please note that there will be no tracking event confirming delivery of the shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where can I ship with USPS First Class Lettermail?
USPS First Class Lettermail provides the best coverage of delivery addresses in the United States for your machineable shipments including apartments, P.O. boxes, U.S. military addresses, and U.S. territory addresses . Plus, there's no need to worry about buzzer codes—they aren’t required. However, you’ll want to note that there can be additional transit times involved for deliveries to remote addresses.
Is signature confirmation available?
No, signature confirmation service is not available for USPS First Class Lettermail postage.
Can I send parcels with USPS First Class Lettermail?
This service is designed specifically for machineable items packaged in letters or flat envelopes. If you select the thich envelope or parcel package type you won’t see USPSL First Class Lettermail in your postage options. We recommend giving our Chit Chats U.S. Select or Edge services a try as it is an ideal service for parcels and other larger packages.
Is Chit Chats Insurance available for this service?
At this time, Chit Chats insurance is not available for USPS First Class Lettermail.
What is the difference between Chit Chats US Slim and USPS First Class Lettermail?
The key distinction between Chit Chats US Slim and USPS Lettermail lies in the type of items you can send. Chit Chats US Slim can accommodate non-machineable products, meaning you can ship lightweight items like jewelry, t-shirts, and other similar goods across the U.S. at an affordable rate. On the other hand, USPS Lettermail is strictly for machineable items such as documents and postcards.
Can I refund unused postage?
No, you cannot request a refund for USPS First Class Lettermail postage. As this service is partially tracked, its postage labels cannot be canceled and are not eligible for refunds like our other US postage types.