Are USPS Boxes Free? How to Get Free Shipping Supplies from the Post Office

If you're starting an e-commerce business and wondering "are USPS boxes free?" or "does the post office give free boxes?" – the answer is yes! The United States Postal Service provides free USPS boxes, free shipping supplies, and free post office boxes for certain service levels.

Shipping costs, including packaging materials, can significantly impact your bottom line. In fact, 58 percent of businesses listed cost of shipping as their biggest operational challenge, according to our State of Shipping report. That's why understanding where to get free shipping boxes and how to access USPS free packaging is crucial for small businesses.

Where Can I Get Free Boxes for Shipping from USPS?

You have two main options for getting free USPS shipping supplies:

1. Order Free Boxes Online

You can order USPS boxes and free shipping supplies online at the USPS store. The Postal Service will deliver these free boxes from USPS directly to your door at no cost. Most USPS shipping boxes come in packs of 10 or 25, so when selecting quantity, you're choosing how many packs you want.

2. Pick Up Free Boxes at the Post Office

You can also visit your local post office to collect free post office boxes and post office supplies in person. Simply ask "can you pick up free boxes at the post office?" and the answer is yes – they're available at the counter.

What USPS Free Boxes and Supplies Can You Get?

The US Postal Service provides free packaging for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services only. Here's what's available:

Priority Mail Free Boxes

• Priority Mail boxes free in various sizes
• USPS flat rate boxes free for flat-rate shipping
• Free priority mail boxes for standard Priority Mail service
• USPS shipping packages designed for Priority Mail

Priority Mail Express Free Supplies

• Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes
• Express service packaging for urgent deliveries
• Flat rate envelopes for Express service

Free USPS Envelopes and Mailers

• USPS envelopes free for Priority Mail
• Free bubble mailers for Priority Mail Express
• USPS poly mailers free for Priority Mail services
• USPS shipping bags and USPS bags for Priority Mail items
• USPS shipping bags free when used with appropriate Priority Mail service levels

Additional Free Shipping Supplies USPS Offers

• Free packing supplies like tape and labels for Priority Mail
• USPS mailing supplies for business customers using Priority Mail
• Various postal service boxes in different dimensions for Priority Mail

Important: No Free Boxes for Ground Advantage or First-Class

USPS Ground Advantage (which replaced First-Class Package Service in 2023) and other ground services do not come with free packaging. For these services:

• You must provide your own packaging materials
• Purchase boxes, envelopes, and mailers separately
• Cannot use Priority Mail branded packaging
• This keeps costs lower but requires you to source packaging

The only exception is a limited partnership between USPS and Poshmark that provides free Ground Advantage boxes exclusively to Poshmark sellers.

Are UPS and FedEx Boxes Free Too?

While we're discussing free shipping boxes, you might wonder about other carriers:

• Are UPS boxes free? - UPS provides some free packaging for certain services
• Are FedEx boxes free? - Yes, FedEx free boxes are available for FedEx Express services
• Does FedEx give free boxes? - FedEx offers free FedEx boxes for their Express shipping services

However, like USPS, you must use these boxes with the corresponding service level.

Important Restrictions for Free USPS Boxes

Service Level Matching

The most crucial rule: the service level on your USPS package box must match the service level on your shipping label. For example:

• USPS shipping box marked "Priority Mail" = must ship Priority Mail
• You cannot use free USPS shipping supplies for Ground Advantage, Media Mail, or First-Class services
• Post office mailing boxes are service-specific

What Boxes Are No Longer Available

Keep in mind that USPS Regional Rate has been discontinued as of January 22, 2023. If you still have Regional Rate boxes, you may use them, but the Postal Service no longer distributes them.

Tips for Getting the Most from Free USPS Supplies

Plan Ahead

Don't wait until you need them – order USPS supplies in advance. Free Priority Mail packaging takes time to arrive (usually 7-10 business days).

Consider Your Volume

Since boxes from USPS come in bulk packs, calculate your monthly shipping volume to avoid over-ordering.

Mix and Match Services

Use free USPS shipping boxes for Priority Mail and consider other carriers like UPS or FedEx for different package types, or use your own packaging for Ground Advantage shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get free boxes from USPS? Yes, USPS provides free boxes and supplies for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services.

Does the post office have free boxes? Yes, post office boxes free are available both online and at local branches for Priority Mail services.

Are the boxes at the post office free? Priority Mail shipping boxes are free when used with the corresponding USPS Priority Mail service.

Can you buy boxes at the post office? While free Priority Mail boxes are available, you can also purchase additional packaging supplies for other services.

Where can I get free shipping boxes? The USPS store online and local post offices are the best sources for free Priority Mail shipping boxes USPS provides.

Do I get free boxes for Ground Advantage? No, USPS Ground Advantage requires you to provide your own packaging materials. Free boxes are only available for Priority Mail services.

Start Saving on Shipping Costs Today

Don't delay – order USPS Priority Mail boxes today to start saving on packaging costs! Taking advantage of USPS free shipping supplies for Priority Mail is one of the easiest ways to reduce your shipping expenses.

For other services like Ground Advantage, factor in packaging costs when calculating your shipping strategy, but remember that the lower service rates often offset the packaging expense.

For more shipping insights, check out our Priority Mail Flat Rate guide, and if you're comparing carriers, read our domestic FedEx vs. UPS vs. USPS rate comparison. Don't forget to use our USPS postage calculator to see examples of discounted USPS rates.

Shippo is a multi-carrier API and web app that helps retailers, marketplaces and platforms connect to a global network of carriers. Businesses use Shippo to get real-time rates, print labels, automate international paperwork, track packages and facilitate returns.

Last updated: September 2025

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