Shipping with USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate offers e-commerce merchants a great combination of affordability and timeliness. Although delivery is not quite as fast as with Priority Mail Express International, this service will still get your package to its destination quickly, at an affordable cost.

What is USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate?

Rather than paying according to your package’s weight and destination country, USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate allows you to pay one flat price for shipments up to 70 pounds. USPS delivers to over 190 countries, and packages typically arrive in 6-10 business days, with discounted pricing in Shippo starting at $27.10.

To ship USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate, you must use Flat Rate packaging from USPS. You can send packages up to 4 pounds with a Flat Rate envelope or a small Flat Rate Box, or send packages up to 20 pounds with a medium or large Flat Rate Box.

Here are some specific packaging options offered by USPS, along with their dimensions and discounted pricing through Shippo:

• Small Flat Rate Envelope (10” x 6”) starts at $27.10
• Flat Rate Envelope (12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″) starts at $27.10
• Small Flat Rate Box (Outside: 8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″) starts at $28.10
• Medium Flat Rate Box (Outside: 11 1/4″ x 8 3/4″ x 6″) starts at $51.90
• Large Flat Rate Box (Outside: 12 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 6″) starts at $67.50

While they will pick up your package and initiative its journey, it is important to note that USPS doesn’t actually deliver packages to customers through this service level. Instead, deliveries are passed off at the border, and the final destination country’s postal service makes the final delivery. As a result, actual delivery times depend on the speed, efficiency, and infrastructure of your end destination country.

What are the Benefits of USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate?

There are two main reasons why e-commerce merchants choose this shipping option. First of all, it’s affordable. Although USPS has faster services (Priority Mail Express International gets packages to their destination in 3-5 days, for example) USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate is significantly cheaper. Priority Mail Express International starts at $45.95, while USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate starts at just $27.10. Effectively, this means you’re spending less than half what you would pay to ship through other USPS international services.

And second, USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate service offers several great features, including:

• Insurance on packages ($100 for documents and $200 for merchandise)
• USPS tracking (Limitations may apply for certain destinations, and tracking is not available for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Boxes)
• A return receipt

You may also qualify for free package pickup from USPS at your home or business.

Who is USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate Best Suited For?

This service is ideal if you’re looking for a mix of affordable shipping and timely delivery for international shipments. As mentioned above, USPS does have faster options, but those do cost more than Priority Mail International Flat Rate. While USPS does offer the cheaper option of First-Class Package International Service, that service level has a weight limit of 4 pounds, and it can take up to 4 weeks for packages to reach their destination.

By balancing cost with speed, USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate is essentially a “the sweet spot” for international shippers, and it’s an excellent choice if your delivery can wait 6-10 days. It’s also a nice option if you don’t want to deal with variable pricing based on package weight and destination country, and would instead prefer a flat rate.

Save Big on International Shipping With Shippo

If you’re planning on shipping via USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate, Shippo can make it even more cost-effective with discounts as big as 90% off of Retail pricing. We partner with over 60 carriers from around the world, including USPS, and can help you get the absolute lowest rates on all your international shipments.

In addition to giving you access to great rates, you can also use Shippo to:

• Create and print discounted shipping labels
• Easily generate return labels
• Validate addresses to prevent failed deliveries
• Conveniently schedule pickups
• Build customized tracking pages
• Send branded notifications to customers
• Get an up-to-date Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA)
• Generate in-depth reports to optimize your shipping spend and increase your overall efficiency

Need help navigating the complexities of global shipping? In addition to offering discounted rates, Shippo can help with any customs forms processes you’re subject to. Simply sign up to start taking advantage of Shippo’s extensive carrier network and exclusive discounts.