Presorted mail definition

Presorted mail is a type of mail that has been sorted and prepared by the sender or a third-party mail service provider to meet the requirements of the United States Postal Service (USPS) for efficient and cost-effective processing.

To be considered presorted mail, the mailpiece must meet certain criteria, including:

  1. Barcodes: The mailpiece must have a barcode that contains the correct information, such as the sender's address, recipient's address, and weight.
  2. Sorted by ZIP Code: The mailpiece must be sorted by ZIP Code to ensure that it is delivered to the correct post office or processing facility.
  3. Weight-based sorting: The mailpiece must be sorted by weight to ensure that it is processed efficiently and cost-effectively.
  4. Destination-based sorting: The mailpiece must be sorted by destination to ensure that it is delivered to the correct location.

There are several types of presorted mail, including:

  1. Presorted Standard: This is the most common type of presorted mail, which is sorted by ZIP Code and weight.
  2. Presorted First-Class: This type of mail is sorted by ZIP Code and weight, and is used for First-Class Mail letters and flats.
  3. Presorted Periodicals: This type of mail is sorted by ZIP Code and weight, and is used for periodicals, such as magazines and newspapers.
  4. Presorted Non-Profit: This type of mail is sorted by ZIP Code and weight, and is used by non-profit organizations to send mail at a discounted rate.

The benefits of using presorted mail include:

  1. Cost savings: Presorted mail is often cheaper than non-presorted mail because it is processed more efficiently.
  2. Faster delivery: Presorted mail is typically delivered faster than non-presorted mail because it is processed more quickly.
  3. Improved accuracy: Presorted mail is less likely to be misdelivered or lost because it is sorted and processed more accurately.

Overall, presorted mail is an important part of the USPS's mail processing system, and is used by businesses and individuals to send mail efficiently and cost-effectively.