Publication 2 - Packaging for Mailing - Postal Explorer - USPS.com

Bulk Mail Center Standards6-4.6.1prevent injury to Postal Service employees or damage to other mail or mailprocessing equipment.A box should be closed withstaples, adhesive, heat sealing,nonmetallic banding, or tape.Paper or plastic tape should beapplied along all box flaps and closureseams. Although shrink-wrap is notacceptable as the only means of packaging,it may be used on the exterior of an otherwiseproperly closed box. Reinforced tape is adequateboth to close and reinforce the container.6-4.4 Soft Goods From 10 to 20 Pounds6-4.4.1 PackingA mailing of soft goods weighing from 10 to 20 pounds should be packed in apaper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basisweight), a reinforced paper or cloth bag, or a 175-pound test fiberboard (orstronger) box.6-4.4.2 ClosingThe mailing container should be closed with staples, adhesive, reinforcedpaper tape, or equally strong plastic tape. The container should be optimallyreinforced with pressure-sensitive filament tape or tight nonmetallic banding.Reinforced tape is adequate both to close and reinforce the container.6-4.5 Soft Goods From 20 to 45 Pounds6-4.5.1 PackingA mailing of soft goods weighing from 20 to 45 pounds should be packed in apaper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basisweight), a reinforced paper or cloth bag, or a 200-pound test fiberboard (orstronger) box.6-4.5.2 ClosingThe mailing container should be closed with staples, adhesive, reinforcedpaper tape, or equally strong plastic tape. The container should be reinforcedwith reinforced paper or plastic tape, pressure-sensitive filament tape, or tightnonmetallic banding.6-4.6 Soft Goods From 45 to 70 Pounds6-4.6.1 PackingA mailing of soft goods weighing from 45 to 70 pounds should be packed in apaper bag, paper wraps (with an exterior ply of at least 70-pound basisPublication 2, January 200229