The United States Postal Service (USPS) is changing their tabbing regulations for booklet mailers. The details of this change are outlined below. Download pdf of USPS mailing regulation changes.
Background
The USPS currently defines a booklet as:
- Multiple sheets permanently fastened with stitching or gluing
- Always required tabbing
- Sized 6.125″ x 11.5″ or smaller
- 3 oz maximum weight
- 0.25″ maximum thickness
Summary of Changes
- Effective Date: September 8, 2009
- The new booklet guidelines will affect the design of your future pieces
- Not following the USPS’ new regulations will result in a minimum surcharge of $0.22 per piece
The charts below show current versus new regulations. The key changes include smaller mail pieces, larger tabs, more tabs, and specific fold and tab locations.
Download pdf of USPS mailing regulation changes.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Just checking to see …………..these tabbing regulations are dated Sept 8, 2009. Are they still the same?
And secondly, where is your company located & do you do the addressing, labeling, sorting, mailing of standard mail catalogs?
thanks. Dave Bartels, Blue Star Sportswear
Hi Dave. The tabbing regulations from Sept 9, 2009 are still current for booklets. Please stay tuned, however. The post office is currently reviewing tabbing regulations, and might make changes in late 2011 or early 2012. Second, FulfillNet is located at 1361 Waube Lane, Green Bay WI 54304. We are a full service mail provider, and can handle all of your needs. If there is a project coming up that we could assist you with, please let us know.
We are doing a booklet for mailing. It is 4′ tall and 6″ wide.
Does the address page need to meet any special specifications?
What is the best way to do bulk mailing of this item? Thanks
Hi Del
Yes, the post office does have address specifications for 4″ x 6″ booklets. The outgoing address must be in the optical character read zone, and must run parallel with the 6″ size. For bulk mailing, you must have 500 pieces for first class, or 200 pieces for standard mail. A 4″ x 6″ booklet does only need one 1.5″ tab on each end of the booklet. Last, you must perform proper mail stream preparation services and enter the mailing under a mailing permit for a bulk mailing. Does this answer your question?