I use media mail to send books I sell on Half.com. It can be used for sending video tapes, DVDs, CDs, software disks, books, and printed material. One risk is that the postal service can open it at any time.

Here are the general guidelines for sending Media Mail.

  • Write and underline Media Mail above the recipients address, to the left of the postage.
  • For the Continental 48 States, it costs $2.13 to send a package under 1 pound and an additional 34 cents for each additional pound.
  • The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.

It takes an average of 4 business days for the recipient to receive it. The time it takes depends on how far away the recipient is.

You can put any package under 13 ounces in a mail box. Over 13 ounces, you must take it to the post office and hand it to the recipient. Make sure they weigh and stamp the package otherwise it may come back to you.

For a great reference guide to calculating postage see this Office Animation article.