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EnglishHow to Get Free Shipping Supplies from USPS: What's Free and How to Order
Updated
USPS offers free shipping supplies—Priority Mail boxes, Flat Rate envelopes, and some labels—through USPS.com. You can order them online via the "Free Boxes" quick link or the Postal Store, and standard delivery of these supplies is free. The main condition: free supplies are tied to specific mail classes (primarily Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express), so using the wrong free box with the wrong service can change your postage or cause problems at drop-off.
What USPS Offers for Free vs. What You Pay For
USPS.com's navigation lists Free Boxes as a quick tool and also has a Shipping Supplies section in the Postal Store. Based on USPS's published product structure, the free items are the ones designed for its flat-rate and Priority Mail services:
| Supply type | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail boxes (including Flat Rate) | Free | Must be used with Priority Mail service |
| Priority Mail Express boxes/envelopes | Free | Must be used with Priority Mail Express |
| Flat Rate envelopes and small boxes | Free | Postage is a flat rate regardless of weight (up to the limit) |
| Priority Mail labels and some sticker-style supplies | Free | Ordered with your supplies |
| Stamps, collectible items, personalized envelopes, cards, gifts | Paid | Available in the Postal Store |
| General packing tape, bubble wrap, cushioning | Not a USPS free item | You supply your own packing materials |
The practical rule: if a box or envelope is printed with Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express branding, it's free to order but must ship through that service. Reusing it with a cheaper service, or turning a Priority Mail box inside out to hide the branding, is not allowed and can get a package refused or returned.
How to Order Free Supplies Online
- Go to usps.com.
- Use the Free Boxes quick link (listed under Quick Tools) or open Shop → Shipping Supplies in the Postal Store.
- Choose the box or envelope size you need. Flat Rate options are labeled as such; check the dimensions against what you're shipping, since the flat rate only saves money when your item fits and is heavy enough.
- Add items to your cart and check out. You'll need to provide a delivery address; USPS.com's sign-in options include a regular account, so expect to register or sign in to complete an order.
- Submit the order. The supplies themselves carry no charge, and USPS delivers them to your address.
If you only need a few boxes, you can also pick them up at a local Post Office—the same free supplies are stocked there. Use Find USPS Locations on the site to locate one.
Delivery, Timing, and Receiving Your Order
Free supply orders ship to the address you enter at checkout; USPS does not charge for delivering these supplies. USPS does not publish a guaranteed delivery window for free supply orders on the pages referenced here, so treat arrival time as variable—order ahead of a deadline rather than the day you need to ship. For ongoing needs, USPS.com also offers Schedule a Pickup, which is useful for handing off packages rather than receiving supplies, and Informed Delivery can help you preview mail and packages headed to your address.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Order hasn't arrived: Check that the address you entered at checkout was complete. Supply orders are not trackable like a package in most cases, so if nothing arrives, re-order or pick up supplies at a Post Office instead of waiting.
- Item out of stock or size unavailable: The Postal Store shows what's currently orderable. If a specific box is unavailable, choose an equivalent Flat Rate size or collect supplies locally.
- Wrong size or wrong service: Match the box to the service before you pack. A Priority Mail Flat Rate box shipped via a non-flat-rate service, or a box too large for the flat rate weight limit, will cost more than expected. Weigh and measure before ordering in bulk.
- Using free supplies incorrectly: Don't cover or reverse USPS-branded boxes to use them with another carrier or service. Buy plain boxes for non-Priority shipments.
Bottom Line
Order free Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes, envelopes, and labels through the Free Boxes link or the Postal Store on USPS.com, have them delivered at no supply cost, and use each item only with its matching service. Buy your own tape and cushioning, and confirm sizes before placing a large order.