1. Domestic Mail Manual
January 2005
Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service
Introduction
1

2. Transforming the Domestic Mail Manual
The Postal Service has transformed the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) into a
series of documents that are easier for customers and employees to use.
P U B L I C AT I O N S I N T H E D M M S E R I E S
A CUSTOMER’S GUIDE TO MAILING
DMM 100
A Customer’s Guide to Mailing
answers the most common questions
of household mailers. It includes tips
for addressing, preparing packages,
choosing a class of mailing, and adding
extra services. It is available at
www.usps.com and most post offices in
English, Spanish, and Chinese.
A G U I D E T O M A I L I N G F O R B U S I N E S S E S A N D O R G A N I Z AT I O N S
DMM 200
A Guide to Mailing for Businesses and
Organizations provides an overview
of mailing options for businesses and
organizations. Mailers can use it to
begin a business mailing program and
make better-informed decisions about
mailing. This document is available at
pe.usps.com, larger post offices, and
business mail entry units.
M A I L I N G S TA N D A R D S O F T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S P O S TA L S E R V I C E
DMM 300
Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service contains all official rates
and standards governing domestic
mailing services and is mostly used by
discount mailers and Postal Service
employees. This document is available at
pe.usps.com.
2

3. Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service
makes it easier to access information about postal
services and standards.
BENEFITS OF THE NEW DMM
The new DMM provides the following benefits
and features:
• Increased ability to find information.
• Increased clarity of mailing standards.
• Expanded and improved index.
• Clearer graphics and rate charts.
• Less need to consult with experts or peers
for guidance.
• Increased customer confidence in the mail and
in the USPS.
• Information grouped by mailing method, shape,
class of mail, and topic.
• Less time spent cross-referencing and greater
confidence in finding all the information needed.
WHY HAS THE DMM CHANGED?
The Postal Service worked closely with customers
and employees to reorganize the DMM. The new
DMM will help customers make informed decisions
about postal products and services to get the most
value from the mail. Postal employees will find it
easier to help customers.
The mailing standards did not change as part of
the redesign process. What is new is how the
standards are organized and presented.
3

4. Organization
Mailing Standards is organized into color-coded modules that make it easy
to locate information quickly.
RETAIL MAILING S E R V I C E S
The R E T A I L section explains the services and standards
for letters, flats, and parcels mailed at single-piece
rates. The information in this section is intended for both
household consumers and businesses.
Standards in the retail section are organized into units
represented by the available mailing services. Within each
mailing service, the information is organized into chapters
that follow the sequence of mailing tasks.
D ISCOUNT MAILIN G S E R V I C E S
The D I S C O U N T sections explain the services and
standards for “bulk,” presorted, and automation rate mail.
The information in this section is intended for business
mailers who are willing to do some extra work preparing
their mail in exchange for discounted postage rates.
Standards in the discount sections are organized by
mailing shape. Each shape module is organized into units
represented by the mailing services available for that
shape. Each unit is organized into chapters that follow the
sequence of mailing tasks.
GENERAL INFORM A T I O N
The G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N sections contain
standards for all the additional services available to
mailers, including extra services, mailer services, and
recipient services. The general information sections
also include standards that apply to all mailers, such
as general mailability and addressing, and special
standards, such as technical specifications and
advanced preparation standards.
4

5. Table of Contents
There is a comprehensive table of
contents at the beginning of the book
and a section-level table of contents
at the beginning of each section.
R E TA I L M A I L I N G S E RV I C E S
100 Retail Letters, Cards, Flats,
and Parcels
DISCOUNT MAILING S E R V I C E S
200 Discount Letters and Cards
300 Discount Flats
400 Discount Parcels
G E N E RA L I N FO R M AT I O N
500 Additional Mailing Services
600 Basic Standards for All
Mailing Services
700 Special Standards
Index
The comprehensive index contains an
alphabetical listing of terms and their
corresponding reference numbers.
5

6. Overview
The modules for each method and shape of mail contain general design
standards and topics relating to the preparation of each class of mail.
100 200
R E TA I L L E T T E R S , C A R D S , DISCOUNT
F L AT S , A N D PA R C E L S LETTERS AND CARDS
Design Standards Design Standards
101 Physical Standards 201 Physical Standards
102 Elements on the Face 202 Elements on the Face
of a Mailpiece of a Mailpiece
110 Express Mail
113 Rates and Eligibility
114 Postage Payment Methods
115 Mail Preparation
116 Deposit
120 Priority Mail
123 Rates and Eligibility
124 Postage Payment Methods
125 Mail Preparation
126 Deposit
130 First-Class Mail 230 First-Class Mail
133 Rates and Eligibility 233 Rates and Eligibility
134 Postage Payment Methods 234 Postage Payment and Documentation
135 Mail Preparation 235 Mail Preparation
136 Deposit 236 Enter and Deposit
240 Standard Mail
243 Rates and Eligibility
244 Postage Payment and Documentation
245 Mail Preparation
246 Enter and Deposit
150 Parcel Post
153 Rates and Eligibility
154 Postage Payment Methods
155 Mail Preparation
156 Deposit
160 Bound Printed Matter
163 Rates and Eligibility
164 Postage Payment Methods
165 Mail Preparation
166 Deposit
170 Media Mail
173 Rates and Eligibility
174 Postage Payment Methods
175 Mail Preparation
176 Deposit
180 Library Mail
183 Rates and Eligibility
184 Postage Payment Methods
185 Mail Preparation
186 Deposit
6

7. 300 D I S C O U N T F L AT S
Design Standards
400 D I S C O U N T PA R C E L S
Design Standards
301 Physical Standards 401 Physical Standards
302 Elements on the Face 402 Elements on the Face
of a Mailpiece of a Mailpiece
330 First-Class Mail 430 First-Class Mail
333 Rates and Eligibility 433 Rates and Eligibility
334 Postage Payment and Documentation 434 Postage Payment and Documentation
335 Mail Preparation 435 Mail Preparation
336 Enter and Deposit 436 Enter and Deposit
340 Standard Mail 440 Standard Mail
343 Rates and Eligibility 443 Rates and Eligibility
344 Postage Payment and Documentation 444 Postage Payment and Documentation
345 Mail Preparation 445 Mail Preparation
346 Enter and Deposit 446 Enter and Deposit
450 Parcel Post
453 Rates and Eligibility
454 Postage Payment and Documentation
455 Mail Preparation
456 Enter and Deposit
360 Bound Printed Matter 460 Bound Printed Matter
363 Rates and Eligibility 463 Rates and Eligibility
364 Postage Payment and Documentation 464 Postage Payment and Documentation
365 Mail Preparation 465 Mail Preparation
366 Enter and Deposit 466 Enter and Deposit
370 Media Mail 470 Media Mail
373 Rates and Eligibility 473 Rates and Eligibility
374 Postage Payment and Documentation 474 Postage Payment and Documentation
375 Mail Preparation 475 Mail Preparation
376 Enter and Deposit 476 Enter and Deposit
380 Library Mail 480 Library Mail
383 Rates and Eligibility 483 Rates and Eligibility
384 Postage Payment and Documentation 484 Postage Payment and Documentation
385 Mail Preparation 485 Mail Preparation
386 Enter and Deposit 486 Enter and Deposit
7

8. Overview
Services and standards that apply generally to all customers are organized
into three tabbed sections.
500 600
ADDITIONAL MAILING B A S I C S TA N D A R D S
SERVICES FOR ALL MAILING SERVICES
503 Extra Services 601 Mailability
Extra Services for Express Mail 602 Addressing
Registered Mail
604 Postage Payment Methods
Certified Mail
Insured Mail 607 Mailer Compliance and Appeals
Certificate of Mailing of Classification Decisions
Return Receipt 608 Postal Information and
Restricted Delivery Resources
Return Receipt for Merchandise 609 Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss
Delivery Confirmation or Damage
Signature Confirmation
Collect on Delivery (COD)
Special Handling
Confirm
Money Orders
507 Mailer Services
Treatment of Mail
Forwarding
Address Correction Services
Recall of Mail
Pickup Service
700
Mailing List Services
Address Sequencing Services S P E C I A L S TA N D A R D S
Business Reply Mail (BRM)
Merchandise Return Service 703 Nonprofit and Other Special
Bulk Parcel Return Service Eligibility
705 Advanced Preparation and
508 Recipient Services Special Postage Payment
Recipient Options Systems
Conditions of Delivery
707 Periodicals
Customer Mail Receptacles
Post Office Box Service 708 Technical Specifications
Caller Service 709 Experimental Classifications
General Delivery and Rates
Firm Holdout
Pandering Advertisements
Sexually Oriented Advertisements
509 Other Services
Address Information System Products
Nonpostal Services
8

9. Numbering System
The numbering system can serve as a navigational tool for locating
standards quickly.
Chapter
Section
Subsection
Item
Chapter Subtopics
2 3 5 .1. 2
Module Unit Topic
100 Retail Mail 010 Express Mail 001 Physical Standards
200 Discount Letters 020 Priority Mail 002 Elements on the Face
300 Discount Flats 030 First-Class Mail of a Mailpiece
400 Discount Parcels 040 Standard Mail 003 Rates and Eligibility
500 Basic Standards for 050 Parcel Post 004 Postage Payment
All Mailing Services 060 Bound Printed Matter 005 Mail Preparation
600 Additional Mailing Services 070 Media Mail 006 Enter and Deposit
700 Special Standards 080 Library Mail 007
000 All Classes 008
009
9

10. Page Layout
The new layout includes new graphic features and navigation
elements that help you find the information you need.
Chapter Title
The DMM is divided
into chapters based
on mailing topics.
Overview
Each chapter begins
with a table of
contents.
Reference Number
Each section,
subsection, and
standard has its own
reference number.
Change Bar
Change bars next to
standards indicate
that the text has
changed since the
last printed edition.
Change Date
The change date
indicates the date a
change is effective.
DMM 58 Reference
Reference numbers
corresponding to
the old DMM system
(DMM 58) are provided
to help the transition
to the new numbering
10
system.

11. Chapter Header Chapter Number
The header lists the This number shows
module, unit, and the current chapter for
chapter. easy navigation.
Page-level
Navigation
This element shows
the number of the first
or last reference on
each page.
Shape Icon
Icons provide a visual
point of reference.
Exhibit
Illustrations and
diagrams provide clear
visual explanations
and examples.
Cross-reference
Cross-references point
to other required or
related standards.
They are hyperlinked
in the online DMM for
quick access.
Rate Table
New table designs
aid in locating and
reading rates easily.
DMM Issue and Date
The DMM is updated
monthly.
11

12. Postal Explorer is an easy-to-use website that provides a comprehensive
collection of business mailing tools, including the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service.
Postal Explorer
pe.usps.com
http://pe.usps.com
With Postal Explorer you can:
• Get the most up-to-date information.
• Access the Quick Service Guides.
• Enter a word or phrase and instantly find all references.
• Access postage statements and forms.
• Search one publication or a whole collection.
• Calculate domestic and international retail and discount
postage rates.
• Print all or part of the DMM.
• Access postal zone charts.
You will find the most up-to-date
http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm/dmmtc.htm
version of Mailing Standards
of the United States Postal
Service (DMM) in HTML and
PDF formats. The online DMM
features new interactive menus
and enhanced search options.
Domestic Mail Manual Introduction
PSN: 7610-07-000-5420
12
January 2005