How to determine priority shipping rates

Starting with the change in postage rates effective June 30, 2002, priority packages weighing two or more pounds are subject to zoned rates. That is, the postage varies depending on how far you are from where I live. The two tables below, when used together, will give you the postage for priority packages mailed from me (03468, in New Hampshire) to you (wherever you are in the United States).

First, go to Table 1 and find your zip code in the Zip Code Prefix column. The column to the right tells you what zone you’re in. For example, if your zip code is 10468 (the Bronx, New York), you’re in zone 3.

Next, go to Table 2, below. Find the weight of the book in the left-hand column (most standard-size books are two or three pounds; larger books will weigh more). Move across the row to the column with your zone number. This will be the priority shipping fee.

For example, shipping a two-pound book to the Bronx will cost $3.95. If you live in Denton, Texas, your zip code begins with 762, which puts you in zone 7; the same book will cost $5.40 to ship priority. If you’re in Eugene, Oregon (zone 8), the shipping will be $5.75.

Please note that these figures are based on information downloaded from the Postal Service web site and are accurate to the best of my knowledge. However, I do not assume responsibility for any errors; if the actual shipping cost of an item as determined by the post office is higher than the cost listed here, the buyer will be responsible for the actual cost.

You can double-check a shipping cost quoted here by using the Postal Service’s on-line Domestic Calculator, which you can go to by clicking this link (use 03468 in the From ZIP Code field and your zip code in the To ZIP Code field).

Table 1. Zip Code Zone Chart

ZIP Code Prefix	Zone	ZIP Code Prefix	Zone	ZIP Code Prefix	Zone	ZIP Code Prefix	Zone
005	3	254	4	540	6	750..754	7
006..009	7	255..259	5	541..547	5	755	6
010..013	2	260..268	4	548	6	756..768	7
014..024	1	270..277	5	549	5	769	8
025..029	2	278..279	4	550..567	6	770..784	7
030..034	1	280..315	5	570..574	6	785	8
035..037	2	316..342	6	575..577	7	786..796	7
038..039	1	344	6	580..584	6	797..799	8
040..043	2	346..347	6	585..588	7	800..810	7
044	3	349..352	6	590..591	8	811..816	8
045	2	354..355	6	592..593	7	820	7
046..047	3	356..358	5	594..599	8	821	8
048	2	359..361	6	600..619	5	822	7
049	3	362	5	620	6	823..825	8
050..054	2	363..369	6	622..623	6	826..828	7
055	1	370..374	5	624..629	5	829..838	8
056..067	2	375	6	630..642	6	840..847	8
068..069	2	376..379	5	644..658	6	850	8
070..098	3	380..383	6	660..674	6	852..853	8
100..119	3	384..385	5	675..679	7	855..857	8
120..123	2	386..398	6	680..681	6	859..860	8
124..127	2	399..418	5	683..689	6	863..865	8
128..129	2	420..427	5	690..693	7	870..875	8
130..139	3	430..436	5	700..701	6	877..880	8
140..147	4	437..449	4	703..704	6	881	7
148..149	3	450..479	5	705..706	7	882..883	8
150..178	4	480..483	4	707..708	6	884	7
179..199	3	484..499	5	710..714	6	885	8
200..212	4	500..516	6	716..729	6	889..891	8
214..241	4	520	5	730..731	7	893..895	8
242	5	521..526	6	733..739	7	897..898	8
243..245	4	527..528	5	740..741	6	900..908	8
246..248	5	530..532	5	743..744	6	910..928	8
249	4	534..535	5	745..748	7	930..986	8
250..253	5	537..539	5	749	6	988..999	8

Table 1. Priority Rate Chart

For Zone:	1, 2, 3	4	5	6	7	8
1 lb	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85	$3.85
2	3.95	4.55	4.90	5.05	5.40	5.75
3	4.75	6.05	6.85	7.15	7.85	8.55
4	5.30	7.05	8.05	8.50	9.45	10.35
5	5.85	8.00	9.30	9.85	11.00	12.15
6	6.30	8.85	9.90	10.05	11.30	12.30
7	6.80	9.80	10.65	11.00	12.55	14.05
8	7.35	10.75	11.45	11.95	13.80	15.75
9	7.90	11.70	12.20	12.9	15.05	17.50
10	8.40	12.60	13.00	14.00	16.30	19.20