The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is launching a new, smaller Priority Mail Flat Rate Box, giving customers another choice in packaging to ship anywhere in the United States for one price, regardless of weight or destination. The Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box measures 8-5/8 x 5-3/8 x 1-5/8 inches - about the same size and shape as three stacked DVD cases. The USPS said the smaller sized box is perfect for jewelry, electronics, event tickets, or other small items that need expedited shipping.

"Customers will find this new sized box a great addition to our line of flat-rate packaging," said Gary Reblin, vice president of Expedited Shipping. "If an item is too thick for a flat-rate envelope but too small to fill a larger flat-rate box, this is an ideal choice."

Like all USPS flat-rate boxes and envelopes, the new box is available free of charge and also can be used for international shipping. It will have a retail price of $4.95 effective January 18, 2009, regardless of weight, up to 70 lbs. for U.S. addresses. The international price, for up to 4 lbs., will be $10.95 to Canada or Mexico and $12.95 to all other countries, with savings of 5 percent for customers who ship online. Online prices also are lower for shipping to U.S. addresses. The online price will be $4.80, and for large volume mailers who qualify for USPS Commercial Plus pricing, the price will be $4.75.

Customers can order the new boxes online at usps.com/supplies in packs of 10 and 25, up to a maximum of 200, beginning January 12. Post Offices will begin stocking the boxes January 18.

With the launch of the Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box, customers will have four different flat-rate boxes from which to choose: the two original boxes (similar to a clothing box and a shoe box), the Large Flat Rate Box introduced in 2008, and the new smaller box.

Link to USPS press room