Shape Based Rating

The shape of a mailpiece (thickness, length, width) plays a large role in the pricing of First-Class Mail®, Express Mail, and Priority Mail postage. Since May of 2007, the USPS® has combined weight with shape to better align prices with processing costs. This is to ensure that every type of mail covers its costs, i.e., Shape Based Rating or SBR.

When shape based rating is used, the mailing system determines the size and weight of the mail and automatically selects the appropriate rate.

Shape based rating is available on systems with the WEIGH-ON-THE-WAY® (W-O-W®)/Shape Based Rating module.