Postage scales

Meters print your postage based on the rates and regulations of the USPS. Because rates are predominantly determined by the weight of the item you are sending, you will need a scale to weigh letters and packages and indicate the appropriate postage for each postal class.

When you use a scale, you minimize the overpayment that occurs when you attach extra stamps to packages because you do not have the exact "change" or because you are not exactly sure of the cost. Studies have estimated the savings to a typical business at up to 20 percent.

Some digital scales connect directly to the postage meter so the correct postage is automatically entered, which is useful if you often send packages of varied weights. They can also provide price information on other carriers, like FedEx and UPS.

Spring scales do not offer all of the perks that digital scales do. But for low-volume mailers that primarily send letters, spring scales are a cheap and functional solution.

Spring scales can cost as little as $40 while digital scales can run into the hundreds of dollars. You can also rent a scale - a small digital scale for a small business costs about $5 per month.