How Much Mail Do You Have to Send to Get a Bulk Rate?

Two hundred items is the minimum number of mail pieces required to get the postal service bulk-rate discount. But qualifying for a bulk rate is more involved than that. Discounts vary according the exact quantity you're sending and the prep-work you do for the post office, and there are several other requirements to be aware of. According to the USPS:

• All pieces must be in the same category (all letters, all flats, etc.).
• Each mailing must contain at least 200 addressed pieces or 50 pounds of addressed pieces.
• The correct ZIP Code must be on each piece.
• All pieces must qualify as Standard Mail (that means no checks, bills, or other material that must be sent as First-Class Mail).
• You need a permit or license to pay postage via pre-canceled stamps, permit imprints, or meters.
• You must pay an annual bulk mailing fee.
• You must send the mail from the post office where you obtained the permit or license and paid the bulk fee.
• You must presort the mail. Given these requirements, you're generally better off using a mail house to fulfill the myriad postal requirements.