USPS and UPS are pretty lenient when it comes to the shape of your package, but sometimes you might need to ship what's known as an "Irregular Package" 📦
What is an irregular package?
Definition of irregular packages: An irregular package is basically anything outside of normal packaging, dimensions, and weights for both USPS and UPS services.
Examples of irregular packages: Some examples of these kinds of packages are mailing tubes, or anything that isn't inside a cardboard box, envelope, or poly mailer.
Items with unbalanced dimensions such as fishing rods or guitars would also be considered irregular packages, as well as packages with one side that's 1 inch or less (for UPS specifically).
Other common types of irregular packages are things that are shipped without any packaging, like luggage, golf bags, ski bags, tires, or products shipped in wooden or metal crates.
Select "Tube or Irregular Packaging" in the Type of Packaging drop-down
Designating irregular packages: Whenever you're shipping a tube or irregular package, you'll need to designate it when creating your label 👍 Look for this option in the Type of Packaging drop-down menu:
Choosing this packaging option will automatically select the "Irregular Package" checkbox underneath the Extra Services drop-down menu, in the same place where you'll see other options such as Return Labels and Insurance. Here's how that looks:
Nonstandard fee for tubes and irregular packages: Selecting the "Tube or Irregular Packaging" option will incur a $4 nonstandard characteristics fee when you ship with USPS.
Tubes and irregular packages may also be subject to other nonstandard fees from USPS, depending on their length. Learn more about the nonstandard USPS fees you may see on Pirate Ship.
Shipping branded UPS and USPS tubes
Using a USPS-branded tube: If you're using a USPS-branded Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express Tube, you'll need to select the proper corresponding service from the Choose a Service dropdown before you click "BUY."
For instance, if you're using a Priority Mail-branded tube, you need to buy Priority Mail postage.
Using UPS Express packaging: If you're using the UPS Express Tube, select that specific packaging type from the Type of Packaging drop-down menu:
...and then manually select the "Irregular Package" checkbox towards the bottom of the page:
"Cardboard sandwiches" are also irregular packages
Flat packaging aka cardboard sandwiches: Packages resembling "cardboard sandwiches" with relatively flat items inside (for instance, a box with two longer dimensions and a third that's a couple of inches or less) also get categorized as irregular packages.
Some examples of items that are typically sent in "cardboard sandwich" packages are signs, paintings, and mirrors.
UPS applies Additional Handling surcharges: When shipping with UPS, these sorts of packages may trigger an Additional Handling surcharge that you'll need to pay on top of your original postage.
This happens because UPS needs to sort these unbalanced packages by hand, and they then impose an adjustment on your account for the cost.
UPS treats bags and poly mailers as irregular packages
Bags and poly mailers with UPS: If you ship a bag or poly mailer with UPS that has two dimensions, it will be classified as an irregular package 🙈 USPS, on the other hand, doesn't consider envelopes and poly mailers to be irregular.
Manually designating an Irregular Package: Whenever you're shipping one of these types of packages with UPS, you'll need to manually check the "Irregular Package" checkbox at the bottom of the page when creating your label 👍
Irregular packages affect UPS services more than USPS
If you're shipping with USPS, selecting the "Irregular Package" option won't change things much.
UPS adds surcharges to irregular packages: On the other hand, UPS adds an Additional Handling surcharge on top of the cost of postage. So, when shipping an Irregular Package, be prepared to pay a little extra if you choose to ship with one of the UPS services 😅
Selecting the "Irregular Package" option won't prevent the Additional Handling surcharge from UPS, but it will keep it from being a surprise carrier adjustment on your account.
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