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Mailing Options and Postage Rates Australia

Australia Post is one of the most reputed postal organizations in the world and you should be aware of the postage rates Australia. Understanding these rates can help you choose the right service to mail your letters and parcels properly.

In late 2019, Australia Post decided to increase the cost of postage stamps in Australia. Later, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced that they have no objections regarding the increase. This was the first hike in the postage rates in Australia after 2015.

In this blog, we will discuss the postage rates for different mailing options and how you can avail of bulk discounts.

Australia Post Postage Rates Within Australia

Australia Post delivers postcards, letters, and parcels throughout Australia. It doesn’t matter if you want to send something from Victoria to Tasmania or anywhere else, it can get your mail delivered in the prescribed time.

There are several options for you to mail your postcards and letters. Find below these options along with the letter postage rates in Australia:

Regular Letters

You can choose this option if you don’t want to send anything urgently. It takes a little time to send regular letters, but it is the most affordable option.

The standard postage rate in Australia for small letters and postcards is only $1.10. The dimensions should not exceed 130 x 240 x 5mm to avail of this rate.

If your letters are larger than these dimensions and weigh up to 125g, the rate doubles to $2.20. The dimensions of any letter or postcard cannot cross 260 x 360 x 20mm, else they are charged as flats.

For letters and postcards weighing between 125g to 250g, the postage is $3.30. The maximum weight limit for large letters is 500g chargeable at $5.50.

Same state deliveries are completed within 2 to 4 business days. It can take up to 3 days to deliver something within metropolitan regions or capital cities, adjacent cities and towns in the same state, or within the same cities and towns.

However, Australia Post takes up to 4 days to deliver mail across country locations, and from metropolitan regions of capital cities to country locations or vice versa.

Interstate deliveries are completed between 3 to 6 business days depending on the place of origin and destination.

Australia Post Xmas postage rates decrease during November and December. Thus, you can mail regular Xmas letters and postcards cheaper during the holidays.

Priority Letters

As the name suggests, priority letters are sorted and delivered on a priority basis by Australia Post. The letter postage rates for such mail are not too expensive, and anyone can avail of them easily.

For sending priority letters, you need to purchase priority labels and stick them next to your stamps. A booklet of 5 priority labels is available for $2.50 making the cost of 1 priority label only 50c.

This way, the Australia Post postage rates for A4 envelopes for priority letters are as follows:

• Small letters and postcards cost $1.10 + 50c
• Letters weighing up to 125g cost $2.20 + 50c
• Letters weighing up to 250 g cost $3.30 + 50c
• Letter weighing up to 500g cost $5.50 + 50c

Please refer to the dimensions mentioned in the above section for reference.

Adding a 50c label to speed up the delivery process is a great deal for you. Same state deliveries take as less as 1 to 2 business days, whereas interstate deliveries take up to 4 business days.

Express Post Letters

Express Post helps you get your letters delivered the next business day. You can also avail of Australia Post tracking for all Express Post items. Hence, it is one of Australia’s fastest and most efficient ways of mailing letters.

Next business day deliveries are available for mailing between all capital cities (except Darwin) and some major towns. If your destination is not mentioned in the list of delivery locations, it may not be possible to deliver your mail the next day. But, Australia Post still treats it on a priority basis and completes the delivery as soon as possible.

To send Express Post letters, you should first buy Express Post prepaid envelopes. Enclose your letters in these envelopes and post them in a nearby yellow Express Post box. You can also take them to a local Express Post outlet.

How much is the standard postage in Australia for Express Post letters? Small DL envelopes with window face cost $7.35. Their maximum size is 110 x 220mm.

Medium-sized C5 envelopes are available for $7.65 and do not measure more than 162 x 229mm. If you want to send large letters, buy B4 envelopes for $9.05 whose maximum size is 250 x 353mm.

The Australia Post bulk postage rates for Express Post prepaid envelopes are:

• $71.70 for small packs of DL envelopes. Larger packs that have more than 10 envelopes cost $69.85
• $74.60 for medium-sized C5 envelope packs. Larger packs cost $72.70
• $88.25 for small packs of B4 envelopes. Larger packs cost $86

As you can see the bulk postage rates in Australia Post are always lower than the standard rates.

Registered Post Letters

Registered Post offers several features like proof of posting, bulk discounts, signature on delivery, and online tracking.

Like Express Post, you need to buy Registered Post prepaid envelopes to send letters via this option. The price of these prepaid envelopes includes the postage and Registered Post fee.

There are two types of Registered Post prepaid envelopes depending on the maximum thickness and size, and they are:

• 130 x 240mm size that can enclose small DL envelopes: Their maximum weight and thickness are 250g and 5mm respectively. The price per envelope is $5.40. You can purchase packs of 10 such envelopes for $52.65. If you purchase in bulk, the rates decrease to $48.60.
• 353 x 250mm size to enclose B4 envelopes: Their weight cannot exceed 500g and the maximum thickness limit is 20mm. The rate per envelope is $7.20 and you can purchase packs of 10 for $70.20. However, you can avail of the bulk rate of $64.80 if you buy larger packs.

You also have the option to purchase Registered Post labels. The rates for these labels do not include the postage.

The cost of every Registered Post label is $4.30. If you buy a box containing 50 prepaid Registered Post labels, it will cost you only $180.

For better security, you can avail of the below optional extras for a fee:

• Delivery Confirmation: $2.95 (the recipient’s signature is returned to you)
• Person-to-person Delivery: $6.30 (your letter is only delivered to the addressee)
• Extra Insurance Coverage: The first $100 of coverage is available for free. You can pay additional postage insurance rates for every $100 worth of coverage up to $5,000

You can use the Registered Post option along with either regular letters or Priority letters.

Domestic Letters With Tracking

Do you want to track your regular and priority letters? If yes, this option is perfect for you.

Buy prepaid envelopes for domestic letters with tracking. Australia Post charges a little extra above the Australia Post standard postage rates to give you the tracking facility.

• Small envelopes cost $3.05 and you can buy a pack of 10 for $30.00
• Medium-sized envelopes are available for only $5.10 per envelope. Buy packs of 10 for $48.50 per pack
• Large envelopes cost $6.15 and you can buy a pack for $58.40

If you want to send your letter on priority, add the 50c priority labels to the above envelopes.

Sending Parcels Within Australia

How much is postage in Australia for sending parcels? Broadly speaking, there are two options for you to send parcels within Australia. Find below these options along with their rates:

Parcel Post

The Parcel Post option is ideal if you want to send parcels worth up to $100. The delivery speed depends on your destination but takes at least 2 business days. 

It is a very cost-effective option to send parcels within Australia and also offers other benefits like:

• Tracking.
• Up to $100 compensation in case of certain losses.
• Carbon neutral parcel delivery.
• Optional Signature on Delivery.

Express Post

As discussed earlier, Express Post helps you deliver mail on the next working day. It covers about 80% of all Australian addresses. Find the other benefits below:

• Tracking.
• Free $100 insurance coverage.
• Carbon neutral parcel delivery.
• Convenient lodgement- You can lodge your Express Post parcels at a nearby post office or a yellow street post box. Australia Post also offers parcel pickups for Express Post packages. You can schedule such pickups according to post office timings and your convenience. 
• Optional extra cover and Signature on Delivery.

The Parcel Post rates Australia are mentioned in the flat rates postage section below. Please note that you can only send parcels weighing up to 5kg under these options.

Flat Rate Postage

What are Australia Post parcel postage rates? To understand how Australia Post charges for sending parcels, you should know their “If It Packs, It Post” scheme.

This program is mainly introduced for parcels, which are also known as flats. It helps you send parcels weighing up to 5kg all across Australia at national flat rates. 

They have four options under If It Packs, It Posts- small, medium, large, and extra-large. If your parcel fits in either of these ranges, you can mail it under as flats. 

• Mail weighing up to 500g comes in small packages.
• Anything weighing between 500g and 1kg comes under medium.
• Mail weighing between 1kg and 3kg needs large packaging.
• Extra-large packaging is used for mail weighing from 3kg to 5kg. 

The main motive of this program is to let you know the Australia Post postage rates for parcels upfront. Your parcel should fit in one of their packaging and satchels. 

This way, the postage is calculated based on your packaging size, and not the destination or weight of the parcel. 

You can choose from a range of Australia Post tough bags, padded mailers, tubes, and boxes. Apart from these, you can also use Parcel Post and Express Post satchels or the new Express Post Parcel Boxes. 

Simply select your mailing speed and packaging to know your postage. Australia Post has also now launched tiered national flat rates to send parcels with your own packaging (BYO packaging). 

For anything weighing over 5kg, the postal costs are based on distance and weight. Use the Australia postage calculator to know the exact rates. 

Small Packaging

One parcel that fits in small packaging costs $9.30 and $12.3 respectively for Parcel Post and Express Post. Please note that these rates do not include the packaging cost. 

Find below small parcel postage rates and packaging options:

• Small mailing tubes come in a pack of 50 and cost $75.50 per pack. Their dimensions are 60 x 420mm. 
• Flat rate small satchels come in a pack of 10 and cost $2.50 per pack. 
• You can buy the small padded mailers at $86.40 for a pack of 100. 
• Elsewise, you can opt for small recycled padded bags that also come in a pack of 100 and cost $86.80.
• Small parcel boxes are a very ideal option to send parcels measuring 220 x 160 x 70mm. You can buy a pack of 20 for $26.17. 
• If you are looking for something sturdier, go for small tough bags that come in a pack of 100 and cost $54.90.

Find some more options from the small packaging range (all rates are inclusive of postage): 

• The Express Post Platinum small satchel comes in a pack of 10 for $172.60.
• Express Post small satchels cost $122.35 per pack. 
• Parcel Post small satchels cost you much less as they cost only $93.10 per pack. 

As these options are prepaid, you don’t need any stamps or any other form of postage to mail your parcels. 

Small things like clocks and chocolates can fit perfectly in small packaging.

Medium Packaging

If your parcels are a little bigger to fit in small packaging, you can use medium packaging. It costs a little more but provides added security to your mail. 

The Parcel Post rates in Australia are much more affordable than Express Post rates. It costs you only $12.70 to send medium-sized parcels via Parcel Post, whereas the rate increases to $16.20 for Express Post. These rates are not inclusive of packaging costs. 

Find the packaging options below:

• Medium-sized mailing tubes cost you $55.25 for a pack of 25.
• Flat rate medium satchels are your cheapest option as they cost only $2.50 for 10 satchels. 
• Medium tough bags cost $61 per pack. 
• The Australia Post postage rates for medium padded mailers cost $99.20 per 100 mailers. 
• Medium rigid mailers come in a pack of 40 and are worth $96.72. 
• 20 medium parcel boxes cost $33.48.
• 100 recycled padded bags cost $105.
• Medium-sized prepaid satchels used to send parcels via Parcel Post cost you $126.25 for 10 pieces. If you wish to send them via Express Post, the cost rises to $160.40 per pack. 

Medium packaging is best used for things like soft toys, utensils, and cosmetic boxes. 

Large Packaging

Large parcels cost $15.95 for sending via Parcel Post and $19.95 for Express Post. 

Learn about the packaging options below:

• There are quite many options to send parcels using large packaging. The cheapest option is flat-rate large satchels that cost $3.50 for a pack of 10. 
• Mailing tubes cost $72.16 for a pack of 16.
• Padded mailers cost $82.20 per pack.
• Large parcel boxes are worth $36.20 per pack. 
• 50 large recycled padded bags cost $73.45.
• Tough bags cost $84.24 per pack. 
• Wine boxes (single) come in a pack of 10 and cost $30.77 per pack. 
• Wine boxes (twin) are almost double the size and cost $43.87 per pack. 
• BX24 large parcel boxes cost $34 per pack. 

There are three prepaid options namely Express Post Large Satchel, Express Post Platinum Large Satchel, and Parcel Post Large Satchel. The rates are $197.95, $234.50, and $158.95 respectively for packs of 10. 

Extra Large Packaging

Want to send something that is extra-large in size, like boots or a game box? Try this option. 

The rates for sending parcels in extra-large packaging are $19.20 for Parcel Post and $26.20 for Express Post plus packaging. 

The packaging options are:

• There are very limited options for extra-large packaging. 
• Flat rate extra large satchels are available for $4.50 per pack.
• Parcel boxes are worth $45.43 per pack and tough bags cost $75.95 per pack.

For postage-inclusive options, see below:

• Express Post Extra Large Satchels: $259.85 per pack. 
• Parcel Post Extra Large Satchels: $191.60 per pack. 

If you want to buy packaging materials in low volumes, head to your nearest post office. For bulk purchases, it is advisable to visit the Australia Post website. There are many discounts on Australia Post bulk parcel rates, so make sure to enquire about them. 

Cost of Postage Australia for Mailing Internationally

Now that we know the domestic postage rates in Australia, let us move ahead to international shipments.

Economy

If speed is not a problem for you, select Australia Post’s International Economy option. It is ideal for items worth up to $100. But, you can always buy additional coverage by paying extra.

There are two options within Economy namely Economy Air and Economy Sea. Naturally, Economy Air is faster and more expensive than Economy Sea.

The maximum weight limit is 500g and 2kg for letters and parcels respectively. Hence, the Economy Air option is best for lightweight mail.

Australia Post international parcel postage rates start at $8.90. The postage for sending letters is relatively cheaper and starts at $2.50.

You can pay a little extra and avail of the Signature on Delivery service.

If your letters and parcels are heavier, select the Economy Sea option. This way, you are able to ship letters up to 2kg and parcels up to 20kg. The rates start at $51.95.

Standard

This option is for those people and companies that want to track their mail. Again, choose this service only when you don’t need to mail something urgently.

You get coverage of up to $100 with this option which you can increase by paying more. For important mail, add the Signature on Delivery option for an added fee.

The weight limit to send mail via the International Standard option is 20kg.

You can lodge your mail items at a post office or a red street post box. The rates start at $15.20. You can either use Australia Post’s standard packaging or BYO packaging.

Express

For speed and free tracking, choose Australia Post’s International Express service. You also need not pay anything extra for availing of the Signature on Delivery option. 

It is the best choice for sending urgent letters and parcels. You can send letters weighing up to 500g and parcels weighing up to 2kg.

Prices start at $28.50 for mailing letters and documents and $30.20 for mailing parcels. 

For packaging, you can use your own packaging materials or buy the same from a post office. If you are sending something to China, the UK, or New Zealand, buy satchels online as you may not get the same at a post office. 

• Postage rates from Australia to New Zealand start at $30.20 and goes up to $50.60 depending on the weight. 
• For mailing to the Asia Pacific, the rates range between $33.90 and $72.
• The Australia post international postage rates for sending mail to the US and Canada are between $36 and $77.70.
• Australia to UK postage rates ranges from $41.40 to $83.10.
• The Australian international postage rates for mailing to the rest of the world are between $46.80 and $99.45.

Courier

This is the fastest international mailing option offered by Australia Post. It is available at over 230 post offices across Australia. There is free tracking and Signature on Delivery included. But, you need to buy additional coverage for items worth over $100. 

You can use the International Courier option to mail letters up to 500g and parcels up to 500g. The current postage rates in Australia for this option start at $90.20 and range up to $159.45 depending on the country of destination. 

Australia Post Address Guidelines

Australia Post’s letter sorting technology is designed to read your mailing addresses electronically. So, you should write them in legible handwriting and in the correct format. 

Refer to this image to get a better understanding of where to write the mailing address. 

The postal address should only be written inside the address zone. It should contain three lines wherein the recipient’s name is written on the top line. 

Write the street address on the second last line. You can also write the locked bag or PO Box number if applicable. 

The last line should always have the city name, state abbreviation, and postcode. Print this line in capital letters without any underlining or punctuation. 

Write the country name on the next line for sending international mail.

Find below some more important tips regarding addressing:

• Always write the correct postcodes.
• Never stagger or indent address lines.
• Avoid underlining anything.
• Print using dark ink. Avoid using yellow, orange, or red ink. The preferable way is to use black ink on white paper. 
• Write the return address on the top so that your mail is returned back to you in case of failed delivery. 

Below is an example of an Australian address for your reference:

Kaleb Tonkin

10/12 Western Terrace

SOUTHPORT QLD 4215

PostGrid can help you standardize and validate your mailing addresses to ensure deliverability. 

Conclusion

Australia Post postage rates change from time to time. So, it is important to stay updated at all times. PostGrid can help you print and mail your items at affordable prices. Also, it can take care of the design and printing process.

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