GLOSSARY
Bound Printed Matter
By Justin Winter · Updated August 28, 2026
A USPS mail class for advertising, promotional, or editorial material that is permanently bound — catalogs, manuals, directories — priced by weight rather than as a letter.
Bound Printed Matter covers pieces of at least 90% printed advertising or educational content that are permanently bound (stitched, glued, or stapled along one edge) — think catalogs and product manuals. It is priced by weight rather than by page count the way a letter is.
It is not the right class for a typed letter or a personal document, which travel as First-Class or Certified Mail regardless of how many pages they run.
See also
- Library Mail — A discounted USPS mail class for books, sound recordings, and other materials shipped between schools, libraries, and similar qualifying institutions.
- First-Class Mail — The everyday USPS class for letters and documents — typically 3–5 business days, with no tracking unless you add it.
- Media Mail — A discounted USPS class for books and educational media only. Letters and correspondence are not eligible, and pieces may be inspected.
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