Mailing Options and Postage Rates Australia Post - PostGrid Australia (2024)

In July 2023, Australia Post decided to increase the cost of postage stamps in Australia. Learning about the new prices can help businesses manage their mailings better and take adequate steps to cut costs.

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

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—you can ship your mailers at the prescribed time.

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

Regular Letters

You can choose this option if you don’t want to send anything urgently. Regular letters might take some time to arrive at their destinations, but it is the most affordable option.

The standard postage rate in Australia for small letters and postcards is only $1.20. The dimensions should not exceed 130 mm x 240 mm x 5 mm to avail of this rate.

If your letters are broader than these dimensions and weigh up to 125 g, the rate doubles to $2.40. The dimensions of any letter or postcard cannot cross 260 mm x 360 mm x 20 mm, else they are charged as flats. You can use two $1.20 stamps to send these envelopes.

For letters and postcards weighing between 125 g and 250 g, the postage is $3.60. All B4, C4, and C5 envelopes come under this category. You need three postage stamps for $1.20 to cover the shipping costs for these items.

The maximum weight limit for large letters is 500 g, chargeable at $6.00. Please affix five $1.20 stamps to send these mailers.

Same-state deliveries take 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 take 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, Australia Post sorts and delivers Priority mail letters urgently. The letter postage rates for such mail are affordable, and anyone can easily avail of them.

For sending Priority letters—purchase Priority labels and stick them next to your stamps.

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

• Small letters and postcards cost $1.20 + 55c
• Letters weighing up to 125g cost $2.40 + 55c
• Letters weighing up to 250 g cost $3.60 + 55c
• Letter weighing up to 500g cost $6.00 + 55c

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

Adding a 55c label to speed up the delivery process is an excellent option. Same-state deliveries take only 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 the Gold Coast. It may not be possible to deliver your mail the next day if your destination is on the list of delivery locations. But Australia Post still treats it as top-priority shipping 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 yellow Express Post box nearby. 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 $8.55. Their maximum size is 110 x 220 mm. You can buy these stamps in packs of 10 for $83.40.

Medium-sized C5 envelopes are available for $8.85 and do not measure more than 162 mm x 229 mm. You can save money by buying ten packs in bulk for $86.30.

If you want to send large letters, buy B4 envelopes for $10.50, whose maximum size is 250 mm x 353 mm. These stamps cost you $102.40 for packs of 10.

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 must 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 mm x 240 mm size that can enclose small DL envelopes: Their maximum weight and thickness are 250 g and 5 mm, respectively. The price per envelope is $6.20. You can purchase packs of 10 such envelopes for $52.65. If you buy in bulk, the rates decrease to $60.45. You can get a discounted rate of $58.90 per pack of 10 on buying 5+ packs.
• 353 mm x 250 mm size to enclose B4 envelopes: Their weight cannot exceed 500 g, and the maximum thickness limit is 20 mm. The rate per envelope is $8.10, and you can purchase packs of 10 for $79.00. However, you can avail of the bulk rate of $76.95 per pack of 10 on buying 5+ packs.

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

The cost of every Registered Post label is $4.85. A box containing 50 prepaid Registered Post labels costs $203.70 only, which is a cost-saving deal.

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

• Delivery Confirmation: $2.95 (the Post office returns the recipient’s signature to you)
• Person-to-person Delivery: $6.50 (the carrier only delivers your letter to the addressee)
• Extra Insurance Coverage: The first $100 of coverage is free. You can pay additional postage insurance rates by paying $2.50 for every $100 worth of coverage up to $5,000.

You can use the Registered Post option with regular 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 $3.90, and you can buy a pack of 10 for $38.35. Also, you can pay $37.65 only per pack on buying 5+ packages o.
• Medium-sized envelopes are available for only $5.50 per envelope. Buy packs of 10 for $53.60 per pack. Save more by buying 5+ packages of 10 that help you get the bulk rate of only $52.30 per pack.
• Large envelopes cost $6.70, and you can buy a pack for $65.30. Buy per pack at only $63.70 on buying in bulk.

If you want to send your letter without delays, add the 55c Priority labels to the above envelopes.

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 for parcels, which are also known as flats.

It helps you send parcels weighing up to 5 kg all across Australia at national flat rates.

They have four options under the “If It Packs, It Post” program. These include small, medium, large, and extra-large.

If your parcel fits in either of these ranges, you can mail it under flats.

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

The primary motive of this program is to inform you of 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, 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 options, you can also use Parcel Post and Express Post satchels or the new Express Post Parcel Boxes.

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

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

Small Packaging

One parcel that fits in small packaging costs $10.60 and $14.10 for Parcel Post and Express Post. 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 $115 per pack., with dimensions are 60 mm x 420 mm.
• Flat-rate small satchels come in a pack of 10 and cost $3 per pack.
• You can buy the small padded mailers for $1.79 per piece or save money by buying them in packs of 100 at $89.
• Otherwise, you can opt for small recycled padded bags that also come in a pack of 100 and cost $99.
• Small parcel boxes are ideal for sending parcels, measuring 220 mm x 160 mm x 70 mm. You can buy a pack of 20 for $32.
• If you want something sturdier, go for small tough bags (261 mm x 369 mm) that come in a pack of 100 and cost $79.

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

• The Express Post premium small satchel comes in a pack of 10 for $140.40.
• You may buy single satchels at $14.40.
• Parcel Post prepaid small satchels cost you much less as they cost only $10.90 per pack, $54.50 for five pieces, and $106.30 for 10.

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

Use medium packaging if your parcels don’t fit in small-sized materials. 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 $14.50 to send medium-sized parcels via Parcel Post, whereas the rate increases to $18.50 for Express Post. These rates are not inclusive of packaging costs.

Find the packaging options below:

• Medium-sized mailing tubes (60 mm x 660 mm) cost you $69.75 for a pack of 25.
• MyPost Business Flat-rate medium satchels are your cheapest option because they cost only $3 for ten pieces.
• Medium-tough bags (299 mm x 429 mm) cost $1.79 per piece and $89 for every pack of 100.
• The Australia Post postage rates for medium-padded mailers (265 mm x 380 mm) cost $109 per 100 mailers.
• Medium rigid mailers come in a pack of 40 and cost $96.72.
• 20 medium parcel boxes (240 mm x 190 mm x 120 mm) cost $37.60.
• A hundred recycled padded bags (380 mm x 270 mm) cost $114.
• Medium-sized prepaid satchels used to send parcels via Parcel Post cost you $144.30 per ten pieces. If you wish to send them via Express Post, the cost rises to $183.30 per pack.

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

Large Packaging

Large parcels cost $18.25 for sending via Parcel Post and $22.75 for Express Post (exclusive of packaging costs).

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 $4 for a pack of 10.
• Mailing tubes (90 mm x 850 mm) cost $178.88 for a pack of 32.
• Padded mailers (483 mm x 361 mm) cost $2.99 per piece and $89.40 for 60.
• Large parcel boxes (390 mm x 280 mm x 140 mm) are worth $47.40 per pack of 20.
• A hundred large recycled padded bags (353 mm x 469 mm) cost you $199.
• Tough bags (405 mm x 435 mm)cost $99 per pack of 100.
• Wine boxes (single) come in a pack of 20 and cost $40 per pack.
• Wine boxes (twin) are most costly and cost $60 per pack.
• BX24 large parcel boxes cost $44.60 per pack of 20.

You have two prepaid options- Express Post Large Satchel and Parcel Post Large Satchel. The rates are $225.70 and $181.85 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 using extra-large packaging are $21.95 for Parcel Post and $29.95 for Express Post plus packaging.

The packaging options are:

• There are limited options for extra-large packaging.
• Flat rate extra large satchels are available for $5 per pack.
• Extra-large parcel boxes (440 mm x 277 mm x 168 mm) are worth $54.40 per pack of 20.
• Tough bags (400 mm x 105 mm gusset)cost $142.80 per pack of 120 pieces.

For postage-inclusive options, see below:

• Express Post Extra Large Satchels: $296.90 per pack of 10.
• Parcel Post Extra Large Satchels: $218.90 per pack of 10.

Head to your nearest Post Office to buy packaging materials in small quantities. For bulk purchases, it is advisable to visit the Australia Post website. There are many discounts on Australia Post bulk parcel rates, so ensure you enquire about them.

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

Economy

If speed is not a problem, 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 Mail.
Naturally, Economy Air is faster and more expensive than Economy Sea Mail.

The maximum weight limit is 500 g, 50 g, and 2 kg for letters, postcards, and parcels. Hence, the Economy Air option is best for lightweight mail.

Australia Post international parcel postage for sending Economy Air mailers are:

• $2.70 for documents and letters.
• $3 for greeting cards and postcards.
• $9.75 for parcels.

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 can ship letters and packages between 2 kg and 20 kg. The rates start at $56.45.

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 sending crucial mail- add the Signature on Delivery option for an added fee.

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

You can lodge your mail items at a post office or a red street post box. The rates start at $15.35 and increase to $89.75 based on your mailing destinations. 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 500 g and parcels weighing up to 2 kg.

Prices start at $28.05 for mailing letters and documents and $30.35 for parcels.

For packaging- you can use your materials or buy the same from a post office. If you want to ship 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 can increase to $30.35 for letters and $52.55 for parcels depending on the weight.
• For mailing to the Asia Pacific, the rates increase to $33.75 for letters and $73.80 for parcels.
• The Australia Post international postage rates for sending mail to the US and Canada can go up to $36 for letters and $79.85 for parcels.
• Australia to the UK and Europe postage rates rise up to $40.75 and $86.25 for letters and parcels.
• The maximum Australian international postage rates for mailing to the rest of the world are $45.95 and $104.75 for letters and parcels.

Courier

It is the fastest international mailing option offered by Australia Post. It helps your mailers arrive in only 2+ business days in metro places. There is free tracking and a Signature on Delivery included. But you must buy additional coverage for items worth over $100.

You can use the International Courier option to mail letters up to 500 g and parcels up to 20 kg. The current postage rates in Australia for this option start at $95.35 and range up to $169.75, depending on the destination country.

Australia Post’s letter-sorting technology reads your mailing addresses electronically. So, try writing them in legible handwriting and the correct format.

Refer to this image to better understand where to write the mailing address.

The postal address should only be inside the address zone. It should contain three lines where the recipient’s name is 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 upcoming line for sending international mail.

Find more significant tips regarding addressing below-

• 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 your mail returns 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.

Australia Post postage rates change from time to time. So, it is crucial 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.

Sign up to learn more about Australia postage rates and how PostGrid helps you plan your campaigns!