Guides · By the Liberty Press mail team

A plain-English guide to USPS Periodicals mailing for publishers

The USPS Periodicals class is built for magazines, newspapers and other publications sent to an established list of subscribers or requesters. It can cut postage, but it comes with rules. Here is what publishers need to know, with links to the official USPS standards.

This guide summarizes. The official rules are in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 207 and on USPS PostalPro. Check them, or ask your local Business Mail Entry office, before you apply.

Who qualifies

• Frequency: each publication must be issued at a regular frequency of at least four times a year, with a stated frequency (DMM 207.4.6).
• Known office of publication: a public office where the publication does business and keeps circulation records (DMM 207.4.5).
• Printed sheets: the publication must be formed of printed sheets (DMM 207.4.4).
• Paid circulation (general publications): a legitimate list of subscribers, with at least 50% of distribution to people who paid above a nominal price (DMM 207.6.1.2).
• Advertising limit: general publications cannot contain more than 75% advertising in more than half of their issues in a 12-month period (DMM 207.6.1.3).

Requester, nonprofit and other categories have their own standards in DMM 207.

The forms

• PS Form 3500 is the application for Periodicals mailing privileges, filed at the Post Office serving the known office of publication (DMM 207.5.1).
• PS Form 3541 is the Periodicals postage statement that goes with mailings (DMM 207.5.2 and 207.17).

Co-mailing and copalletizing

USPS lets mailers combine Periodicals to earn finer presort levels and lower postage (DMM 207.27):

• Co-mailing: merging individually addressed copies of different titles or editions into one presorted stream.
• Combined wrappers or bundles: two or more publications in one wrapper to one address.
• Copalletizing: putting separately presorted bundles of different titles on shared pallets to reach pallet minimums.

Each publication must be authorized, or pending authorization, for Periodicals prices.

Watch for rule changes

USPS updates Periodicals pricing structures. In 2026 it announced changes to Outside-County pricing, including eliminating bundle and container rates (Postal Bulletin 22704). Confirm current rules before you budget postage.

What a detached mail unit printer does

A detached mail unit (DMU) is a USPS verification point at the mailer’s plant. Mail is verified where it is produced, instead of being trucked to a post office first. That cuts handoffs between printer, mail house and post office.

How Liberty Press can help

Liberty Press is a USPS detached mail unit mailer with in-house verification. We handle addressing, polybagging, tip-ons and mail preparation in the same plant where your publication is printed and bound. See mailing services or call 801-853-5353.