How to Get Free Shipping Supplies from USPS and UPS (2026)
Updated July 2026. Rates and policies verified against carrier-published sources; see references at the end.
USPS gives away Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes for free — order unlimited quantities at store.usps.com, pick them up at any Post Office, or call 1-800-ASK-USPS. UPS gives free Express packaging (boxes, paks, envelopes) plus labels and pouches to anyone with a free ups.com account. The catch on both: free packaging is tied to specific services. Neither carrier supplies free boxes for its ground products, and using a Priority Mail box for a Ground Advantage label is prohibited — USPS will charge you the Priority Mail price or refuse the package.
What USPS gives you for free
Every box and envelope branded Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express is free, in unlimited quantities:
- Priority Mail boxes in standard sizes, shoe-box and DVD formats, plus Flat Rate boxes (small, medium, large)
- Priority Mail Flat Rate and standard envelopes, including padded and legal-size Flat Rate envelopes
- Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes
- Free Package Pickup from your address when your labels are ready
Note the distinction: the packaging is free, the postage is not. A Flat Rate box still needs Flat Rate postage. And the free lineup stops at Priority-branded material — USPS does not offer free packaging for Ground Advantage, so ground shipments go in your own plain boxes, poly mailers, or reused cartons (with old labels and barcodes removed).
What UPS gives you for free
With a free ups.com account you can order supplies at no charge, delivered to your address:
- UPS Express boxes in multiple sizes, Express envelopes, and Express paks
- Label pouches and printable label stock
- Specialty stickers and forms
The same service rule applies: UPS Express packaging is intended for UPS air/Express services only. Ground shipments should use your own packaging. UPS has also tightened supply ordering — since late 2025, how much you can order can depend on your account's actual shipping activity, so new accounts may see a limited catalog.
What's free and what isn't
| Item | Free? | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail boxes and envelopes | Yes, unlimited | Only for Priority Mail postage |
| USPS Priority Mail Express packaging | Yes, unlimited | Only for Priority Mail Express postage |
| USPS Flat Rate boxes and envelopes | Packaging yes, postage no | Require Flat Rate pricing |
| USPS Ground Advantage packaging | Not offered | Use plain, unbranded packaging |
| UPS Express boxes, paks, envelopes | Yes, with a free ups.com account | Only for UPS air/Express services |
| UPS Ground packaging | Not offered | Use your own boxes |
The Priority-box-for-Ground-Advantage trap
The most expensive "free" box is a Priority Mail box with a Ground Advantage label on it. USPS packaging rules restrict Priority-branded packaging to Priority services, and enforcement is automated: USPS's package verification systems catch the mismatch and adjust your postage up to the Priority Mail rate, clerks can refuse the package at the counter, and covering or crossing out the branding does not make the box eligible. If you ship Ground Advantage — and for most light packages you should, since it's the cheapest USPS service — buy plain boxes or reuse clean cartons instead. One narrow exception exists: USPS supplies free Ground Advantage boxes to Poshmark sellers through an authorized contractor, but there is no general-public program.
How to order free USPS supplies
- Go to store.usps.com and open the Free Shipping Supplies section.
- Add the Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes or envelopes you need — quantities are unlimited and shipping is free.
- Check out with a free usps.com account. Supplies typically arrive within about a week.
- Prefer offline? Pick up supplies at any Post Office or order by phone at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
How to order free UPS supplies
- Log in at ups.com (create a free account if needed).
- Go to Shipping, then Order Supplies (ups.com/us/en/shipping/order-supplies).
- Add Express boxes, envelopes, paks, pouches, or label stock and submit the order to your address.
Frequently asked questions
Are USPS boxes really free?
Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes are genuinely free in unlimited quantities — you pay only the postage. Plain boxes for Ground Advantage are not provided.
Can I use a Priority Mail box for Ground Advantage?
No. It's prohibited, and USPS's automated verification will charge the package at the Priority Mail rate — or the package may be refused. Covering the branding doesn't make it eligible.
Does USPS have free Ground Advantage boxes?
Not for the general public. The only free Ground Advantage packaging program is for Poshmark sellers via a USPS-authorized contractor. Everyone else uses their own unbranded packaging.
Do I need an account to get free supplies?
Yes for both carriers, and both accounts are free: a usps.com account for the Postal Store, a ups.com account for UPS supplies.
Is the postage free if the box is free?
No. Free packaging only removes the box cost. To cut the postage itself, use commercial pricing — see the cheapest way to ship a package in 2026.
Ship cheaper starting today
Free boxes cut one cost; Ship.com cuts the bigger one, with up to 89% off USPS and up to 82% off UPS retail rates, with plans starting at $4.99/month. Free trial: use Ship.com free for your first two shipments — pay only the postage, no subscription fee, no credit card required. See plans and pricing.
Free supplies matter more than ever because postage itself keeps climbing — see why shipping is so expensive in 2026 and our UPS vs USPS 2026 price comparison to keep the rest of your shipping bill down.
References
- The Postal Store: Free Shipping Supplies — verifies which USPS boxes and envelopes are free to order (accessed July 2026).
- USPS FAQ: Ordering Free Shipping Supplies — verifies ordering channels (online, Post Office, 1-800-ASK-USPS) (accessed July 2026).
- USPS FAQ: USPS Ground Advantage — verifies that Ground Advantage uses your own packaging and that Priority-branded packaging is restricted to Priority services (accessed July 2026).
- UPS: Order Shipping Supplies — verifies free UPS supplies available to account holders and the ordering flow (accessed July 2026).
- EcommerceBytes: USPS offers free Ground Advantage boxes, with a catch — verifies that free Ground Advantage packaging is limited to the Poshmark seller program (accessed July 2026).
