Size and weight guidelines
Postage for shipping parcels and sending letters depends on the size and weight of your item.
Guidelines and postage costs for parcels and letters
Check the size and weight requirements for sending a letter or parcel within Australia or overseas, and use our online calculator to estimate the postage price and delivery time to send your item.
Maximum size and weight1
| Destination | Maximum weight | Maximum length | Maximum dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Maximum weight 22kg |
Maximum length 105cm |
Maximum dimensions 0.25 cubic metres |
| International | Maximum weight 20kg |
Maximum length 105cm |
Maximum dimensions 140cm girth |
How we assess postage for domestic business parcels
Prepaid satchels 5kg and under
Postage for prepaid satchels and mailing boxes is based on size, not weight. Choose from 4 sizes.
Flat rate packaging 5kg and under
Flat rate postage is based on size, not weight. Choose from boxes, mailing tubes, tough bags and more.
Other packaging 5kg and under2
Use other packaging (yours or ours) and postage is based on the weight or cubic weight (whichever is greater), and the destination.
Sending 5kg - 22kg2
The postage for parcels 5kg – 22kg is based on the weight or cubic weight (whichever is greater), and the destination.
How we assess postage for international business parcels3
International parcels are charged according to actual weight. The maximum weight you can ship is 20kg and the maximum girth is 140cm.
You don’t need to cube Australia Post International parcels, including prepaid satchels and flat rate satchels.
Business price guides, postage costs and delivery times
Download our business price guides or use our online calculator to estimate the postage cost and delivery time to ship your parcel or letter within Australia or overseas. If you need more assistance, visit your local Post Office and talk to our friendly team.
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On 1 November 2023, we updated the new maximum limits that Australia Post can accept:
We have invested substantially in automated sortation equipment across our network to meet the demands of increasing parcel volumes due to the continued growth in eCommerce. However, large parcels are not compatible with this equipment and cause capacity issues, create bottlenecks and require additional handling to be moved safely through our network and delivered to our customers.
Establishing clear limits helps us maintain the efficiency of our network and ensure safe operating conditions for our team and customers.
From 1 November 2023, an Over Maximum Limits Fee applies to parcels that exceed our maximum size and weight limits. Oversized parcels identified at lodgement points may be returned to sender and will incur an Administration Fee of $50.00 (GST inclusive), in addition to the Return to Sender charge specified in your contract. For any oversized parcels which do make it into our network for delivery, Australia Post may apply the Over Maximum Limits Fee of $100.00 (GST inclusive), in addition to the normal delivery charge for that parcel.
The previous Manual Handling Surcharge applied for oversized parcels no longer applies.
1 Some domestic parcel services have specific size and weight restrictions. Check our parcel service or visit your local Post Office for more details before lodging your article.
For parcels where you use your own packaging or any other packaging, which is not eligible for the national flat rates for postage based on size, Australia Post will assess charges according to the actual weight or cubic weight equivalent of the parcel, whichever is greater. Learn more about cubing on page 5 of our Domestic parcels guide (PDF 443kB).
2 For parcels where you use your own packaging or any other packaging, which is not eligible for the national flat rates for postage based on size, Australia Post will assess charges according to the actual weight or cubic weight equivalent of the parcel, whichever is greater. Learn more about cubing on page 5 of our Domestic parcels guide (PDF 443kB).
3 While Australia Post accepts articles of the specified size and weight for international posting, some countries may have their own restriction on parcel sizes. Please check with the foreign postal agency if concerned or view our International post guide.
4 Available in November and December only.
