What is Media Mail?

3 min read · Updated June 2026

Shipping books, CDs, or other educational media? Media Mail is a discounted USPS service built exactly for that — and Thryft Ship supports it. Here’s what qualifies and how to use it.

TL;DR

Media Mail is a cheaper USPS rate for educational and media items like books, CDs, and DVDs.
Priced by weight, not distance — and it includes tracking.
On Thryft Ship: tick the “eligible for Media Mail” box before Get Rates to unlock the option.

What is Media Mail?

Media Mail is a USPS service that offers reduced postage for sending educational and media-related materials across the United States. It’s a cost-effective way to ship media items without breaking the bank — the trade-off is that delivery can be a little slower than Priority, and shipments are limited to eligible items only.

What’s eligible

Books — printed books at least 8 pages long.
Sound recordings — CDs, records, and other audio.
Video recordings — DVDs, and other video formats.
Printed music — sheet music and printed scores.
Educational materials — test materials and reference charts.
Computer-readable media — disks and CDs with pre-recorded information.

What’s NOT allowed Anything with advertising (except incidental book announcements), magazines and newspapers, and non-media items like stationery, blank notebooks, coloring books, or general merchandise. Shipping ineligible items as Media Mail can trigger USPS penalties.

Why sellers love it

Cost-effective — rates are significantly lower than other USPS services, great for heavy media.
No distance penalty — cost is based on weight, not how far it travels, so pricing is predictable.
Tracking included — you and your buyer can follow the package the whole way.

How to send Media Mail on Thryft Ship

After filling in your package details, tick the checkbox at the bottom that says “this item is eligible for Media Mail.” Then click Get Rates — the Media Mail option will now appear on your rates page, ready to select.

Common questions

Is Media Mail slower than regular shipping?

Usually, yes — it can take a few days longer than Priority Mail. It’s the trade-off for the lower price, so it’s best when speed isn’t critical.

Can USPS open my Media Mail package?

Yes. USPS reserves the right to inspect Media Mail to confirm the contents are eligible, so only ship qualifying items.

Why don’t I see the Media Mail rate?

Make sure you ticked the “eligible for Media Mail” box before clicking Get Rates. If it’s unchecked, the option won’t appear.

Not sure how to enter your package details first? Start with Your First Shipping Label.