Mail Services: Self Mailers

Consider having envelopes printed instead: they're very inexpensive, have the same postage cost, and won't get caught in the mailing equipment as easily. See the Quick Copy Center for estimates. No staples, fold at bottom, tab at top, 60-110# weight only! Use leftover labels for tabs - they hold better! Quick Copy can advise, order paper stock, and send to the printer in one visit.

Tabs and Wafer Seals
Overview: Unenveloped mailpieces prepared for either a ZIP+4 or Barcoded mailing must be tabbed to prevent an open edge from jamming high-speed processing equipment. Construction of the mailpiece plays an important role in determining automation compatibility. Standards for tabs are based on basis weight of paper stock used for the mailpiece and the location of the folded or bound edge. As an alternative to tabs or wafer seals, the open edge of the length of the mailpiece may be continuously glued or spot glued. Tabs are not required on flats but may be necessary or adviable to meet other preparation requirements.

Characteristics and Content: Number and location of tabs or wafer seals are specified for particular types of letter mail. In all cases, additional tabs may be used. Tabs, wafer seals, tape, or glue must not interfere with recognition of postage, FIM, rate marking, required address information, or barcode. If placed in a barcode clear zone, the tabs or wafer seal must contain a paper face meeting the standards for background reflectance and ink acceptance. Adequate adhesion required. The minimum basis weight standards vary depending on the construction of the mailpiece and the sheet size.

A folded self-mailer must be prepared with the folded edge parallel to the longest dimension and the address of the mailpiece. These additional standards apply, based on the number of tabs used:

• With one tab or wafer seal, the folded edge must be at the bottom of the self-mailer. The tab or wafer seal must be placed in the middle of the top edge of the piece. If formed of a single folded sheet, the self-mailer must be prepared from paper with a minimum basis weight of 28 pounds (measured weight for 500 17-x22-inch sheets) or 70 pounds (measured weight for 500 25-x38-inch sheets). If formed of multiple folded sheets, the self-mailer must be prepared from paper with a minimum basis weight of 24 pounds (measured weight for 500 17-x22-inch sheets) or 60 pounds (measured weight for 500 25-x38-inch sheets).
• With two tabs or wafer seals, the folded edge may be at the top or bottom of the self-mailer. The two tabs or wafer seals must be placed on the open edge, opposite the folded edge. One tab or wafer seal must be placed within 1 inch of the left edge of the piece; the other, within 1 inch of the right edge of the piece. The whole tab need not be placed within 1 inch of the edge. The tabs must not obscure the FIM, postage, or required address information. the folded self-mailer must be prepared from paper with a minimum basis weight of 20 pounds (measured weight for 500 17-x22-inch sheets).

The front and back covers of a booklet-type mailpiece must be prepared from paper with a minimum basis weight of 20 pounds (measured weight for 500 17-x22-inch sheets). The bound edge (spine) must be the longest edge of the piece and at the bottom, parallel to the address. The unbound edge (top) must be secured with at least two tabs or wafer seals. One tab or wafer seal must be placed within 1 inch of the left edge of the piece; tje second tab or seal, within 1 inch of the right edge of the piece. As an alternative, one tab or wafer seal must be place within 1 inch from the top left side (trailing edge) of the piece; the second tab or seal, within 1 inch from the top right side (leading edge) of the piece.

Cards must have a minimum basis weight of 75 pounds or greater. Double postcards not sealed on all edges must have folded edge at the top or bottom. The open edge must be secured with one tab in the middle.

The contents of mailpieces prepared in sleeves or other wrappers must be sufficently secure in the sleeve or wrapper to stay in place during processing. If material bearing the delivery information or barcode for the mailpiece is enclosed in a partial wrapper, that wrapper must be sufficently secure to prevent the contents from shifting and obscuring the delivery address or barcode.

Specifications for Automation-Compatible Mailpieces

Type	Tabs	Fold/Spine	Sheets	Basis Weight	Picture
Envelope	None (folded/sealed edges)	N/A	N/A	16 lb.
Double Card	1 (middle)	Top or Bottom	Single	75 lb.
Folded Self-Mailer	2 (start no more than to 1 inch from edges)	Top or Bottom	Single	60 lb. Min
Folded Self-Mailer	1 (middle)	Bottom	Multiple	60 lb. Min
Folded Self-Mailer	1 (middle)	Bottom and right	Single	60 lb. Min
Booklet	2 (start no more than 1 inch from edges)	Bottom	Multiple with Cover	20 lb. (cover only)
Invitation Fold	1 (in center of overlap)	Top and Bottom	Multiple or Single	60 lb. Min
Accordion Fold Tabs	4 (2 top and 2 bottom start no more than one inch from edges)	Open edge top and bottom	Multiple or Single	60 lb. Min
Continuous Gum Strip	Top edge	Bottom	Single	60 lb. Min