Metered mail is a form of postage that allows small and medium-sized businesses to use a meter to print postage on mailpieces as proof of payment. Postage meters are postage printing machines or systems leased by authorized providers for use in your home or office. Meters print postage directly onto your mailpieces. The key benefits of using metered mail include:

• Accuracy: A meter’s built-in scale is designed to accurately weigh everything from postcards to packages, removing the guesswork and ensuring senders pay exactly the right postage every time.

• Discounts: Meters offer discounts unavailable in a Post Office™ retail location or when using stamps. As of January 2019, using a postage meter saves $0.05 per piece for envelopes up to 3.5 ounces, lowering the cost of your postage to $0.50 for First-Class Mail® letters weighing 1 ounce or less.

• Professional look: Meters also boost the professional look of business mail, as a company logo or personalized message can be printed on the envelope, boosting brand visibility.

Metered mail is typically regulated by the postal authority in each country. In the United States, it is regulated by the United States Postal Service.