Today, digital correspondence and email has replaced many reasons to use snail mail. Nevertheless, sending physical mails still retains relevance for important documents.
This may include invoices, legal letters, letters containing sensitive information, cheques to suppliers, vouchers to customers. It also allows you to add a personal touch to correspondences or when corresponding to less digitally savvy partners.
Moreover, some businesses still opt to send and receive snail mail as a form of courtesy and tradition. If your business regularly sends out mail or is considering sending out mails, it is good to be kept up to date with the different local mailing options available at Singpost.
Below is a summarised table of the different types of mail available. All letters sent via the options below will be delivered to the recipient’s letterbox.
| Max. Posting Weight | Max. Posting Dimensions | Tracking | Delivery Duration | |
| Basic Mail (Standard) | ≤ 500g | Regular: 240 X 162 X 6 mm Large: 324 X 229 X 14 mm | No | Letter / Postcard: 1 working day Printed Paper: 2 working days |
| Basic Mail (Non-Standard) | ≤ 500g | 324 X 229 X 65 mm | No | Letter / Postcard: 2 working day Printed Paper: 2 working days |
| Tracked Mail | ≤ 500g | 324 X 229 X 65 mm | Yes | 2 working days |
| Registered Service (Singapore) | ≤ 500g | 324 X 229 X 65 mm | Yes | 2 working days |
Source: Singpost
As a rule of thumb, all 3 types of mail have requirements of less than 500g with a maximum of 2 working days for delivery, which is quick enough for most business requirements.
The main difference lies in the degree of accountability afforded to the mail.
Sending Out Basic Mail
Basic Mail is the cheapest way to send postcards, letters and printed papers within Singapore. You can send Basic Mail by dropping them off at post offices, post agents or post boxes. It will take around 1 working day for letters and postcards or 2 working days for printed paper under Standard Basic Mail Conditions, and 2 working days for Non-Standard Basic Mail Conditions (which means your mail does not fulfil Standard Basic requirements).
Basic Mail Prices:
| Weight Step Up To | Standard Regular (C5, C6, & DL size envelope) | Standard Large (Up to C4 size envelope) | Non-Standard |
| 20g | $0.31 | $0.60 | $0.60 |
| 40g | $0.38 | $0.60 | $0.60 |
| 100g | – | $0.60 | $0.90 |
| 250g | – | $0.90 | $1.15 |
| 500g | – | $1.15 | $1.70 |
What Are Basic Mail Standard Conditions
– Mail items in standard envelope sizes: C4, C5, C6 and DL or specified Standard Mail sizes.
– Letters, postcards or mail items in card form, printed papers or paper-based items in a paper-based envelope.
– Mail items to be fully sealed on all sides.
– Mail items to be in white, cream, pastel or light-colour.
– Pressure-sealed (letters with teeth to tear along the edges) and page mail items (regular envelopes).
All mail outside of these conditions will be classified as Non-Standard. Note that Non-Standard mail also have to be within the specifications highlighted above.
Read also: Lalamove; GOGOX; RydeSEND; GrabExpress – Which Delivery Service Should Home-Based Businesses Use
Sending Out Tracked Mail
Tracked Mail is one grade above Basic Mail in terms of accountability; there will be an SMS notification sent to your phone when your Tracked Mail is successfully delivered to the recipient’s letterbox. It is slightly more costly than Basic Mail. Tracked Mail can be for items that are not highly confidential or important, but require accountability on the part of the sender to ensure that it reaches the recipient. This can be eCommerce invoices for local eCommerce retailers and small business owners that have to mail documents to their stakeholders.
| Tracked Mail Rates | |||
| Weight Step | Rates | Delivery | Restrictions |
| 20g | $2.60 | 2 working days | Weight Limit: 500g Max Dimensions: 324mm x 229mm x 65mm |
| 40g | $2.65 | ||
| 100g | $2.90 | ||
| 250g | $3.20 | ||
| 500g | $3.45 |
Sending Out Registered Mail
Registered Mail is a Sign-For service that requires a signature upon delivery in Singapore. The mail will still be sent to the recipient’s letterbox, with the postman signing for the successful delivery.
You can track your item’s status, making it the best option for confidential or important items that require special handling, processing and accountability.
If you’re serving legal letters, business correspondence or other important and confidential documents, then you should choose Registered Mail. It is also a good option for personalised letters and festive greetings to demonstrate your continual support and the recipient’s importance to you.
It is the most expensive of all 3 local mailing options for letters, postcards and papers – with an additional fee of $2.24 on top of Basic Mail Rates.
Registered Mail Rates
| Rates | Basic Mail Rates + $2.27 |
| Restrictions | Weight Limit: 500g |
| Delivery | 2 working days |
Best Local Mail Delivery In Singapore
Local mailing is straightforward; there is no best. The key is to identify the most appropriate form of mail for your business purposes. Basic mail is postal mail that does not rank high on the importance scale and can come in the form of mail advertisements, promotions or product features.
Tracked mail ranks higher in importance but is typically not critical to the business, which can be invoices and bills. Finally, you choose registered mail when you do not want it lost in transit, these types of mail can be reserved for the legal letter and papers or business correspondence or even if you are sending cheques and vouchers to partners.
The article was first published on November 4, 2020 and was updated with latest information.
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