FedEx envelope sizes are 9-1/2″ × 12-1/2″ for the standard FedEx Envelope, 9-1/2″ × 15-1/2″ for the Reusable Envelope and 9-3/4″ × 11-1/2″ for the Padded Envelope. For thicker contents, FedEx Paks come in 10-1/4″ × 12-3/4″, 12″ × 15-1/2″, a 11-3/4″ × 14-3/4″ Padded Pak and a 10″ × 14-1/2″ Reusable Sturdy Pak.
All of these are free FedEx-branded supplies for expedited FedEx Express services. The sections below list every size, the weight and content limits that apply, and how to choose the right one for what you’re sending.
What Are the FedEx Envelope Sizes?
FedEx makes three envelopes for documents and very flat items. Each one is listed below with its outside dimensions as published on fedex.com.
| FedEx envelope | Dimensions | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx Envelope | 9-1/2″ × 12-1/2″ | Letter-size documents, contracts, checks |
| FedEx Reusable Envelope | 9-1/2″ × 15-1/2″ | Legal-size papers; can be sent back in the same envelope |
| FedEx Padded Envelope | 9-3/4″ × 11-1/2″ | Thin items that need light cushioning |
The standard FedEx Envelope holds 8-1/2″ × 11″ paper flat, with a little room to spare. If you need to send 8-1/2″ × 14″ legal documents without folding, the 15-1/2-inch Reusable Envelope is long enough.
What Are the FedEx Pak Sizes?
A FedEx Pak is a tear-resistant plastic shipping bag, made for items too thick for an envelope but too flat to need a box. FedEx lists four Pak options.
| FedEx Pak | Dimensions | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx Pak (small) | 10-1/4″ × 12-3/4″ | Thick document sets, soft goods |
| FedEx Pak (large) | 12″ × 15-1/2″ | Binders, bulky paperwork, folded clothing |
| FedEx Padded Pak | 11-3/4″ × 14-3/4″ | Small items that need cushioning |
| FedEx Reusable Sturdy Pak | 10″ × 14-1/2″ | Heavier contents and return shipments |
A Pak is still a soft mailer, so anything fragile or rigid belongs in a box instead. Our guide to FedEx box sizes lists the box dimensions, and our FedEx custom boxes page covers branded options for businesses.
What Are the Weight and Content Limits?
The limits depend on whether you ship with FedEx One Rate. Under One Rate, FedEx says envelopes must weigh less than 10 lbs, and Paks, boxes and tubes must weigh less than 50 lbs.
- Overstuffing: FedEx re-rates an envelope or Pak as a box if it goes over that packaging’s size, thickness or weight limits, so the flap must close normally.
- Services: FedEx One Rate applies only to expedited U.S. domestic services; ground services and international shipments don’t qualify.
- Declared value: One Rate includes declared value up to $100. The FedEx Service Guide also caps the declared value of a FedEx Envelope or Pak’s contents at $500, so higher-value goods belong in a box.
- Prohibited contents: Liquids, dangerous goods and items with sharp edges don’t belong in an envelope or Pak; use a box with proper protection.
For packages that outgrow every envelope and box, our page on FedEx oversize dimensions explains the size thresholds that apply to large parcels.
Which FedEx Envelope Size Should You Choose?
Start with what you’re sending and how thick it is when packed. This quick guide matches common contents to the right FedEx envelope size or Pak.
| What you’re sending | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A few letter-size pages | FedEx Envelope | Fits 8-1/2″ × 11″ flat |
| Legal-size documents | Reusable Envelope | 15-1/2″ length fits 14″ paper unfolded |
| A passport, cards or a thin item | Padded Envelope | Light cushioning in an envelope format |
| A thick contract set or binder | FedEx Pak (large) | Expands for bulky paperwork |
| Small goods that could scuff | Padded Pak | Cushioned lining |
| Fragile or rigid items | A FedEx box | Envelopes and Paks don’t protect against crushing |
Pick the smallest option that closes without strain. A packed envelope that bulges can be re-rated, and loose space lets documents slide and crease.
How Do You Prepare a FedEx Envelope?
Preparing a FedEx envelope takes a few minutes. Follow these steps so it seals properly and scans the first time.
- Protect the contents. Put important papers in a folder or add a cardboard backer so they don’t bend.
- Seal the flap fully. Press firmly along the whole adhesive strip; don’t overfill to the point that the flap barely reaches.
- Attach the label flat. Place the shipping label or airbill in the marked area, with no wrinkles and nothing covering the barcode.
- Remove old labels. If you reuse an envelope, take off or cover every previous label and barcode.
- Drop it off or schedule a pickup. Take it to a FedEx location or drop box, or hand it to a courier.
If you print labels yourself, our guide to labels and printers for shipping compares label stock and printers, and our FedEx labels and supplies page explains how to order free FedEx packaging.
Is There a UPS or USPS Alternative?
Yes. UPS and USPS both offer free envelopes for documents and flat items. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes, for example, include a 12-1/2″ × 9-1/2″ standard envelope, a 15″ × 9-1/2″ legal envelope and a 12-1/2″ × 9-1/2″ padded envelope, each shipping at one flat price to any U.S. address.
ParcelPath ships with UPS and USPS only. If you’re open to UPS or USPS instead, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS retail prices, with no subscription or per-label fee. Compare live UPS and USPS prices for your envelope in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a standard FedEx envelope?
The standard FedEx Envelope measures 9-1/2″ × 12-1/2″, which holds 8-1/2″ × 11″ letter-size paper flat. FedEx also offers a 9-1/2″ × 15-1/2″ Reusable Envelope that fits legal-size pages without folding, and a 9-3/4″ × 11-1/2″ Padded Envelope for thin items that need light cushioning. All are free for FedEx Express shipments.
What is the difference between a FedEx Envelope and a FedEx Pak?
A FedEx Envelope is a flat cardboard-style mailer made for documents, while a FedEx Pak is a larger, expandable plastic bag for thicker contents such as binders or soft goods. Under FedEx One Rate, envelopes must weigh less than 10 lbs and Paks less than 50 lbs, and either one is re-rated as a box if it is overstuffed.
How much weight can a FedEx envelope hold?
Under FedEx One Rate, a FedEx Envelope must weigh less than 10 lbs, and a FedEx Pak less than 50 lbs. In practice, an envelope fills up long before it reaches that weight. If the flap won’t close normally or the envelope bulges past its thickness limit, FedEx rates it as a box instead.
Are FedEx envelopes free?
Yes. FedEx provides its branded envelopes, Paks, boxes and tubes free of charge to customers shipping with expedited FedEx Express services. You can order them online after logging in to a FedEx account, or pick them up at FedEx locations. They aren’t meant for FedEx Ground or Home Delivery shipments.
Sources
- FedEx One Rate: packaging dimensions and weight limits
- FedEx shipping supplies
- FedEx Service Guide: declared value limits for FedEx Envelope and FedEx Pak contents
- USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope sizes
For more on FedEx services and options, start with our FedEx shipping hub, or browse more guides in Shipping Resources.
Part of our FedEx Box Sizes guide. Related: FedEx Oversize Dimensions, FedEx Labels and Supplies, FedEx Custom Boxes.
