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How Many Stamps Do I Need?

It’s often difficult to determine how many stamps you will be needing to send a mail, especially since USPS offers a wide range of services. Thus, this article will help you understand the number of stamps you require to get your package to reach its destination. 


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Contents

How Many Stamps Do I Need?

The number of stamps required to send a letter depends on whether it’s a domestic or an international letter. We will look at both of these options in detail. 

Domestic letter shipping: 

If the letter is being sent within the USA, you will only require a Domestic Forever Stamp worth $0.55. Domestic letters reach recipients primarily within 1-3 days. 

However, the stamp is only applicable for packages weighing one ounce. As soon as the mail weighs more than that, you need to pay 15 cents extra per ounce. 

There are certain rules to follow:

  • The envelope should be at least 5 inches by 3.5 inches but no bigger than 11.5 inches by 6.125 inches. Besides, it should not be thicker than ¼ inches
  • A rectangular envelope is required
  • Uniform thickness needed
  • It’s advisable to use a bendable envelope. Otherwise, you will have to spend another 21 cents since your package will be classified as “non-machinable”
  • Even if you are using a square envelope, it should be at least 5 inches thick. Since these are mostly non-machinable, you will need to pay additional 21 cents

Sending domestic postcards: 

Sending a postcard within the USA is cheap. All you need is a postcard stamp worth 35 cents and have the card posted in the mailbox. You can also opt for a Domestic Forever Stamp; however, this is a little expensive. 

The postcard must meet the following criteria: 

  • The postcard must be rectangular; if not, different rates of stamps will apply
  • It should not be more than 4.5 inches high and 6 inches long
  • Not thicker than 0.016 inches
  • Must be at least 0.007 inches wide and 3.5 inches high, and 5 inches long

International shipping

Of course, you will require a different number of stamps to have your letter posted internationally, and yes, the number of stamps does vary from one country to another. Thus, instead of covering all the countries, we will focus on the UK and Canada in this section.

 USA to the UK

To send your letters from the USA to the UK, you need the Global Forever Stamps. These cost around $1.20 and have a green succulent picture on them. Some uses opine that it looks pretty classy. 

You can also use a Domestic Forever Stamp; however, you have to ensure that the total cost of the stamps is $1.20. 

As you might have guessed, it’s difficult to reach the precise amount, and you may end up paying 45 cents extra. Again, if your letter weighs more than one ounce, you will pay more. 

USA to Canada:

In this case, the Global Forever Stamp applies; however, there is a catch here. 

As seen in the cases above, this stamp only covers a letter weighing one ounce. While this is true for emails to other international destinations from the USA, the same does not apply to Canada. In Canada, the Global Forever Stamp covers up to 2 ounces; however, if your letter weighs more than that, you will have to buy extra stamps to make up for the weight. 

Stamps for different packages: 

By now, you know that the number of stamps required to send a mail depends on the letter’s destination, weight, and size. Besides, there are additional charges for irregularly shaped envelopes, heavy packages, and oversized envelopes. 

We have covered the number of stamps under a few broadheads to keep the understanding short. 

Standard letters: If you are sending a standard-sized letter that weighs 3.5 ounces or less, you require one stamp. 

Large letters: These are mostly sent inside 9×12 legal Manila envelopes. To send such letters, two stamps are required for the first ounce, and an additional $0.20 is required for postage. 

International mails: As mentioned earlier, for posting internationally, a Forever Stamp or a Global Stamp is required costing around $1.20. However, if your package is below one ounce, you will need one Global Forever Stamp or three Forever Stamps. 

Packages: The number of stamps required will depend on the weight and size of the package. Mostly the first four ounces need a minimum of $3.80 in postage. As the weight increases, the postage to increases. Additionally, the shipping cost also varies depending on the weight, or you can choose a priority mailbox. Priority mail boxes ship at a flat rate if the package fits inside a USPS-produced box. 

Stamps required to send a parcel: 

It’s a tad bit challenging to figure out the number of stamps you require to send a parcel than letters. But thankfully, USPS has installed an online postage calculator to make it easy to calculate the number of stamps needed on a parcel. 

You can check the complete guide on love stamps by USPS from here.

You need to follow the process below to calculate: 

  • Select the destination country
  • Choose the mailing date and time
  • Put in the zip code (sender and receiver) 
  • Select the postage type
  • Click on ” display all options” this lets you compare costs of all the services
  • You can add extra options like insurance, certificate of mailing, registered mail, and more
  • Once all these are selected, the calculator shows the final cost 

Finally, you need to buy as many stamps as required to cover the shipping cost. However, you need to print the shipping label and have it stuck to the parcel if you have added anything additional. You can get this done from the post office if you don’t have a printer. 

Buying stamps online: 

Now that everything’s online, USPS ensures that you don’t miss out on the trend; thus, USPS has an online store featuring its stamp collection. You can purchase as many stamps as you need for this cloud store. Of course, you can reach out to other retailers like Stamps.com. 

However, if you want to purchase it offline, you can go to the local post office or order them via phone at 1-800-STAMP-24. 

Finally, you can also purchase the stamps from gas stations, pharmacies, and local grocery stores. 

Wrapping up: 

While determining the number of stamps needed on a mail is challenging, we hope we have been able to solve most of your doubts. This piece has covered all that you need to know about the stamps to send your mail and packages both internationally and domestically. 

Avatar of Robert Johnson

Shipping guy at USPS, previously at Fedex.

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