How much does it cost to send a postcard internationally

If you’re mailing anything besides an ordinary letter, how many stamps do you put on an envelope?

The number of stamps you put on letters or packages depends on the envelope size and its weight. If you don’t have the time to go to a postal store before calculating how many stamps you need, here’s a guide that will help you. 

How many stamps do I need?

There’s no easy answer to how many stamps your mail item needs, because it’s dependent on many different things such as weight, size, and receiver’s location. In most cases, a single postage stamp will suffice to mail a letter. That changes for irregularly shaped envelopes, heavy envelopes, or oversized envelopes.

When figuring out how many stamps you need to mail your letter or postcard, your postage costs will depend on the shape and size of your mail. If your envelope isn’t flat, it won’t fit in automated processing equipment and you will be charged more.

  • Standard letters. If your letter is a standard-sized envelope and weights 3.5 ounces or less, you will need one stamp

  • Large envelopes. This includes 9x12, legal, and manila envelopes, Two stamps are needed for the first ounce, and postage will be an additional $0.20 cents after. 

  • International mail. For mail going outside of the United States, you can use Forever Stamps or a Global Forever Stamp, which currently cost $1.20 each. If your letter is one ounce or below, you will need one Global Forever stamp or three Forever Stamps. 

  • Packages. The number of required stamps depends on the weight and size of the package. Usually, the first four ounces need a minimum of $3.80 in postage, with more postage as weight increases. Shipping costs vary depending on weight, or you can purchase a priority mail box, which ships at a flat rate if it fits inside the USPS-produced boxes. 

It’s not just the weight that matters. All postcards and envelopes must be rectangular. If you’re sending square-shaped stationery or a specialty envelope, you should put an extra stamp on it.  

Still not sure? USPS has a postage price calculator. 

How many Forever Stamps do I need?

Forever Stamps, created in 2007, are postage not tied to a fixed price, so they remain valid to mail letters even when rates increase.  Basically, they are stamps with grandfathered pricing. 

If you have Forever Stamps, you calculate them as worth the current postage rate, even if you bought them before the rate increased. 

USPS changing the rates of its postage stamps

In it’s 10-year plan reveil, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the upcoming changes to the government service. One of the changes being implemented is its second postage stamp rate increase of the year on August 29th, 2021. The first increase came at the beginning of the year in January.

Right now, stamps cost $0.55. Beginning August 29th, 2021, that will increase: 

  • First Class Mail letters will increase by 3 cents (from $0.55 to $0.58) for 1 ounce. Each additional ounce will be $0.20. 

  • First Class Mail postage purchased online on Stamps.com will increase by 2 cents (from $0.51 to $0.53).

Now’s the time to stock up on your Forever Stamps so you save money in the long run!

Where to buy stamps online

The U.S. Postal Service has an online store of its stamp collection where you can purchase as many stamps as you’d like. Or there are other online retailers such as Stamps.com that sell stamps and allow you to buy and print postage from your home. 

If you don’t want to purchase online, you can buy stamps at your local post office or by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24. 

Additionally, you can often purchase a book of stamps at gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies. 

The modern way of managing your mail

Heard of a virtual mailbox? It’s like your home mailbox but does the work for you while giving you an added layer of privacy and security.

An Earth Class Mail virtual mailbox allows you to view mail sent to a virtual mailing address of your choice as it comes to our secure processing facility. You can set up your account so that we automatically scan your mail items and you only have to view and manage the mail scanned in your account. 

With your account, you can sort, save, or share those PDFs, so you can easily organize all your incoming mail. Virtual mailboxes are especially helpful if postal workers have a difficult time delivering mail to your home address.

17 - June - 2020 4,471 views

What does it cost to send a Postcard from the US to Europe? The Price to send a postcard has absolutely been the significant part of deciding if I’m actually sending postcards home from my holiday in Los Angeles. Prices for postcards are cheap, but the price for the stamp to send this little piece of colourful paper all the way over to another Continent, well, it has been way lower than expected!

To get an international stamp and send your postcard from the United States of America to any country in Europe, you have to visit a USPS Office (United States Postal Service). I have visited the small one nearby the Farmers Market in Los Angeles. However, already before my trip to the store, I researched prices on the USPS website. Super practical, they offer an online calculator for your postcard or letter or box. You can find it directly here. To calculate the price for a postcard stamp you first have to select the country you want to send it to, and now you can skip everything else (value and date of shipment), and hit the postcard button below.

The price to send a Postcard to Europe from the United States of America is $1.15 each as a First-Class Mail® International Postcard, with a maximum size of 6″ in length and 4-1/4″ in height. If you buy a touristy postcard, there will be already placeholders for the address field and the text area. Just make sure to not write on the very bottom of the card, and leave the space on the upper right blank for the stamp. I don’t know if you can pay a lump sum of just $1 by credit card, at the US post offices, so I paid with cash that I previously exchanged from euro to dollar.

Prices to send Postcards from the USA, examples by Country

Germany – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
Spain – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
Vatican City – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
United Kingdom (Great Brittan and Northern Ireland) – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
Turkey – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
United Arab Emirates – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
Australia – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
Iceland – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
Russia – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15
South Africa – First-Class Mail® International Postcard $1.15

Prices as of December 2017

How much does it cost to send a postcard internationally

Costs to send Postcard USA Europe USPS International Air Mail are lower than expected!

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european travelblogger Lisa

Lisa is a Blogger for more than a decade now, sharing her adventures exploring the world on JoyDellaVita, as well as excursions into the culinary world, sustainable choices, how to live a healthy active lifestyle but overall how to enjoy a life full of joys.

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How much does international postcard cost?

Stamp Prices for Letters & Postcards Stamps for standard-sized letters and standard-sized postcards up to 1 oz start at $1.40 for all countries.

Can I use Forever Stamps for international postcards?

Customers can use Forever Stamps for international mail, but since all international prices are higher than domestic prices, customers will need to attach additional postage. The value of the Forever Stamp is the domestic First-Class Mail letter price in effect on the day of use.

Can I use 2 Forever Stamps for international postage?

International mail. For mail going outside of the United States, you can use Forever Stamps or a Global Forever Stamp, which currently cost $1.20 each. If your letter is one ounce or below, you will need one Global Forever stamp or three Forever Stamps.

How much is an international stamp 2022?

The new prices, if favorably reviewed, include a two-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 58 cents to 60 cents. ... U.S. Postal Service Announces New Prices for 2022..