How much does it cost to mail a postcard in 2026?
A qualifying domestic retail postcard costs $0.65. USPS postcard standards are narrower than letter standards, so an oversized postcard pays the applicable letter price instead.
Use this as a current retail reference, not a mailing quote.
USPS classifies the piece that is actually mailed. A piece called a “postcard” in a design file can be charged as a letter, flat, or parcel if it does not meet the applicable USPS standards.
USPS price period
October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027
Registry verification
October 5, 2026
Next required review
Before January 18, 2027
Primary source
Selected retail reference
What are the current USPS postage rates in 2026?
These selected domestic, single-piece retail prices are not a complete USPS price list and do not represent commercial, presort, nonprofit, parcel, destination-zone, or campaign pricing.
| Mailpiece | Current postage | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail letter, stamped | $0.82 | A qualifying domestic letter weighing 1 ounce or less. |
| First-Class Mail letter, metered or indicia | $0.78 | A qualifying domestic letter weighing 1 ounce or less at the applicable metered or indicia price. |
| Additional ounce for a qualifying retail letter or flat | $0.29 | Each additional ounce or fraction, under the applicable USPS product standard. |
| First-Class Mail postcard | $0.65 | A qualifying domestic retail postcard. |
| First-Class Mail large envelope (flat), first ounce | $1.69 | A qualifying domestic flat or large envelope weighing 1 ounce or less. |
| EDDM Retail | $0.260 per piece | A qualifying EDDM Retail flat up to 3.3 ounces that meets USPS route, quantity, content, simplified-address, and entry requirements. |
Check the complete USPS Notice 123 price list before buying postage or releasing a mailing.
How much is a USPS stamp in 2026?
A qualifying domestic First-Class Mail letter weighing 1 ounce or less costs $0.82 with a stamp during the current USPS rate period. If the letter weighs more than 1 ounce, USPS adds the applicable additional-ounce amount. A square, rigid, lumpy, or clasp-envelope piece can require a nonmachinable surcharge.
Quick answer
$0.82
Qualifying domestic stamped First-Class Mail letter, 1 ounce or less.
What are current First-Class Mail letter rates in 2026?
For qualifying single-piece retail letters, USPS lists these current totals. Letters over 3.5 ounces are priced as large envelopes (flats), not letters.
| Letter weight | Stamped price | Metered/indicia price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ounce or less | $0.82 | $0.78 |
| Over 1 ounce through 2 ounces | $1.11 | $1.07 |
| Over 2 ounces through 3 ounces | $1.40 | $1.36 |
| Over 3 ounces through 3.5 ounces | $1.69 | $1.65 |
Does a 6×9 or 6×11 postcard use the USPS postcard price?
No. Neither size qualifies for the USPS retail postcard price. Each may use the applicable letter price only if it meets USPS letter-size, thickness, weight, and machinability requirements; otherwise, USPS can classify it differently.
See common direct-mail postcard sizes →When is a mailpiece a letter, flat, or parcel?
USPS bases postage on the mailpiece’s actual physical characteristics—not only its marketing name.
- A letter must meet USPS letter-size standards. A qualifying 1-ounce retail letter is $0.82 with a stamp or $0.78 at the applicable metered or indicia price.
- A postcard must meet narrower retail card standards to use the $0.65 price. A larger card can be charged as a letter.
- A large envelope (flat) starts at $1.69 for the first ounce when it meets the applicable flat standards.
- A rigid, nonrectangular, unevenly thick, or otherwise nonqualifying piece can be priced as a parcel.
What does EDDM Retail cost in 2026?
The USPS EDDM Retail base price is $0.260 per qualifying piece for an eligible flat up to 3.3 ounces. That is a postage benchmark only—not the complete cost of a direct-mail campaign.
EDDM is route-based delivery. USPS eligibility depends on the piece, quantity, content, simplified addressing, selected routes, and entry requirements.
Explore EDDM services and route-based delivery →Why commercial, presort, and nonprofit rates need a project-specific quote
Commercial and presort postage is not a single public rate. The applicable USPS price can depend on the mail class, mailpiece, weight, automation compatibility, sort level, entry point, quantity, Full-Service eligibility, and other mailing conditions.
A qualified promotional Marketing Mail campaign can be cost-effective, but it does not apply to standalone invoices, statements, bills, municipal tax bills, or utility bills. Those documents use First-Class Mail.
Learn how presort mail works →Get the right USPS price for your mailing
Send Mail Movers your mailpiece format, finished size, thickness, weight, quantity, intended mail date, and whether you are using your own list, a prospect list, or selected EDDM routes. We can help identify the applicable postage class and production details needed for a mailing-specific quote.
Frequently asked questions
What are the current USPS postage rates for 2026?
Current selected domestic retail USPS prices include $0.82 for a qualifying 1-ounce stamped First-Class Mail letter, $0.78 for a qualifying 1-ounce metered or indicia letter, $0.65 for a qualifying retail postcard, and $1.69 for a qualifying 1-ounce large envelope or flat. Conditions apply to every category.
How much is a USPS stamp in 2026?
A qualifying domestic First-Class Mail letter weighing 1 ounce or less costs $0.82 with a stamp during the current USPS rate period, effective October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027.
How much does it cost to mail a 6×9 or 6×11 postcard?
Neither a 6×9 nor a 6×11 postcard qualifies for the USPS retail postcard price. Each may use the applicable letter price only if it meets USPS letter-size, thickness, weight, and machinability requirements; otherwise, USPS can classify it differently.
How much is an additional ounce of postage?
For qualifying retail letters and flats, the current additional-ounce amount is $0.29 under the applicable USPS product standard. USPS charges by ounce or fraction of an ounce, and the total also depends on the mailpiece category.
Does a postage meter cost less than a stamp?
For a qualifying 1-ounce domestic First-Class Mail letter, the current metered or indicia price is $0.78, compared with $0.82 for a stamped retail letter. The applicable price still depends on the mailpiece and USPS requirements.
What does EDDM Retail cost in 2026?
The USPS EDDM Retail base price is $0.260 per qualifying piece for an eligible flat up to 3.3 ounces. Route selection, piece requirements, quantity, content, simplified addressing, and entry requirements still apply.
Can invoices and bills use Marketing Mail rates?
No. Standalone invoices, statements, bills, municipal tax bills, and utility bills use First-Class Mail and are not eligible for Marketing Mail.
Are these the complete USPS rates for every mailing?
No. This is a selected retail reference. Commercial, presort, nonprofit, EDDM, parcel, destination-zone, and optional-service prices have their own requirements and price tables. Check USPS Notice 123 and request a mailing-specific review for a quote; rates should be rechecked for mailings dated on or after January 18, 2027.
Source and maintenance note
Rate rows, source links, and the freshness details on this page must be reviewed whenever USPS changes its price list. This guide uses the maintained USPS rate registry and these primary USPS references: