How much does it cost to mail a postcard? One stamp vs. bulk mail
Mailing one postcard costs 65¢ in 2026. Mailing a thousand of them costs a lot less per card, if you mail them the way businesses do. Here is what every kind of postcard costs to mail, and how to pay less.
The short answer
A postcard stamp costs 65¢ and covers a rectangular card up to 4.25 × 6 inches. A bigger card needs a 82¢ Forever stamp. When you mail 200 or more cards at once, bulk postage starts at about 39.5¢ a card, and Every Door Direct Mail® is about 26¢.
Postcard postage in 2026
| How you mail it | Card size | Postage per card |
|---|---|---|
| Postcard stamp | Up to 4.25 × 6 in | $0.65 |
| Forever (letter) stamp | Bigger than 4.25 × 6, up to 6.125 × 11.5 in | $0.82 |
| Square or odd-shaped card | Any size | From $1.31 |
| To another country | Up to 4.25 × 6 in | $1.75 |
| First-Class Mail, presorted in bulk | Up to 6 × 9 in | From 45.3¢ |
| USPS Marketing Mail, in bulk | Up to 6.125 × 11.5 in | From 39.5¢ |
| Every Door Direct Mail® | 6.25 × 9 in and larger | About 26¢ |
USPS prices since July 12, 2026, from the USPS First-Class Mail price page and Notice 123. Bulk prices are the lowest rates, for mail sorted to the 5-digit ZIP Code with a barcode; mail that can't be sorted that far costs a few cents more.
Mailing a few postcards
For a handful of cards, stamps are the simplest way. Buy postcard stamps at the Post Office or the USPS online store, and check the size first: the 65¢ price only covers cards from 3.5 × 5 up to 4.25 × 6 inches, between 0.007 and 0.016 inch thick. Our postcard sizes guide shows which sizes count as postcards, letters and flats.
Three things add to the cost:
- A card bigger than 4.25 × 6. It needs a 82¢ Forever stamp instead.
- A square card. It can't go through the sorting machines, so it pays a surcharge and starts at $1.31.
- Mailing abroad. International postcards take a $1.75 Global Forever stamp.
Mailing hundreds or thousands of postcards
Businesses don't put stamps on marketing postcards. They mail in bulk, where USPS gives lower prices in return for mail that is already sorted, barcoded and bundled by ZIP Code. There are three ways to do it.
USPS Marketing Mail
The usual choice for marketing postcards sent to a mailing list. It needs at least 200 pieces, and postage starts at about 39.5¢ a card. Marketing Mail has no separate postcard price, so any card up to 6.125 × 11.5 inches pays the same letter price. That's why we recommend a 6 × 11 card for addressed mail: it's the biggest size at the lowest bulk price. Delivery usually takes 2 to 6 days.
First-Class Mail, presorted
Faster delivery, for time-sensitive notices and reminders. It needs at least 500 pieces, and postage starts at about 45.3¢ a card for cards up to 6 × 9 inches. For most marketing, Marketing Mail gives the same result for less.
Every Door Direct Mail®
The lowest postage of all, about 26¢ a card, and no mailing list to buy. The Post Office delivers to every home on the carrier routes you choose, usually the day after drop-off. The card must be a flat, 6.25 × 9 inches or larger. See how much EDDM® costs with printing.
Bulk mail needs a USPS mailing permit, sorting software and paperwork for each mailing. A mailing service like ours already has all three, so you pay the bulk price without setting any of it up.
Postage is only part of the cost
A marketing postcard mailing has up to four parts:
- Printing. The cost per card drops as the quantity goes up.
- Postage. The prices above.
- Mail preparation. Addressing, sorting, bundling and delivering to the Post Office.
- A mailing list, if you send to addresses you don't already have. You can buy a targeted mailing list on our site.
With EDDM®, a full mailing with printing, postage and preparation costs 40¢ to 72¢ a home, depending on the size and quantity. Our direct mail postcards service handles all four parts in one price, and EDDM® vs addressed direct mail compares the two by cost per likely customer.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a postcard stamp in 2026?
65¢. USPS raised the postcard stamp from 61¢ to 65¢ on July 12, 2026. It covers one rectangular postcard up to 4.25 × 6 inches mailed anywhere in the United States.
Can I use a Forever stamp on a postcard?
Yes. A Forever stamp (82¢) works on any postcard, but on a card up to 4.25 × 6 inches you pay 17¢ more than you need to. On a bigger card, such as 5 × 7 or 6 × 9, a Forever stamp is the correct postage.
How much does it cost to mail a 5 × 7 or 6 × 9 postcard?
82¢ with a stamp, because USPS treats any card bigger than 4.25 × 6 inches as a letter. Square cards start at $1.31.
How much does it cost to mail a postcard internationally?
$1.75 with a Global Forever stamp, to any country, since July 12, 2026.
What is the cheapest way to mail a lot of postcards?
For 200 or more cards, bulk mail. USPS Marketing Mail starts at about 39.5¢ a card, and Every Door Direct Mail® postage is about 26¢ a card with no mailing list needed. A mailing service handles the sorting, permits and paperwork.