USPS mailing prices for printed mail, 2026
Summary: From 4 October 2026 a one-ounce First-Class letter costs $0.82 stamped or $0.78 metered, a postcard $0.65, a one-ounce flat $1.69, and an EDDM Retail flat up to 3.3 ounces $0.260.[2]
Why a print reference needs postage
A printed piece’s size, thickness and weight decide what it costs to mail, and for most direct mail the postage is larger than the printing bill. Replica Printing Services offers addressing, presorting, metering and delivery to the Postal Service, so the prices below are the ones its mail customers meet at retail.[1] The table is an original transcription for this reference from the Postal Service’s Price List, Notice 123, effective 4 October 2026.[2]
Letters
| Weight not over | Stamped | Metered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | $0.82 | $0.78 |
| 2 oz | $1.11 | $1.07 |
| 3 oz | $1.40 | $1.36 |
| 3.5 oz | $1.69 | $1.65 |
A letter that is square, rigid, too thick or otherwise nonmachinable under DMM 101.1.2 pays a further $0.49 surcharge.[2] Metered letters cost four cents less than stamped ones at each step; metering is one of the services on Replica’s direct mail list.[2][1]
Postcards and flats
A single postcard costs $0.65 at retail.[2] Large envelopes, or flats, start at $1.69 for one ounce:
| Weight not over | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 oz | $1.69 |
| 2 oz | $1.98 |
| 3 oz | $2.27 |
| 4 oz | $2.56 |
| 5 oz | $2.85 |
| 6 oz | $3.14 |
| 7 oz | $3.43 |
| 8 oz | $3.72 |
| 9 oz | $4.02 |
| 10 oz | $4.32 |
| 11 oz | $4.62 |
| 12 oz | $4.93 |
| 13 oz | $5.24 |
Flats rise by 29 cents an ounce up to 8 ounces and by 30 or 31 cents an ounce after that. Flats that are rigid, nonrectangular or not uniformly thick pay parcel prices.[2]
Every Door Direct Mail
The EDDM Retail price for USPS Marketing Mail flats weighing up to 3.3 ounces is $0.260 per piece.[2] Retail EDDM needs at least 200 pieces and allows up to 5,000 per ZIP Code per day; bulk EDDM entered at a Business Mail Entry Unit has no volume limit and can cost less.[3] An EDDM piece costs about a sixth of a first-class one-ounce flat at retail, which is why saturation mailings of oversized postcards are common.[2]
Size limits
| Class | Minimum | Maximum | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcard | 3.5 × 5 in | 4.25 × 6 in | 0.007–0.016 in |
| Letter | 3.5 × 5 in | 6.125 × 11.5 in | 0.007–0.25 in |
| Flat (large envelope) | larger than a letter in one dimension | 12 × 15 in | up to 0.75 in |
Limits from the Postal Service mailing standards.[4] A card larger than 4.25 × 6 inches pays the letter price; a letter-shaped piece larger than 6.125 × 11.5 inches or thicker than a quarter inch is mailed as a flat.[4][2]
Worked examples
- 500 postcards mailed individually at retail: 500 × $0.65 = $325.00 in postage.[2]
- 500 one-ounce letters, metered: 500 × $0.78 = $390.00, compared with $410.00 stamped.[2]
- 2,000 EDDM Retail flats up to 3.3 ounces: 2,000 × $0.260 = $520.00, within the 5,000-per-ZIP-per-day limit.[2][3]
These are arithmetic on the published retail prices. Presorted commercial prices are lower and depend on volume, preparation and entry point.
Download and method
The full table is available as a CSV: usps-prices-for-printed-mail-2026.csv. Prices were copied from Notice 123 on 9 November 2026 and checked line by line. Prices change, usually in January and July; check Postal Explorer before relying on them.[2]
Common questions
How much is a stamp for a letter in October 2026?
$0.82 for a one-ounce stamped First-Class letter at retail, effective 4 October 2026.
How much does it cost to mail a postcard?
$0.65 at retail.
What does EDDM cost per piece?
$0.260 for EDDM Retail flats up to 3.3 ounces.
Continue reading
References
- ^ a b Direct mail San Diego. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Price List, Notice 123 (effective 4 October 2026). U.S. Postal Service, Postal Explorer. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Every Door Direct Mail. U.S. Postal Service. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Mailing Standards (DMM 201: physical standards for commercial letters, flats and cards). U.S. Postal Service, Postal Explorer. Retrieved 9 November 2026.