Guide
How much does it cost to mail a letter?
As of July 12, 2026, a standard 1-ounce domestic First-Class Mail letter costs $0.82 — the price of one USPS Forever stamp. That figure is postage only: it assumes you already have the printed letter, the addressed envelope, and the stamp. (Final USPS Notice 123)
Published May 31, 2026 • Updated Jul 14, 2026
Postage and print-and-mail cost calculator
Estimate current USPS retail postage, then compare the cash and time cost of mailing it yourself with PostalForm handling the complete job.
No measured weight? We estimate from 20 lb paper and a typical empty envelope. Use a postal scale or USPS counter when thickness, inserts, or envelope construction vary.
Cost comparison
DIY cash and time versus PostalForm's complete print-and-mail service.
Cash cost includes $0.82 USPS postage and selected services, plus your printing and envelope assumptions.
Estimated weight: 0.36 oz · billed at the 1 oz USPS bracket
- Printing, envelope, postage, and carrier handoff included
- Exact price confirmed before you pay - nothing mails until you approve
Mail this now
Upload the letter as a PDF, preview every page, and see the exact price before you pay.
Quick answer
Mailing a standard 1-ounce domestic letter yourself costs $0.82 in USPS postage as of July 12, 2026. Each additional ounce adds $0.29 up to 3.5 ounces, a nonmachinable letter adds $0.49, and an envelope too large, thick, rigid, or lumpy pays flat or package rates instead. PostalForm starts higher because its price covers printing, envelope preparation, postage, and carrier handoff, not postage alone.
| Mailing scenario | Starting cost as of July 12, 2026 | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| USPS 1 oz stamped letter | $0.82 | Postage only for a standard domestic rectangular letter. |
| USPS 2 oz standard letter | $1.11 | 1 oz letter postage plus one additional-ounce charge. |
| USPS 3 oz standard letter | $1.40 | 1 oz letter postage plus two additional-ounce charges. |
| USPS 3.5 oz standard letter | $1.69 | 1 oz letter postage plus three additional-ounce charges. |
| USPS square, rigid, lumpy, or clasped letter | $1.27+ | 1 oz postage plus the nonmachinable surcharge. |
| USPS large envelope or flat | $1.69+ | Flat postage for a larger flexible envelope. |
| PostalForm one-page online letter | $3.40+ | Printing, address-page handling, envelope prep, postage, and handoff. |
Estimate the full online mailing price
The postage tables on this page price the do-it-yourself path, where you prepare and stamp the envelope. The calculator prices the other case: the letter is still a digital file, and you want the full print-and-mail total before checkout.
| What you know now | Best next step |
|---|---|
| Page count only | Use the calculator on this page to estimate the online mailing total. |
| Finished PDF ready to mail | Use the PDF selector in the calculator to continue with the actual file. |
| Need Certified Mail proof | Compare postage plus proof options on Certified Mail online. |
| Still deciding DIY vs online mailing | Use the tables below to separate stamp-only cost from full-service cost. |
Fast answers for common postage questions
| Question | Short answer | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| How many pages can I mail with one stamp? | About four regular 8.5 x 11 inch sheets in a standard envelope is the USPS rule of thumb for a 1-ounce letter. | How many pages can you mail with one stamp? |
| How much is a 2-ounce letter? | $1.11 as of July 12, 2026. | Use the USPS letter cost table below. |
| How much is a 3-ounce letter? | $1.40 as of July 12, 2026. | Use the USPS letter cost table below. |
| Does one stamp include tracking? | No. Ordinary First-Class letter postage does not include tracking. | Certified Mail cost breakdown |
| Why does online mailing cost more than a stamp? | Online print-and-mail includes printing, envelope prep, postage, and handoff, not just postage. | PostalForm online mailing data |
USPS letter cost table
This table covers ordinary domestic First-Class Mail letters inside the United States. As a rule of thumb, USPS counts a 1-ounce letter as roughly four regular sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch paper in a standard rectangular envelope. (USPS How to Send a Letter or Postcard)
| Letter type | USPS postage-only cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rectangular letter, 1 oz | $0.82 | One current Forever stamp. |
| Standard rectangular letter, 1.5 oz | $1.11 | Letter postage rounds up to the next ounce, so 1.5 oz pays the 2 oz rate. |
| Standard rectangular letter, 2 oz | $1.11 | $0.82 plus $0.29 additional ounce. |
| Standard rectangular letter, 3 oz | $1.40 | $0.82 plus $0.58 additional ounces. |
| Standard rectangular letter, 3.5 oz | $1.69 | $0.82 plus $0.87 additional ounces. |
| Nonmachinable letter | Add $0.49 | Applies to square, rigid, lumpy, vertical, clasped, string-tied, or button-closed letters. |
| Large envelope or flat, 1 oz | Starts at $1.69 | Use when the mailing cannot fit or fold into a standard letter envelope. |
The official price list is USPS Notice 123; the edition current when this guide was checked took effect July 12, 2026. (USPS Notice 123)
What changes the cost of mailing a letter?
The price moves the moment your mailing stops being a plain 1-ounce rectangular envelope.
| Cost driver | Why it changes the price | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Each additional ounce for letters up to 3.5 ounces adds postage. | Weigh the sealed envelope, not just the pages. |
| Shape | Square, vertical, rigid, lumpy, or clasped envelopes can be nonmachinable. | If the envelope is not a normal flat rectangle, assume it may cost more. |
| Size | Large envelopes and flats start at a higher price than letters. | If you do not fold the pages, check flat pricing. |
| Extra services | Certified Mail, Return Receipt, insurance, or signature services cost extra. | Use these when proof matters; do not assume a stamp creates tracking. |
| Online print-and-mailing | PostalForm includes the labor and fulfillment steps that a stamp does not cover. | Use this when you do not want to print, address, stamp, and drop off the letter. |
USPS postage versus PostalForm cost
The USPS figure answers one question: what does postage cost if I prepare the letter myself?
PostalForm answers a different one: what does it cost to have this digital letter printed and mailed for me?
| Task | USPS yourself | PostalForm |
|---|---|---|
| Print the letter | You | Included |
| Prepare the envelope | You | Included |
| Apply postage | You | Included |
| Drop off or hand to USPS | You | Included through provider handoff |
| Review price before sending | You calculate weight, shape, and services | Calculator and checkout show the estimate/quote |
| Add proof options when eligible | USPS counter or eligible service path | Available at checkout for qualifying mail |
If you already have the printed letter, an envelope, a stamp, and time for the drop-off, mail it yourself — the stamp is the cheaper path. PostalForm is for when the document exists only as a file and you want the physical mailing handled online.
What PostalForm letters actually cost
These figures come from 317 paid PostalForm orders placed from January 10 through June 17, 2026. The aggregate excludes names, addresses, filenames, unpaid orders, zero-price orders, and suspicious orders. The full breakdown is published in PostalForm online mailing data: 2026 Q2 order patterns.
| PostalForm order data | Result |
|---|---|
| Median paid order total | $3.80 |
| 90th-percentile paid order total | $19.07 |
| Median document length | 2 pages |
| 90th-percentile document length | 10 pages |
| Orders 1-5 pages | 83.6% |
| Orders with Certified Mail | 15.8% |
| Orders with color printing | 20.5% |
| Orders with double-sided printing | 64.7% |
That is why the stamp price and the online print-and-mail price are different numbers: they price different jobs. A stamp covers postage, period. A PostalForm checkout total covers everything the job needs — page count, printing, envelope prep, standard postage, proof options, and service choices.
When stamp math underestimates the job
Stamp math works when the letter is already printed, folded, addressed, and ready to drop in the mail. The moment any of these pieces is missing, the stamp price stops describing the real job.
| Missing piece | What the stamp does not cover | Cost question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Printer access | Paper, ink, printer reliability, and reprints | Do you already have a working printer and supplies? |
| Envelope prep | Envelope, folding, addressing, and return address | Is the envelope complete and readable? |
| Page count | Extra ounces, page charges, or large-packet handling | How many printed pages will actually go in the envelope? |
| Proof | Certified Mail, Return Receipt, or signature evidence | Do you need a record beyond ordinary postage? |
| Deadline | Time to print, prepare, drop off, and wait for carrier transit | Is the deadline postmarked-by or received-by? |
| Address accuracy | ZIP, unit, department, PO Box, or agency routing details | Can the recipient process the letter from the address and reference line? |
How much does Certified Mail add?
Certified Mail is not included in the price of a stamp — it is an extra service, priced on top of postage, for eligible USPS mail. For current Certified Mail, Return Receipt, and online-mailing totals, see Certified Mail cost breakdown. If you want the whole job handled from your browser, you can send Certified Mail online without printing or a Post Office trip.
For a quick PostalForm estimate, use the calculator on this page, select First Class, then turn on Certified Mail and electronic return receipt if you need signature evidence.
July 2026 USPS price change
The 1-ounce First-Class Mail Forever stamp increased from $0.78 to $0.82 on July 12, 2026. The additional-ounce price remained $0.29. This calculator and the standard-letter examples above use the July 12 rates; confirm Notice 123 for unusual shapes, flats, and extra services. (USPS July 2026 price announcement)
Sources
FAQs
- How much does it cost to mail a letter in 2026?
- As of July 12, 2026, USPS lists a 1-ounce domestic First-Class Mail Forever stamp at $0.82. That price covers a standard rectangular letter weighing 1 ounce or less.
- How much does it cost to mail a 1.5-ounce letter?
- USPS letter postage rounds up to the next full ounce, so a 1.5-ounce letter pays the 2-ounce rate: $1.11 as of July 12, 2026.
- How much does it cost to mail a 2-ounce letter?
- A standard domestic 2-ounce letter costs $1.11 in USPS postage as of July 12, 2026: $0.82 for the first ounce plus $0.29 for the additional ounce.
- How much does it cost to mail a 3-ounce letter?
- A standard domestic 3-ounce letter costs $1.40 in USPS postage as of July 12, 2026.
- How much does it cost to mail a large envelope?
- USPS First-Class large envelopes, also called flats, start at $1.69 for 1 ounce as of July 12, 2026.
- Why does PostalForm cost more than a stamp?
- A stamp pays for postage on a letter you prepare yourself — you supply the printing, the envelope, and the trip to the mailbox. PostalForm's price covers printing, envelope preparation, postage, fulfillment routing, and the mailing options you select.
- Does one stamp include tracking?
- No. Ordinary First-Class letter postage does not include tracking. Add Certified Mail or another eligible USPS extra service when you need proof.
- Did the USPS stamp price change in July 2026?
- Yes. The 1-ounce Forever stamp price became $0.82 on July 12, 2026.
- Where can I estimate the full online mailing cost?
- Use the calculator on this page when you want printing, envelope prep, postage, and optional proof services included in one estimate.
Ready to send it?
The calculator shows the full online mailing total — printing, envelope prep, postage, and proof options — before you upload anything.