Full-disclosure pricing
PostalForm full-disclosure pricing matrix
PostalForm's one-page U.S. First-Class Mail letter starts at $3.40 in black-and-white or $3.80 in color, including the inserted address page, printing, envelope preparation, and postage. This page is the canonical explanation of PostalForm's browser checkout prices. The quote for your document and addresses determines the payable total.
Published Jan 15, 2026 • Updated Oct 15, 2026
How it works
Prepare the document — Upload a PDF or write a letter in the browser; no account is required for an ordinary one-off checkout.
Review addresses, preview, and options — Check the rendered PDF, sender and recipient, print settings, delivery service, and complete price.
Pay to authorize fulfillment — PostalForm submits the paid order for printing, envelope preparation, postage, and carrier handoff; delivery follows the selected service.
How much does a one-page letter cost?
PostalForm starts at $3.40 for a one-page black-and-white U.S. First-Class Mail letter: $3.00 base plus two printed pages at $0.20 each. Certified Mail adds $8.00; Electronic Return Receipt adds another $3.00. PostalForm shows the document-specific total before payment, including any handling or routing adjustments.
Full-disclosure price matrix
These USD examples use one document page, one added address page, a domestic U.S. sender and recipient, and the First-Class Mail fulfillment route. They exclude optional extras not listed. A two-page printing charge does not mean that the uploaded document has two pages.
| One-page document | Base, including USPS First-Class Mail postage | Printing, including address page | Certified Mail | Electronic Return Receipt | Starting total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-and-white, First-Class Mail | $3.00 | 2 × $0.20 = $0.40 | — | — | $3.40 |
| Color, First-Class Mail | $3.00 | 2 × $0.40 = $0.80 | — | — | $3.80 |
| Black-and-white, Certified | $3.00 | $0.40 | $8.00 | — | $11.40 |
| Color, Certified | $3.00 | $0.80 | $8.00 | — | $11.80 |
| Black-and-white, Certified + electronic receipt | $3.00 | $0.40 | $8.00 | $3.00 | $14.40 |
| Color, Certified + electronic receipt | $3.00 | $0.80 | $8.00 | $3.00 | $14.80 |
The $11.80 Certified example is color without Electronic Return Receipt. The $14.40 example is black-and-white with Electronic Return Receipt. Compare the same print and proof settings before comparing prices. Certified Mail alone does not include a downloadable return-receipt signature record.
Does the address page count as a printed page?
PostalForm adds one billable address page to ordinary First-Class Mail documents. A one-page PDF therefore has two billable printed pages. Double-sided printing can reduce physical sheets, but does not remove printed-page charges. PostalForm's preview and quote show the selected document, print settings, and total before payment.
| Term | Meaning | One-page First-Class Mail example |
|---|---|---|
| Document page | A page in the PDF you upload or generate | 1 |
| Added address page | A page used to display mailing addresses without overwriting your document | 1 |
| Billable printed page | A document or added address page charged at the selected printing rate | 2 |
| Physical sheet | A piece of paper; a sheet can carry one or two printed sides | Depends on the fulfillment layout |
A double-sided order can still use two physical sheets for a one-page document when the route reserves a separate sheet for the address. Other layouts can place the two billable pages on one sheet. The printed-page charge remains the same; physical sheet count matters for larger-packet handling.
The normal First-Class Mail cover-page rule does not apply to every product. Eligible Expedited orders can use an envelope-address layout without an inserted address page. Postcards, handwritten mail, bulk campaigns, and Projects/API products have their own quotes.
What can change the price?
PostalForm calculates the final price from the document, print settings, destination, service, and available fulfillment route. Larger packets can add handling and packaged-mail charges, and some routes apply a minimum fulfillment price. PostalForm's calculator and checkout show those adjustments before you approve payment for a specific order.
| Input | Pricing rule | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Black-and-white printing | $0.20 per billable printed page | PDF preview and calculator |
| Color printing | $0.40 per billable printed page, including the address page | Print options and calculator |
| Double-sided printing | Printed-page charges remain; fewer physical sheets can reduce handling charges | Calculator with the same PDF page count |
| Larger packets | Physical sheets and service determine handling and packaged-mail charges | Exact calculator or checkout quote |
| Certified Mail | $8.00 add-on on qualifying U.S. First-Class Mail routes | Selected service and validation result |
| Electronic Return Receipt | $3.00 add-on when Certified Mail is selected | Proof options and order summary |
| Expedited, Rush Express, and signature | Separately calculated for the available product and destination | Delivery options and checkout |
| International or alternate fulfillment | Country, availability, and minimum fulfillment price can change the total | Exact address-specific quote |
For example, an alternate domestic fulfillment route can apply a price floor to a Certified + Electronic Return Receipt order. Its total may exceed the base-plus-add-ons example above. The matrix describes the First-Class Mail starting price; the calculator and validation endpoint resolve the actual route.
More document-page examples
These examples use black-and-white, double-sided USPS First-Class Mail within the United States, with no proof add-ons.
| Document pages | Billable printed pages | Starting total | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $3.40 | Base + document page + address page |
| 10 | 11 | $5.20 | Base + eleven printed pages |
| 50 | 51 | $18.70 | Base + fifty-one printed pages + applicable handling |
Use the pricing calculator for other page counts and single-sided layouts. For long Certified packets, use the quote to check eligibility: an ordinary-letter page limit does not establish the Certified Mail limit for that route.
Delivery speed and proof matrix
| Service | Delivery timing | Proof available | Use when | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail | Production plus First-Class Mail transit; estimate shown before payment | Available processing updates; no signature receipt | Routine letters and forms | A required mailing method calls for Certified or signature proof |
| Certified Mail | First-Class Mail timing; delivery attempts and pickup can add time | USPS mailing and delivery or attempted-delivery tracking | A notice or recipient requires Certified Mail | You need faster transit or a return-receipt signature record included |
| Certified + Electronic Return Receipt | Same service as Certified; receipt becomes available after qualifying delivery | Certified tracking plus electronic signature record | You need a downloadable return receipt | The recipient requires a different proof format or service method |
| Expedited or Rush Express with signature | Faster carrier service where offered; production and carrier timing remain separate | Carrier tracking and the selected signature service | Faster transit and a signature matter | Your instructions specifically require Certified Mail |
See delivery times for current timing and service boundaries. Choosing a faster carrier service does not make production instantaneous, and Certified Mail does not guarantee delivery by a particular date.
USPS postage-only baseline
The following retail fees were checked against USPS Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026. They apply to an eligible domestic one-ounce letter prepared and mailed by the sender.
| DIY USPS option | Exact retail fee arithmetic | Postage and extra-service total |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Forever stamp | $0.82 | $0.82 |
| Stamped letter + Certified Mail | $0.82 postage + $5.55 Certified Mail | $6.37 |
| Stamped letter + Certified Mail + electronic return receipt | $0.82 postage + $5.55 Certified Mail + $2.91 electronic return receipt | $9.28 |
These USPS amounts exclude your printing, envelope, preparation, and any travel. PostalForm prices include printing and fulfillment. No travel cost or value of your time is assumed. USPS metered postage, heavier mailpieces, nonmachinable mail, and other services use different rates.
Pricing for agents and developers
Use the same canonical matrix in Markdown for price explanations. Use POST /api/machine/orders/validate with the real document and addresses for a current quote without payment or mailing. The pricing calculator documentation includes a validation example, and developer documentation describes the request contract.
A local arithmetic example is an estimate. It must not be used as payment authorization or substituted for a quote after the document, addresses, service, or proof options change.
Sources
PostalForm U.S. First-Class mailing for one black-and-white document page plus the address page starts at $3.40. Certified Mail adds $8.00; Electronic Return Receipt adds $3.00 to Certified Mail. Your document, print choices, destination, and delivery options determine the checkout total. See the full pricing matrix.
Which mailing option and proof should you choose?
PostalForm offers U.S. letter mailing with different delivery and proof options. First-Class suits routine correspondence; Certified Mail adds mailing and delivery records, and Electronic Return Receipt adds a downloadable signature record. Expedited delivery prioritizes speed. Review the destination, estimated dates, total price, and required proof before paying.
| Mailing option | Delivery speed | Proof | Use when | Avoid when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First-Class Mail | First-Class Mail delivery estimate shown before payment. | Available processing scans; no recipient signature or Certified Mail receipt. | Routine letters when a signed delivery record is unnecessary. | Your instructions require Certified Mail, a signature, or a deadline this estimate cannot meet. |
| Certified Mail | First-Class delivery speed; certification does not make delivery faster. | USPS mailing and delivery/attempt tracking; no Electronic Return Receipt unless added. | You need a recorded mailing and delivery or attempted-delivery status. | You need a downloadable signature record or faster delivery. |
| Certified Mail + Electronic Return Receipt | First-Class delivery speed; signature collection may require redelivery or pickup. | Certified Mail records plus a downloadable USPS signature record when available. | Your instructions call for Certified Mail with Return Receipt or you need the signature record. | Your recipient requires an original enclosure, personal service, or another submission method. |
| Expedited / Express with signature | Faster estimated delivery range shown at checkout; production cutoff and destination apply. | Carrier tracking and signature option; this is separate from Certified Mail and ERR. | Speed and signature matter and checkout offers the service for your destination. | A rule specifically requires Certified Mail or the displayed estimate misses your deadline. |
Availability and delivery estimates depend on the document and destination. Mailing proof does not establish that a recipient accepted a filing or that legal service requirements were met. Delivery estimates · Full pricing
FAQs
- Does the price include postage?
- Yes. The U.S. First-Class Mail examples include printing, address-page handling, envelope preparation, postage, and fulfillment. Selected delivery and proof options are shown separately.
- Is Certified Mail the same as Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt?
- No. The electronic receipt is a separate selected add-on. For one black-and-white document page, the starting totals are $11.40 and $14.40, respectively.
- Does double-sided printing halve the printing charge?
- No. The charge is per billable printed page, while duplex printing can reduce physical sheets and larger-packet handling charges.
- Is an account or subscription required for one letter?
- No. An ordinary one-off browser letter can be prepared, previewed, and paid for without an account or subscription.
- When is the total final?
- Review the quote for the actual document, addresses, and selected options immediately before payment. Changing those inputs can change the price or service eligibility.
Ready to send it?
Preview your document and complete price before paying.