Send or mail a letter online

Yes. With PostalForm, sending a letter online means creating or uploading the document in a browser, reviewing the printable PDF, entering the mailing addresses, seeing the price, and paying only after review. PostalForm then turns the digital letter into physical postal mail.

• Upload a PDF letter, write the letter in PostalForm, or start with DOCX/HTML/Markdown/RTF and preview the generated PDF.
• Add a typed or drawn signature to supported letter flows before mailing.
• PostalForm handles printing, envelope prep, postage, and carrier handoff.
• Choose the available mailing options for the destination. For qualifying U.S. mail, First Class, Express, signature-required Express, and Certified Mail options may be available.
• Combine multi-page packets into one PDF and mail early if you have a deadline.

To mail a letter yourself, write or print the letter, place it in a rectangular paper envelope, write your return address in the top left, write the recipient address in the center, add enough postage in the upper right, and send it from your mailbox, a blue collection box, or a Post Office. USPS says one current $0.78 Forever stamp covers a standard 1-ounce domestic letter, which is about four regular 8.5 x 11 inch sheets in a standard envelope.

Use the Post Office counter when you need the clerk to weigh the letter, sell the correct postage, add Certified Mail or Return Receipt, or hand-cancel the mailpiece for a same-day postmark. Use PostalForm when the problem is earlier in the workflow: you need the letter printed, enveloped, stamped, and mailed from a browser.

To send a letter the traditional way, print or write the letter, put it in a paper envelope, write the recipient address in the center, put your return address in the upper left, add enough postage in the upper right, and drop it in a mailbox, blue collection box, or Post Office. USPS currently lists a 1-ounce First-Class Mail Forever stamp at $0.78, which covers about four regular sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch paper in a standard rectangular envelope.

To send a letter online, upload or write the letter in PostalForm, confirm the sender and recipient addresses, review the printable PDF and price, then pay. PostalForm handles the printing, envelope prep, postage, and carrier handoff.

Bring the completed letter in an addressed envelope. A USPS retail associate can weigh it, sell the right postage, and add available extra services such as Certified Mail or Return Receipt. If the date of mailing matters, USPS says you can ask a Post Office retail associate to hand-cancel the mailpiece so it receives a postmark on that day.

This route is best when you already have the paper letter. If the letter is still on your phone or computer, PostalForm skips the printing and envelope-prep step: upload or write it online, review the PDF and price, then send it for printing and carrier handoff.

Use this format whether you mail the letter yourself or upload it to PostalForm as a PDF:

[Date]

[Recipient Name or Department]
[Company, Agency, or Organization]
[Street Address or PO Box]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: [Account, case, claim, invoice, or subject]

Dear [Recipient Name or Department],

[Write the request, notice, explanation, or document list.]

Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed Name]
[Phone or Email, if appropriate]

For the envelope, USPS says the return address goes in the top left and the delivery address goes in the center. Print addresses clearly, use the ZIP Code or ZIP+4 when available, and include apartment, suite, unit, PO Box, or department details exactly as the recipient gave them.

If you are sending a letter to a PO Box online, put the PO Box address in the recipient fields exactly as written in the instructions. PostalForm prints that address on the envelope and includes your return address so undeliverable mail can come back.

For ordinary letters, USPS.com is mostly for buying stamps, reading letter-mailing rules, and creating shipping labels for eligible package services through Click-N-Ship. USPS Click-N-Ship is useful for USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express shipping labels, but it is not the same as uploading a letter PDF and having USPS print the pages, prepare an envelope, and mail the letter.

If you need online postage for a package, use USPS Click-N-Ship or Label Broker. If you need "print this letter and mail it for me," use PostalForm or another print-and-mail service.

If the letter is already written, the fastest path is to export it as one PDF and upload it here. PostalForm carries that file into the order flow, then asks for the recipient, sender, print options, and delivery choices. You can review the price before paying.

People search for this as send a letter online, mail a letter online, or mail a PDF online. The job is the same when the file is finished: upload the document, confirm the mailing details, and let PostalForm handle printing, envelope prep, postage, and carrier handoff.

For document-first jobs, see Mail a PDF online. For print-option comparisons, see Print and mail a PDF.

If your letter is already in Word, Google Docs, Pages, or another editor, export it as a PDF before mailing. A PDF preserves page breaks, signatures, letterhead, and attachment order better than copying text into a new document.

1. Save or export the letter as one PDF.
2. Combine attachments after the letter if they should travel in the same envelope.
3. Upload the PDF to PostalForm and check every page in the preview.
4. Enter the sender and recipient addresses exactly as the recipient or instructions provide them.
5. Choose available mailing options and review the final price before checkout.

Use the PDF path for signed notices, dispute letters, invoice packets, forms, and letters with exhibits. If the recipient only accepts email or portal upload, use that official digital channel instead of physical mail.

For searches like "how to write a request mail" or "mailing letter template," keep the letter short and specific:

1. State what you are requesting in the first paragraph.
2. Include the account, claim, invoice, application, or case number if there is one.
3. List enclosed documents or attachments.
4. Give the recipient a way to contact you.
5. Sign the letter if the recipient requires signed written notice.

If the letter will include documents, combine the request letter and attachments into one PDF before uploading. PostalForm prints the packet in the order you provide.

PostalForm's letter flow is built around the checks that usually determine whether mailing online is a good fit: the PDF preview, sender and recipient addresses, print settings, delivery speed, proof option, and total price. Those checks happen before checkout so you can catch a wrong attachment, missing apartment number, or service mismatch before anything is printed.

Use standard delivery when ordinary timing is enough, expedited delivery when timing matters, and Certified Mail for qualifying U.S. First Class mail when the record of mailing and delivery is the point of the letter.

Compare online print-and-mail services

In a world of email and portals, physical mail exists for situations where digital won't work:

Legal notices — Courts, agencies, and contracts often require mailed notice. "I emailed them" doesn't satisfy a requirement that says "written notice by mail."

Proof of delivery — When you need to prove you sent something, Certified Mail creates a paper trail with signatures. Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt

Recipient requirements — Some people and institutions only accept physical mail. Insurance companies, government agencies, older landlords, certain courts.

Deadlines — When instructions say "must be postmarked by [date]," USPS postmark timing matters for U.S. mail.

If the recipient accepts email or portal uploads, use those. If they require physical mail, keep reading.

• A PDF of your letter — Export from Word, Google Docs, or scan a signed document. Up to 100 MB and 199 pages.
• Recipient's mailing address — Use exactly what's on any notice or instructions you received.
• Return address — So undeliverable mail comes back to you.

That's it. No printer, envelopes, stamps, or trip to the post office.

If you mail the letter yourself, postage depends on weight, size, shape, and any extra services. On May 31, 2026, USPS lists these common starting points:

If you are unsure whether one stamp is enough, check the current USPS price list, use the USPS counter or kiosk, or use the print and mail cost calculator when you want PostalForm to handle the full mailing.

1. Upload your PDF — From phone or computer. We show you a preview.
2. Enter addresses — Autocomplete helps, and we validate before printing.
3. Choose delivery options — Available service levels vary by destination, with First Class, Express, signature-required Express, and Certified Mail available for qualifying U.S. mail.
4. Checkout — We print, stuff the envelope, add postage, and hand it to the appropriate carrier.

Standard mail
The standard option for most letters. For qualifying U.S. mail, this is USPS First Class Mail and is typically 3–7 business days after acceptance.

Expedited mail
When timing matters. Faster transit costs more and depends on the selected destination. For qualifying U.S. mail, Priority Mail Express is typically 1–3 business days after acceptance and can require a signature at delivery.

Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt
Available with First Class only. Adds USPS tracking and requires a signature on delivery. You get a digital record showing who signed and when. Learn more about Certified Mail

Production and mailing — Production and carrier handoff usually takes 1-3 business days.

Carrier transit time — U.S. First Class is typically 3–7 business days and U.S. Express is typically 1–3 business days after USPS acceptance. Other supported destinations show available options at checkout. These are estimates; actual delivery depends on distance, destination, carrier routing, and carrier workload.

Express timing — If you submit before 10 AM Eastern, qualifying U.S. Express mail can sometimes be printed and handed to USPS the same business day. Later Express orders usually reach USPS by the next business day.

After carrier acceptance — Once the carrier accepts the letter, the carrier handles transit and delivery. Carrier delays after acceptance are outside PostalForm's control.

Postmark or carrier acceptance date — For USPS mail, the postmark is when USPS accepts the letter, not when you check out. If you have a deadline, mail early.

Detailed delivery times

When instructions say "must be received by" or "must be postmarked by" a certain date:

1. Postmarked by — For USPS mail, mail early enough that USPS postmarks it before the deadline. Production and carrier handoff usually takes 1-3 business days. If timing is tight, qualifying U.S. Express mail submitted before 10 AM Eastern can sometimes reach USPS the same business day.
2. Received by — Count backwards from the deadline. If it's 7 days away and you're using First Class, you're cutting it close.

When in doubt, use Express and mail several days early.

If you're sending a letter with attachments (forms, supporting documents, proof), combine everything into one PDF before uploading. We print pages in order.

Suggested order for packets:

1. Cover letter or cover note (optional but helpful)
2. Main document or form
3. Attachments and supporting pages

Cover note template:

Date: January 19, 2026
To: [Recipient / Department]
Re: [Subject / Account / Claim Number]

Enclosed:
- [Document 1]
- [Document 2]

Contact: [Your name, phone, email]

A cover note tells the recipient what they're looking at and how to reach you if there's a problem.

Add Certified Mail when:

• The recipient requires proof of delivery
• You're sending a legal notice or demand letter
• You want documentation in case there's a dispute later
• Instructions specifically require certified delivery

Don't need proof? Standard First Class is fine.

• Physical enclosures — We can't mail checks, IDs, keys, or anything that isn't printed on paper.
• International mail — Supported destination countries are available; mailing options vary by country.
• Same-day delivery — We're not a courier service. Fastest option is USPS Express. If you submit before 10 AM Eastern, it can sometimes reach USPS the same business day; later orders usually reach USPS by the next business day, and postal delivery is typically 1-3 business days after acceptance.

If you need to include physical items, you'll need to mail it yourself or use a courier.

Use a return address where you can actually receive mail. If a letter is undeliverable, USPS returns it to the sender address.

If you're traveling or don't have stable housing, consider using a family member's address or a mail forwarding service.

Include apartment, unit, or suite numbers exactly as written.

From a document:

• Word: File → Save As → PDF
• Google Docs: File → Download → PDF
• Pages: File → Export to → PDF

From a signed paper document:

• iPhone: Use the Notes app or Files app to scan
• Android: Use Google Drive's scan feature
• Any phone: Take a photo in good light, convert to PDF

For multi-page documents, scan all pages into a single PDF. Most scanning apps let you add pages before exporting.

Wrong address format — Use the exact address from any notice you received. Don't abbreviate or rearrange.

Missing reference numbers — If instructions mention an account number, claim number, or case number, include it.

Multiple files instead of one PDF — Combine everything into one PDF. We print what you upload.

Waiting until the deadline — Mail early. USPS transit times are estimates, not guarantees.

• USPS How to Send a Letter or Postcard
• USPS First-Class Mail
• USPS Click-N-Ship
• USPS Priority Mail Express
• USPS extra services: Certified Mail