How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Letter in 2023?

How many stamps do i need for a letter? Have you been trying to use stamps when posting a letter or package? Knowing exactly stamps you need for a mail can be quite confusing.

Well, it depends on three main factors –

1. Size of your mail
2. Weight of your mail
3. The class of your mail

With these factors on hand, you can quickly check the number of stamps you need on online postage calculators. The one offered by the United States Postal Service (https://postcalc.ups.com/) is a good choice. If you are not sure of your mail’s weight, take it to your nearest post office. They will give you the details you need.

Yes, to find out how many stamps you need to paste on your letter or package can be a little challenging.

To get the calculation right, all you need to know are answers to the following questions:

• What is the size of your letter or parcel?
• What is the weight of your letter or parcel? (in grams or ounces)
• What type of class does your mail belong to?
• What is the recipient’s address?
• How Many Sheets Per Stamp

How Many Postage Stamps Do I Need for a Letter to the United States?

Check this simple table to know the answer of you question. “how many stamps do i need per oz“. For example, you will have to pay $0.66 for 1 ounce letter, then $0.24 will be added for every additional ounce.

Type of Letters	Latest Rate	Stamps You Need
3 oz. First Class Large Envelope	$1.80	2 Forever stamp & 2 Additional Ounce stamp
2 oz. First Class Large Envelope	$1.54	2 Forever stamp & 1 Additional Ounce stamp
1 oz. First Class Large Envelope	$1.32	2 x 1 oz. Forever stamps
3 oz. First Class Letter	$1.14	1 Forever stamp & 2 Additional Ounce stamp
2 oz. First Class Letter	$0.90	1 Forever stamp & 1 Additional Ounce stamp
1 oz. First Class Letter	$0.66	1 Forever stamp
Postcard	$0.51	1 x Postcard stamp
First Class Letters additional ounces charge	$0.24	Additional Ounce Stamp

For oversized, square or unusually shaped envelopes the price of postage stamps start at $0.99. Whereas the price of a oversized postcard is $0.60.

All postage rates are updated for 10 July 2023. Postage price has increased after 9th July 2023.

Read Also: How Much Is A Book Of Stamps in 2023? Complete Guide

How Many Stamps Do I Need to Send a Mail?

Your mail’s weight, size, and shape will determine the amount of stamps needed to mail your specific postcard or letter. If your envelope isn’t considered Flat, it won’t fit the automated processing machine, and you’ll be charged extra.

Here are the different postage charges and stamps requirements for different types of mail:

• Standard Letters: You only need one Forever stamp if your letter fits inside a standard-sized envelope and weighs 1 ounce or less.
• Large Envelopes: If your large envelope is a 9×12 size Manila envelope and weighs more than 1 ounce, you will need 2 Forever stamps.For more detail on this read my How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Large Envelope guide.
• For a 9 by 12 envelope: The type of envelope also plays a role in deciding the price of the stamp. Postal services accept letters of standard dimensions of 9 x 12. Sticking a stamp on the letter makes it easy for you to get proper postal services.But for customers who have to mail envelopes larger than the standard size have to pay $1.32 for first ounce and $0.24 for all the additional ounces. To get more details on this topic read my How Many Stamps For a 9×12 Envelope? guide.
• International Mail: You can use Forever Stamps or Global Forever Stamps for mail travelling internationally, i.e. outside the US. Use a Global Forever Stamp to send your letter if it weighs one ounce or less. If you want to use Forever stamps, you’ll need to use three Forever stamps equivalent to the value of a Global Forever stamp in that case. More detail here How Many Stamps Do I Need for International Shipping? 2023 Updates.
• Packages: The quantity of stamps needed varies according to the package’s size and weight.  

Typically, the minimum postage cost is $3.80 for a 4-ounce package. The cost of postage increases in proportion to the weight.

How Many Stamps Do I Need Per Ounce in 2023?

You need to use 1 Forever Stamp for standard-size envelopes (weighing a maximum of 1 ounce), according to USPS. For envelopes over one ounce, you can use extra ounce stamps or cent stamps to cover the postage charges. When mail pieces reach a weight of 3.5 ounces or more, USPS considers them as large envelopes or flats. The pricing structure of these large envelopes is quite different from the small envelopes.

If you still have many questions in your mind about the number of stamps you need to use for the weight of your letter, you have come to the right place. This guide about stamps for different ounces of letters, will answer all your questions in this regard.

Jump to: 1 ounce, 1.5 ounce, 2 ounce, 3 ounce, 3.5 ounce, 4 ounce, 5 ounce, 6 ounce, 7 ounce, 8 ounce, 9 ounce, 10 ounce, 11 ounce, 12 ounce, 13 ounce

1 Oz letter

According to USPS, you should use only 1 Forever Stamp (valued at $0.66) for a 1 Oz letter. Apart from the weight, your letter should be in the proper dimensions mentioned by the USPS to avoid extra postage charges.

For standard letters, you should follow these USPS guidelines:

• Should be in the shape of a rectangle
• Must have a dimension of 3.5” x 5” x 0.007” (height x length x thickness)
• Must have maximum dimension of 6.5” x 11.5” x 0.25” (height x length x thickness)
• Thickness should be uniform without any edges
• Letter should be flexible, bendable and foldable
• Exterior should be made from paper

If your letter doesn’t meet these guidelines, your letter will go through a hand-sorting process, instead of a machine-sorting process. So, USPS will charge you a non-machinable surcharge of $0.30 as a fee for this.

You can use a non-machinable stamp, priced at $0.90, to pay this fee. Alternatively, you can also pay this fee by using a combination of 1 Forever Stamp, one additional ounce stamp and one 10-cent stamp.

Also Read: How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Greeting Card?

1.5 Oz letter

For letters weighing a maximum of 1 ounce, you have to use 1 domestic Forever Stamp to cover postage charges. While there is a lot of flexibility here for you to choose how you want to pay these charges, the same flexibility is not available when your letters weigh more than 1 ounce.

Even if your letter weighs marginally more than 1 ounce, (say about 1.1 ounces), you will have to pay the extra postage charges for the entire additional ounce, according to USPS. So, this means that the postage charges for a 2-ounce letter and the charges for a 1.1 ounce letter would be the same!

Currently, the charge for each additional ounce over an ounce is $0.24. So, for a letter of 1.5-ounce weight, you have to pay postage charges worth $0.87. You can try the following combinations to pay these charges:

• 1 domestic Forever Stamp and 1 additional ounce stamp
• 1 domestic Forever Stamp and a couple of 10-cent stamps
• A trio of 1 domestic Forever Stamp, two 10-cent stamp and one 5-cent stamps

2 Oz letter

If your letter weighs exactly 2 ounces, you have to pay $0.87 towards postage charges for the first ounce and the additional ounce.

As we explained in the previous section, you can use different combinations of stamps to pay these charges.

The first combination explained above (1 domestic Forever Stamp and 1 additional ounce stamp) is the easiest and most-used combinations of all.

However, please note that even if your letter is marginally heavier than 2 ounces (say about 2.1 ounce), you still have to pay extra postage charges for another additional ounce. So, you might want to check the weight properly, squeeze in as much as possible, and take out the things that aren’t necessary. This way, your letter can weigh exactly 2 ounces. You can save yourself from paying extra postage charges for a full additional ounce for the marginal increase in the weight of your letter.

3 Oz letter

According to current rules, USPS requires you pay postage charges worth $1.11 for letters weighing between 2.1 and 3 ounces. You can try these combinations to pay these postage charges.

• 1 domestic Forever Stamp and 2 additional ounce stamps.
• Trio of 1 domestic Forever Stamp, 1 additional ounce stamp and a couple of 10-cent stamps

Read More: How Many Stamps Do I Need for 3 Oz Letter? (2023 Updates)

3.5 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 3.5 Oz letter is $1.35, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 1 domestic Forever Stamps and 3 additional ounce stamp.

Also Read: How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Manila Envelope?

How many postage stamps do I need for a large envelope (flats)?

In all the above examples, you followed USPS’s postage rules for First Class Mail Letters. However, these rules apply only to letters weighing up to 3.5 ounces and those following the dimension requirements of USPS.

First Class mails should satisfy the weight and dimensions mentioned by USPS. They cannot weight more than 3.5 ounces. This is because USPS has created a separate category for heavy letters, and their postage charges are quite different from First Class Mails.

When a letter exceeds these dimensions, it is considered a “large” envelope:

• 6.125 inches of height (15.5cm)
• 11.5 inches of width (29.2cm)
• 0.25 inches of thickness (0.63cm)

A large letter shouldn’t go beyond these maximum size dimensions:

• 12 inches of height (30.48cm)
• 15 inches of length (38.1cm)
• 0.75 inches of thickness (1.9cm)

For sending letters that weigh more than 3.5 ounces, you have to refer to USPS’s postage rules for large envelopes/flats.

4 Oz letter

Currently, the charge for a 4-ounce envelope is $1.98. You can pay this through different combinations such as:

• 3 domestic Forever Stamps, one 10-cents and one 2-cent stamps.
• One domestic Forever Stamps and 3 additional ounce stamps
• A couple of domestic Forever Stamps, a couple of additional ounce stamps and a couple of 10-cent stamps

Also Read: How Many Stamps For A Bubble Mailer? 2023 Updates

5 Oz letter

According to the USPS, you have to pay postage charges worth $2.22 for a 5-ounce letter. As we explained above, you can use different combinations of stamps to pay these charges.

• 3 domestic Forever Stamps, four additional ounce stamp worth 24 cents.
• 4 domestic Forever Stamps worth $2.46 (however, when you use this combination, you will overpay the postage charges by $0.24)

Also Read: How To Mail a Letter or Postcard Internationally?

6 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 6 Oz letter is $2.46, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 4 domestic Forever Stamps worth $2.46 (0.66 cents each).

7 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 7 Oz letter is $2.70, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 4 domestic Forever Stamps and one additional ounce stamp.
• 5 domestic Forever Stamps worth $3 (however, when you use this combination, you will overpay the postage charges by $0.36)

Also Read: How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Letter to Canada?

8 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 8 Oz letter is $2.94, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 4 domestic Forever Stamps , two additional ounce stamp worth 24 cents.
• 5 domestic Forever Stamps worth $3 (however, when you use this combination, you will overpay the postage charges by $0.12)

9 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 9 Oz letter is $3.18, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 5 domestic Forever Stamps , one 10 cent stamp and one 2-cent stamps
• 4 domestic Forever Stamps, and three additional ounce stamps worth 0.24 cents.

Also Read: What is USPS Butterfly Stamp? [Value & Uses]

10 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 10 Oz letter is $3.42, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 5 domestic Forever Stamps , one 5-cent stamp and one 1-cent stamp
• 6 domestic Forever Stamps worth $3.78 (however, when you use this combination, you will overpay the postage charges by $0.36)

Also Read: Does USPS deliver on Sundays? 2023 Updates

11 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 11 Oz letter is $3.66, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 6 domestic Forever Stamps worth $3.78.
• 5 domestic Forever Stamps, 2 additional ounce stamp worth 24 cents, one 10-cent stamp and one 2-cent stamp.

Also Read: Does Costco Sell Stamps? (2023 Update)

12 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 12 Oz letter is $3.90, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 6 domestic Forever Stamps worth $3.78 and 10-cent stamp and 1 2-cent stamp.
• You can over pay with 7 domestic Forever Stamps.

Also Read: What Are Non-Machinable Stamps?

13 Oz letter

The current postage charge for a 13 Oz letter is $4.14, according to USPS. The combinations you can use to pay these charges are:

• 6 domestic Forever Stamps, one additional ounce stamps and one 10-cent stamp and one 2-cent stamp
• 7 domestic Forever Stamps worth $4.06 (however, when you use this combination, you will overpay the postage charges by $0.50)

To sum up..

The relationship between postage charges and weight of letters can be quite confusing for anybody.

So, we suggest you take all your heavy envelopes to the post office, and get the professionals there to print the postage for you. This way, you don’t have to calculate the extra charges by yourself. When they print the postage for you, you can also avoid situations where you overpay or underpay the postage fee. Discrepancies in postage fee can ultimately affect delivery of your mail.

To know more about these stamps and their uses, you can read our posts about the 14 types of USPS stamps, meaning of non-machinable stamps, expiry of USPS stamps and more.

Read Also:

• Does Walmart Sell Stamps?
• Does Walgreens Sell Stamps?

How many Stamps for a Postcards?

Are you mailing a parcel instead of a letter? Let’s see how many stamps you need for this. For a standard sized postcard, it costs $0.48 while for postcards larger than 6” x 4 ¼ sizes you can use the first class stamp of $0.66.

When you have to post odd-shaped envelopes or bulky envelopes, you can visit the nearest post office. The officers there will help you determine the charges for your letter or parcel. Go with their knowledge instead of going with your guess. But the most important thing is that you know about forever stamps.

Read Also: How to Create Paypal Shipping Label Without Purchase or Invoice

What Does Paper Weigh?

A single sheet of notebook or the printer sheet is around 0.16 ounces. So it is interesting to note that you can mail the four pages of notebook or printer sheet along with the envelope in just one First Class Stamp. It completely depends on the weight of the paper;  you can mail up to 5 papers with First Class stamps But if you are sending some paperwork which consists of papers more than that then there will be an additional charge for every once i.e. $0.20.

To read more on this topic check my complete guide here How Much Does an Envelope Weigh?

Wait, We have already mentioned about Where to Buy Stamps beside post office in our online guide so don’t forget to check this if you need help.

Read Also: How Many Stamps In a Book & How Much It Cost?

How many stamps do you need? – Conclusion

The question still remains: how many stamps do we need? Well, now you have a rough idea about the working of stamps and how many stamps you require for mailing a letter. Weight and Dimensions are the most important parameters for mailing. Hence, there are strict rules to pay the postage stamps according to these parameters.  You will get back the mail in your address, if you fail to do this.

If you don’t measure your heavy parcels properly, you might get them delivered back to your address.To avoid such incontinence, we suggest you to carefully measure the parcel before mailing it.  Regardless of the size of the parcel, you can be sure that your parcel will reach the right destination, if you pay the postage charges properly.

Happy Mailing!