How Much Does It Cost to Send a Postcard? (Price Guide)

Mailing a postcard is one of the cheapest things the Postal Service sells, but only if the card qualifies as a postcard. Size, thickness and shape all decide whether USPS treats a piece as a card, a letter or a large envelope, and each class has its own price.

The prices on this page come from USPS Notice 123, the official price list effective October 4, 2026, and were checked on Oct 14, 2026. USPS changes its prices about twice a year, so confirm against the current Notice 123 before a large mailing.

A domestic postcard uses a single stamp at the retail postcard price. Mailing one to Canada, Mexico or any other country costs more, and USPS charges that same international price for every destination. If you already have a stack of stamps, check the face value or the "Forever" marking, since a Forever stamp is meant to cover the current first-ounce letter price and may be worth more than a postcard needs.

Cards sent abroad surprise many travelers. The international postcard price is well above the domestic one, so a handful of vacation cards can cost more than expected. Buying the stamps at a post office window is the simplest way to get the correct international postage.

USPS only prices a piece as a postcard when it is small and thin enough. A card that is too large, too thick, rigid in an odd way, or sent in an envelope is priced as a letter or a large envelope instead. Before printing a batch, check the postcard size limits in the Domestic Mail Manual or hold a sample up at the post office counter.

The related First-Class prices below show how quickly the cost steps up when a piece falls out of postcard rules.

A stamped letter costs more than a postcard, and a metered letter costs a little less than a stamped one. A large envelope, sometimes called a flat, starts at a still higher price.

• Destination. Domestic cards use one price. International cards use a higher one that does not change by country.
• Size and shape. Oversized or unusually thick cards may be priced as letters or flats.
• How you pay. Stamps bought at retail cover the retail postcard price. Printed or metered postage can be cheaper for letters, though the postcard rate is already the lowest First-Class price.
• Bulk mailing. Marketing postcards sent in volume can qualify for commercial and presort prices, which have their own requirements and a separate price table in Notice 123.

Write the address clearly on the right half of the address side, and leave the lower edge free of decoration, since USPS machines read the bottom of the card. Use a pen that does not smear. Glossy photo cards can be hard to write on, and a few seconds spent on a test scribble can save a returned card.

For event invitations or a business mailing, order a sample card first and have the post office weigh and measure it. That check costs nothing and confirms the price before you print hundreds.