How Much Does a Postcard Stamp Cost? 2026 Postage Rates

How much does a postcard stamp cost in 2026?

A USPS postcard stamp costs $0.56 as of January 2026. This is the price you pay at the post office for a single First-Class postcard stamp. The postcard stamp rate is $0.17 cheaper than a regular letter stamp ($0.73), making postcards one of the most affordable ways to send mail.

To qualify for the $0.56 postcard stamp rate instead of the letter rate, your postcard must meet USPS size requirements: between 3.5" x 5" minimum and 4.25" x 6" maximum. Larger postcards — like the popular 6.25" x 9" size — are mailed at the letter rate or through bulk mail programs like EDDM.

The postcard stamp cost has increased from $0.35 in 2020 to $0.56 in 2026 — a 60% rise over six years. USPS typically raises rates each January, so this rate applies through at least the end of 2026.

Postcard Postage Rates 2026

The standard cost to mail a single postcard via USPS First-Class Mail is $0.56 as of January 2026. This is the rate you'll pay at the post office or with a single stamp. But if you're mailing postcards for business - whether it's marketing campaigns, fundraising appeals, or event invitations - bulk postcard postage rates can save you 23% to 57% per piece.

USPS Postcard Rate Comparison Table

Current USPS postcard postage rates range from $0.24 per piece (nonprofit) to $0.56 per piece (first-class). The table below compares every mail class available for postcards in 2026:

Rates shown are typical for presorted mail prepared by a mail house. Actual rates vary by presort level, entry point, and automation requirements. See USPS Notice 123 for complete rate schedules.

All rates reflect 2026 USPS pricing. Presort rates require mail house processing (like MPA). Get exact pricing for your campaign.

First-Class Postcard Postage

First-Class Mail is the simplest way to send postcards. At $0.56 per piece, it's ideal for personal correspondence, thank-you cards, or small batches where speed matters.

Size Requirements for First-Class Postcard Rate

To qualify for the $0.56 postcard rate (rather than the $0.73 letter rate), your piece must meet these USPS requirements:

• Minimum: 3.5" x 5" x 0.007" thick
• Maximum: 4.25" x 6" x 0.016" thick
• Must be rectangular (aspect ratio between 1.3 and 2.5)

Postcards larger than 4.25" x 6" still mail fine - they just get charged at the letter rate ($0.73) instead. For a detailed breakdown of all postcard size requirements, see our complete size guide.

When to Use First-Class

• Sending fewer than 200 postcards (below bulk mail minimums)
• Need delivery in 1-5 business days
• Personal or one-off mailings
• Presorted First-Class at $0.435/piece for 500+ pieces with faster delivery than Marketing Mail

Bulk Postcard Mailing Rates

If you're mailing 200+ postcards, Marketing Mail (formerly Standard Mail) drops your postage to just $0.43 per piece - a 23% savings over single-piece First-Class. This is the most popular choice for business postcard campaigns.

How Presort Discounts Work

Presort discounts reward mailers who do some of the postal service's sorting work. A mail house like MPA sorts your mail by ZIP code, applies barcodes, and delivers it bundled to USPS - saving them labor, which they pass on as lower rates.

Minimum Quantities

• Marketing Mail: 200 pieces minimum
• Presorted First-Class: 500 pieces minimum

How to Qualify

You don't need your own postal permit. Work with a bulk mailing services provider like MPA and we handle all the presorting, paperwork, and USPS entry. One invoice, no hidden fees. If you do want your own permit, see our guide on how to get a bulk mail permit for the full application process, fees, and current bulk mail postage rates.

EDDM Postcard Rates

For local saturation mailings, EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) offers the lowest postcard postage at $0.247 per piece - 56% less than First-Class stamps. EDDM requires no mailing list and delivers to every address on selected postal routes.

For a complete breakdown of EDDM printing costs, size requirements, minimums, and real campaign examples, see our dedicated guide: EDDM postage rates and cost breakdown.

Nonprofit Postcard Rates

Qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations get discounted postcard postage at $0.24 per piece through Nonprofit Marketing Mail. For eligibility requirements, application steps, and how to maximize your nonprofit postage savings, see our full guide: nonprofit postage rates.

MPA works with dozens of nonprofits across Florida and can help you apply for authorization. Learn more about our nonprofit direct mail services.

How Much Does It Cost to Send a Postcard?

The cost to send a postcard depends on whether you're mailing one piece or thousands. A single postcard costs $0.56 to send via USPS First-Class Mail — just buy a postcard stamp at the post office or online.

For businesses mailing in bulk, the per-piece cost drops significantly when you factor in printing and postage together:

• Small batch (100-500 postcards): $0.75-$1.00 per piece all-in (printing + postage + mailing)
• Medium campaign (1,000-2,500): $0.50-$0.75 per piece all-in
• Large campaign (5,000+): $0.40-$0.60 per piece all-in
• EDDM saturation (5,000+): $0.35-$0.50 per piece all-in — the cheapest option for local businesses

The biggest factor in reducing cost per piece is quantity. Printing costs drop dramatically at 1,000+ pieces, and bulk postage rates (Marketing Mail at $0.43 or EDDM at $0.247) save 23-56% over single-piece First-Class stamps. Use our calculator above to get an instant estimate for your specific campaign.

Free Postcard Design Templates

Need a design? Download our free Canva templates pre-sized with proper bleed and safe zones. Just customize with your branding and send to print.

How to Save Money on Postcard Mailing

Here are the most effective ways to reduce your postcard mailing costs:

1. Use EDDM for local campaigns - $0.247/piece saves 56% versus First-Class. Perfect for restaurants, retail, real estate, and home services targeting nearby neighborhoods.
2. Use Marketing Mail for targeted lists - $0.43/piece saves 23% versus First-Class. Best when you have a specific customer list or demographic criteria.
3. Qualify for nonprofit rates - $0.24/piece is available for 501(c)(3) organizations. The lowest postcard postage rate available.
4. Mail in larger quantities - Per-piece printing costs drop significantly at 1,000+, 2,500+, and 5,000+ quantities.
5. Work with a mail house - A full-service provider like MPA handles printing, presorting, and mailing in one step, eliminating middleman markups.

USPS Postcard Rate History (2020-2026)

USPS postcard postage rates have increased steadily over the past six years. Here's how rates have changed for each mail class:

First-Class postcard postage has increased 60% since 2020, from $0.35 to $0.56. USPS typically announces rate changes in October, with new rates taking effect in January. The 2026 increase was relatively modest at 1.8% — the smallest jump since 2021.

For businesses mailing in bulk, the impact of rate increases is smaller because Marketing Mail and EDDM rates haven't risen as steeply as First-Class. This makes bulk mailing through a mail house like MPA increasingly cost-effective compared to stamping postcards yourself.

International Postcard Postage Rates

Sending a postcard internationally from the US costs $1.65 using a USPS Global Forever stamp. This flat rate applies to postcards sent to any country, regardless of destination.

International Postcard Size Requirements

• Minimum: 3.5" x 5" x 0.007" thick
• Maximum: 4.25" x 6" x 0.016" thick
• Must be rectangular with an aspect ratio between 1.3 and 2.5

These are the same size requirements as domestic First-Class postcards. Oversized pieces (larger than 4.25" x 6") must be sent as international letters at higher rates.

International vs Domestic Postcard Rates

Note: International postcard mailing is single-piece only — there are no bulk discounts for international mail. Businesses doing international direct mail campaigns typically use in-country print partners rather than mailing from the US. MPA specializes in domestic bulk mailing where the biggest postage savings are available.

Postcard vs Letter Postage: Which Is Cheaper?

Postcards are almost always cheaper to mail than letters. Here's a side-by-side comparison across every USPS mail class:

The biggest savings come at the single-piece level: $0.17 per piece cheaper to send a postcard versus a letter via First-Class. On a 1,000-piece mailing, that's $170 saved on postage alone.

For presorted bulk mail, postcards and letters cost the same per piece in postage. However, postcards are still cheaper overall because:

• No envelope needed — letters require printing an envelope plus an insert, adding $0.05-$0.15/piece in materials
• Faster production — postcards are one piece to print versus 2-3 components for a letter package
• Higher open rates — postcards have near-100% visibility since there's no envelope to open (industry average: postcards get 4.25% response vs 2.7% for letters)

For most business marketing campaigns, postcards offer the best combination of low cost and high visibility. Try our calculator to compare total costs for your specific campaign size.

Frequently Asked Questions

2026 Postcard Postage Rates by Size and Mail Class

Different postcard sizes qualify for different USPS rate tiers. The table below breaks down exact postage costs across every mail class and card size - so you can see exactly what you'll pay per piece based on how you mail.

These are 2026 USPS rates effective January 19, 2026. Presort rates vary by automation level (5-digit, AADC, mixed AADC). EDDM rate shown is retail; BMEU entry is $0.242. Nonprofit rates require USPS authorization (Form 3624). See our EDDM postage rate breakdown for detailed EDDM pricing by entry type.

2026 USPS Postcard Rate Changes

USPS postcard postage rates changed on January 19, 2026. Here's what mailers need to know about the current and upcoming adjustments:

January 2026 Rate Adjustment

The standard postcard stamp went from $0.53 to $0.56 - a 5.7% increase. Marketing Mail presort rates increased approximately 2-3%, while EDDM postage rose from $0.224 to $0.247 (10.3%). First-Class presort postcards saw modest increases of 1-3% depending on automation level.

July 2026: Expected Mid-Year Increase

USPS typically implements a second rate adjustment mid-year (usually July). Based on recent patterns, mailers should budget for another 2-4% increase across all mail classes. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) must approve any increases, and USPS usually announces new rates 90 days in advance.

Historical Context: 2020 to 2026

Postcard postage has increased approximately 35% since 2020 ($0.35 to $0.56 for a single stamp). Despite these increases, postcards remain the cheapest way to reach a physical mailbox - far less than the cost of a letter ($0.73) or a digital ad click ($2-5+ in most industries). For businesses mailing in volume, working with a mail house that handles presort and bulk mail permit requirements locks in the lowest available postage rates regardless of retail stamp price increases.