How to Send a Letter or Postcard: Domestic

How to Send a Letter or Postcard: Domestic Sending a letter with USPS is easy! Instructions help with most letters and postcards sent domestically (inside the U.S.), including U.S. territories and military bases in the U.S. and abroad. Postmarks: If you want to ensure that your mail receives a postmark on the day you mail it, ask a retail associate at a Post Office retail counter to hand-cancel it for free. Send Mail: Step-by-Step Instructions Step 1: Choose Envelope or Postcard Envelopes are for sending flat, flexible things, like letters, cards, checks, forms, and other paper goods. For 1 $0.78 First-Class Mail Forever stamp, you can send 1 oz (about 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope) to anywhere in the U.S. Envelopes must be rectangular and made of paper to qualify for letter prices. Maximum size is 11-1/2" long x 6-1/8" high. (A standard No. 10 envelope is 9-1/2" long x 4-1/8" high.) Contents must stay flat—no more than 1/4" thick. Large envelopes (called "flats") for letter-sized papers without folding start at $1.63 postage. If your large envelope is nonrectangular, rigid, or lumpy, you pay package price. Nonmachinable envelopes (can't fit through USPS machines, are rigid, lumpy, or have clasps, string, or buttons) require $0.49 additional postage. Square or vertical (taller than wide) envelopes also cost more. Postcards save money at $0.61 postcard stamp for short messages. Standard postcards are usually made of paper, between 5" to 6" long and 3-1/2" to 4-1/4" high, and between 0.007" and 0.016" thick. Step 2: Address Your Mail Envelopes: Write return address (sender address) in top left corner. Write delivery address (recipient address) in bottom center. Postcards: Write delivery address in the space provided (same side as message and stamp). Address Format Tips: - Print addresses neatly in capital letters - Use pen or permanent marker - Do not use commas or periods - Include ZIP+4 Code whenever possible Write Sender Address in top-left corner on separate lines: - Your full name or company name - Apartment or suite number - Full street address - City, State, and ZIP+4 Code Write Delivery Address in bottom center on separate lines: - Recipient's full name or company name - Apartment or suite number - Full street address - City, State, and ZIP+4 Code Puerto Rico: Some addresses include urbanization or community code. Format with urbanization code (URB) on 4 lines example: MS MARIA SUAREZ, URB LAS GLADIOLAS, 150 CALLE A, SAN JUAN PR 00926-3232 U.S. Virgin Islands: Use same format as standard addresses with "VI" abbreviation: MS JOAN SMITH, RR 1 BOX 6601, KINGSHILL VI 00850-9802 Military and Diplomatic Mail (APO/FPO/DPO): Do not include city or country name when sending to APO/FDO/DPO addresses in another country. Do include unit and box numbers if assigned: SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH, UNIT 100100 BOX 4120, FPO AP 96691 Step 3: Calculate Postage (& Add Insurance or Extra Services) First-Class Mail Forever stamp costs $0.78 in upper right corner (or any combination equaling $0.78). Standard postcard stamp costs $0.61 in designated space. Postage depends on weight and size/shape. Weigh letters with kitchen scale, postal scale, self-service kiosk, or Post Office counter. Rule of thumb: 1 oz (4 sheets printer paper and business envelope) = 1 First-Class Mail Forever stamp ($0.78). Large envelope (flat) postage starts at $1.63 for 1 oz. Additional Postage: - Letters over 1 oz: each additional 1 oz = $0.29 (up to 3.5 oz) - Large envelopes up to 13 oz: price varies per additional 1 oz - Nonmachinable items (lumpy, rigid, clasps, string, buttons) = $0.49 more - Square or vertical envelopes = additional cost - 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 4¢, 5¢, and 10¢ stamps available at The Postal Store Buy stamps at The Postal Store online, Post Office locations, self-service kiosks, or National Retailers (grocery and drug stores). Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express for larger envelopes available via Click-N-Ship service. Add-On Services: - Certified Mail: Get proof of mailing and recipient signature - Registered Mail: USPS most secure service with manual processing, separate secure handling, and signatures throughout journey - Return Receipt: Printed or emailed delivery record with recipient's signature; can combine with other services - Adult Signature Required: Only adult (age 21+) with valid government ID can sign Step 4: Send Your Mail Once envelope/postcard has correct addresses and postage: - Put letter in mailbox and raise flag - Drop in cluster mailbox outgoing slot - Drop in blue collection box - Take to Post Office lobby drop Postmarks: Request hand-cancellation at Post Office retail counter for free. Important: Envelopes with postage stamps weighing more than 10 oz or thicker than 1/2" cannot go in collection boxes—must give to Post Office employee. Bonus: Sending Mail Pro Tips USPS processes and delivers 425.3 million mail pieces daily using high-speed sorting machines. Stay Flexible: Postcards, letter envelopes, and large envelopes must bend through USPS sorting machines. OK: Flexible, flat items like stickers, photos, trading cards (envelope stays flat, not lumpy, less than 1/4" thick) Not OK: Don't put rigid objects (flash drives, coins, keys, hard plastic card cases) loose in unpadded envelopes—could tear out, jam machines, cause delays, or get lost. Use padded envelope or small box as package instead. Embellished Invitations (weddings, graduations): Pay extra nonmachinable First-Class Mail fee, bring to Post Office counter, request hand-cancellation. For externally decorated invitations with wax seals, strings, ribbons—put inside another envelope to preserve appearance. Tracking: Not available for First-Class Mail. For tracking: use Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail service, or add Certified Mail or Registered Mail service (can combine with Return Receipt for signature).