How many stamps do i need for 15 pages

So, every time we do end up trying to send a postal mail, we end up asking ourselves “how many stamps do I need?“. Similarly, businesses that are starting out on their direct mail campaigns also ask themselves the same question.

But, the thing is that businesses that want to implement direct mail marketing will find themselves facing the same question often. Why? Because businesses have to send direct mail regularly and to a variety of addresses inside and outside the US.

Unfortunately, finding the correct stamps for direct mail can sometimes be tricky, whether a letter or a huge package.

Businesses who wish to use direct mail are particularly unsure how many stamps they need to use. You need to consider so many things before deciding on the number of stamps you need. Some of the main aspects you need to consider are as follows:

• Size of the mailpiece
• Weight of the mailpiece
• The class of postal service you use

However, you need to consider various other factors before deciding how many stamps for a letter you need. So, here we will provide you with a detailed guide to answer your questions.

As you read on, you will also get answers to every other stamp-related question that you may have. We will discuss different types of stamps you can use, including the popular forever stamps. The article will also shed light on the different postage rates and their relation to your direct mail stamp and more.

What Is a Postage Stamp, And What Is Its Purpose?

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper of a specified value issued by the official postal authority. In the US, this postal authority is the USPS (United States Postal Service). So, it doesn’t matter which country you live in, the postage stamp will always have its value indicated (printed) on it. The value of the postage stamp is usually indicated on it regardless of which country you live in.

The postage stamp is glued to a letter or a package to indicate the postage amount paid for it. The gluable paper stamp with its value printed on them is the most common type of stamp you can find. Since they already come with their value printed on them, you can quickly evaluate their value.

You can buy postage stamps in different forms based on the number of stamps you need. Some of the most popular forms of postage stamps include the following:

• Booklets
• Sheets
• Coils
• Self-service kiosk stamp or Sheetlets

How Many Stamps Do I Need to Send a Letter?

So, if you are still scratching your head thinking about the required stamps to send a letter and how to get them, the answer is not as hard as you might think. As long as you have access to the correct information, it is pretty straightforward. Let’s first consider the number of stamps you need for different types of shipping.

Domestic Letter Shipping

Suppose you are sending a postal letter from the US to an address in the United States. In this case, your mailer falls under the Domestic Letter Shipping category because it is sent within the country. So, if the location of both sender and recipient is within the borders of the United States, it is considered as domestic mail. Pretty simple, right?

In such a case, you would only need to use a Domestic Forever Stamp that costs you around $0.55. Furthermore, you can expect a letter with Domestic Forever Stamp to reach its destination within 1 to 3 working days. USPS allowing you to send/receive a mailer within 3 days for just 55 cents is something worth your appreciation. For just 55 cents, this kind of speedy delivery is something that you should at least appreciate.

However, you need to satisfy certain conditions for USPS to deliver your mail within three days for a mere 55 cents. The first and foremost aspect of these conditions is that the mailpiece must not weigh more than an ounce. So, if you were wondering about stamps per oz?

Then let us answer it for you now.

The 55 cents postage charge covers the minimum weight of a mailer which is one ounce. However, you must pay an additional 15 cents for every ounce after this first ounce. Also, there are other additional requirements that you need to ensure to send your mailer at the offered price of 55 cents.

Requirements For Domestic Letter Shipping

• The minimum dimension of the envelope must be 5 x 3.5 inches and must not exceed 11.5 x 6.125 inches.
• The thickness of the envelope must not exceed ¼ inches and should be uniform.
• The envelope must be rectangular, and odd shapes may have an extra fee.
• The mailer must be bendable. Otherwise, it will be classified as non-machinable, and you have to pay an extra 21 cents.
• Square-shaped envelopes must have a dimension of at least 5 inches. USPS will also treat this as non-machinable with an extra fee of 21 cents.

Domestic Postcard Shipping

Sending postcards within the borders of the United States is relatively cheaper. Hence, businesses prefer using postcards to run direct mail campaigns as it allows them to maintain a minimum cost. However, you’d still need a Postcard Stamp for sending postcards to different locations.

The cost of a Postcard Stamp is only 35 cents. Although the price difference may seem small at first glance, it can significantly impact the cost of bulk mail, which is often used by businesses. Furthermore, you also can overpay by purchasing a Domestic Forever Stamp, which, as we said before, costs 55 cents.

Requirements For Domestic Postcard Shipping

• It must be rectangular. Any variation would lead to different rates and stamp rules.
• The minimum dimensional requirement for the postcard is 5 x 3.5 inches.
• The minimum thickness of the postcard is 0.007 inches.
• The maximum dimension of the postcard is 6 x 4.25 inches.
• The maximum thickness permissible is 0.016 inches.

International Letter Shipping

USPS offers international letter shipping to all corners of the world. Unfortunately, we can’t discuss every country here unless you want this article to go on forever. Therefore, we have listed the international letter shipping characteristics for some of the most popular countries.

How Many Stamps Do I Need To Send A Letter In The UK?

The most convenient way to send letters from the US to the UK is to use Global Forever Stamps. The Global Forever Stamps are ideal for sending all international mails. We will discuss the features of a Global Forever Stamp as we proceed further.

Coming back to what we were talking about, the Global Forever Stamps for sending mail to the UK can cost you $1.30. In terms of appearance, the stamp features a green succulent plant. Its design is elegant that is well-suited for international mail.

You can also use Domestic Forever Stamps for sending international mail to the UK. They would need to add up to $1.30. It’s not possible to achieve the exact amount of postage of a Global Forever Stamp using a number of domestic stamps. The sum will always vary slightly from the cost of a Global Forever Stamp.

In other words, if you are using domestic stamps instead of global ones, you would end up overpaying by 45 cents. So, it is best to only go for the domestic stamp option if you can’t find the Global Forever Stamps or an emergency.

You will also have to pay more if your letter weighs more than an ounce, just like domestic mail. So, if you are still thinking “how many stamps do I need to send a letter in the UK” – Refer to the table below to get the answers!

How Many Stamps Do I Need To Send A Letter In Canada?

The easiest way you can send an international letter from the US to Canada is to use Global Forever Stamps. However, sending international mail to Canada from the US using Global Forever Stamp is special. Why? Because a Global Forever Stamp usually covers international mailers that weigh up to 1 oz.

If the international mailer weighs more than 1oz you’d need to pay extra postage. However, when it comes to sending international mailers to Canada your postal mailer can weigh as much as 2oz. Here, you don’t have to pay any extra postage unless the weight goes over 2 oz.

However, when it comes to sending mail to Canada, you get an added benefit. Here, you can use the same Global Forever Stamp to send postal mail weighing up to 2 ounces. If the letter exceeds the 2-ounce weight limit, you’d have to add extra stamps to make up for it.

How Many Stamps Do I Need Per Oz?

Above, we have addressed the question, “how many stamps do I need to send a letter?” However, another common query about postal mail is, “how many stamps do I need per oz?” So, moving forward, we are going to help you find the answer the same. You must first consider using Forever Stamps for your direct mail. Why? Because they are the most convenient option for sending both international and domestic mail.

Hence, every business/individual must first consider Forever Stamps. We have listed the price per ounce for you below.

Price Per Ounce For Domestic Letter Shipping

If you are reading this article to find the postage stamps required for sending direct mail weighing more than 3.5 oz, don’t be disheartened. We did not conveniently leave it out. The thing is that if your envelope weighs more than the 3.5 oz weight limit, you can start looking at the rate of flats instead of envelopes. 

What Are Flats?

Flats are big envelopes that you must use for postal mail envelopes or letters weighing more than 3.5 ounces. You can send envelopes weighing as much as 13 ounces using Flats. However, the weight is not the sole requirement to classify a postal mail or envelope as Flat.

Given below are the guidelines to ensure that your heavy envelope is considered Flat by the USPS.

• The envelope must have a minimum dimension of 11.25 x 6.125 inches.
• The envelope’s maximum dimension must exceed 15 x 12 inches.
• The maximum thickness of the envelope is 0.75 inches.
• You cannot bubble wrap the packet as they usually tend to be thicker than the maximum thickness.

Price Per Ounce For Flats

How Many Stamps Do I Need For A 9×12 Envelope?

The tables we discussed above explain the number of stamps you need for sending different postal mails. In addition, it describes the number of stamps per ounce you need, their price, and more. We have even discussed what kind of stamps you need to use in international and domestic shipments.

However, there are still some grey areas that we need to cover. The larger 9 x 12 inches envelope is one of the mailers that we have not discussed above.  It is because a package deserves a dedicated section, and you are about to learn why.

To put it short, for sending a 9 x 12 inches envelope, you need to use two Domestic Forever Stamps. As you know now, this would amount to around $1. But, the catch here is that this is just for a 9 x 12 inches envelope weighing just one ounce.

Similar to other mailers, you need to buy additional stamps for every ounce above the one-ounce weight. Additionally, you can substitute the Domestic Forever Stamps with any stamp mixture. However, it must be equivalent to the required monetary amount.

How Many Stamps Do I Need to Send a Parcel?

Sending parcels and figuring out the stamps needed for sending them is slightly more complicated than letters. However, the United States Postal Service does provide an online postage calculator to avoid any confusion. 

Using USPS’s postage calculator is rather easy. You can quickly determine the postage rates following the steps given below.

Step 1: Select the destination of your parcel.

Step 2: Type in the ZIP codes of your address and the recipient’s address.

Step 3: Select the date and time of mailing the parcel.

Step 4: Select the type of postage you intend to use.

Step 5: Click on the “Display All Options”.

At this point, you will be able to compare the costs of different types of shipping services. Furthermore, you will also be able to add extra options or filters at this stage. The choices you can add at this stage include insurance, Certificate of Mailing, Registered Mail, and so on. 

Once you have selected all the required options for sending the parcel, you will get a final cost from the calculator. You must then buy the stamps amounting up to or overpay the final price provided by the calculator.

Remember that you need to print and stick shipping labels on the parcel if you’ve opted for any extras mentioned above. However, you have the option to do this at the post office if you don’t have access to a working printer. 

What Are Forever Stamps?

Forever Stamp is a term that repeatedly pops up whenever we discuss the question, “how many postage stamps do I need?” So it is only natural for you to wonder what are forever stamps and why they are so popular.

Forever stamps are relatively new and were created by the United States Postal Service or USPS in 2007. The best thing about Forever Stamps is that they are non-denominational and can help you send First-Class letters. But, Forever Stamps lets you do this regardless of the postal rate for sending mail to a specific location. 

It is also worth noting that the Forever Stamps never expire, and you can use them whenever you want. So, suppose that you bought a Forever Stamp in 2016 for $0.47, but you didn’t have to use it until later in 2017. But, at this point, the price of Forever Stamps has gone up to $0.49. So, here, you can still use the 2016 Forever Stamp for sending you postal mail without adding any additional postage. 

How Do Forever Stamps Work?

Forever Stamps are best suited for sending normal-sized postal mail or one-ounce letters within the US. So, if you are worried that your letter weighs more than one ounce, then you should check it before you stick the stamp on it.

If you end up sending a heavier postal mail without adequate postage affixed to it, the USPS will return it to you. Therefore, any domestic mail weighing more than one ounce must have additional postage stamps affixed to them.

You could also use higher denomination postage stamps for sending you heavier postages through USPS. However, it is best not to use two Forever Stamps on a single mail piece, even if it’s heavy. The main reason to avoid using more Forever Stamps is that you may likely end up overpaying.

Instead, you can use additional ounce stamps, which is much cheaper than using additional Forever Stamps. The additional ounce stamps only cost you 20 cents as compared to the 55 cents needed for Domestic Forever Stamps.

What Are Global Forever Stamps?

A Global Forever Stamp is a Forever Stamp ideal for sending First-Class Mail International single-piece 1-ounce letters. As we have mentioned before, the price of a Global Forever Stamp is in effect on the day of mailing. This price is valid regardless of when you purchased the stamp or price changes in the future.

Things to Note About Global Forever Stamps

One of the most important things you should note about Global Forever Stamps is that they do not cover non-machinable letter surcharges. Additionally, you should also know that the Global Forever Stamps have a round shape. Since the design of Forever stamps is unlike the usual square-shaped stamps, they are easily recognizable.

Another way to recognize a Forever international stamp is that it always bears “Global Forever” on them. Thus, you can use it for sending international mail without any additional postage as long as it does not weigh more than 1 ounce.

However, there is an exception to this when it comes to sending direct mail to Canada. You can use a Global Forever Stamp to send mail pieces weighing up to 2 ounces without any additional postage.

Send International Business Postcards/1-Ounce Letter

You may use the Global Forever Stamps for sending your postcards to your international clients or customers. Postcards are the most preferred direct mail for companies, especially for running marketing campaigns. The reason is that they are small, relatively inexpensive, and easily manageable. 

Similarly, businesses can use Global Forever Stamps for sending all types of single-piece mailpieces. Also, you can use the same stamp for sending domestic mailers as well. So, it’d be a safe option to use Global Forever Mail when you are unsure about the postage rate. However, doing this might burn a hole in your pocket if you are sending bulk postal mail.

What Are Semipostal Stamps?

Although not as popular as Forever Stamps, the semipostal stamps are also as essential as Forever Stamps. However, the applicational use of semipostal stamps is wildly different from that of Forever Stamps.

The semipostal stamps are also popular by the name Fundraising Stamps. These types of stamps are congressionally mandated for research of causes. Furthermore, the USPS must consider these causes to be of “national public interest”.

For example, you can use semipostal stamps to raise funds for helping people who have Parkinson’s Disease.

Price of Semipostal Stamps

The semipostal stamps are priced at a minimum of 15% above postage. This price difference is also known as the differential, and they have no maximum limit. It is also worth noting that their prices can adjust in increments of five cents.

The price of a semipostal stamp can pay for First-Class single-piece postage. You should note that the rate of the semipostal stamp comes into effect at the time of purchase. This price includes a tax-deductible amount for funding specific causes that are deemed appropriate by the postal service.

What Are NetStamps?

NetStamps are yet another popular stamp for sending direct mail. They are just like your regular postage stamps, except that they never expire. Therefore, you can hold onto them for as long as you want. Also, NetStamps are Denomination stamps and have their value printed on the stamp’s face.

Most Common Types Of Postage Stamps

The USPS offers numerous postage stamps. However, you may not know all of them, and you don’t necessarily have to either. Here, we’ll discuss some of the most common types of postage stamps that you can use.

Similar to the Forever Stamps, this stamp also remains valid forever for the rate printed on it.

Additionally, the Presort Stamps are ideal for Marketing Mail and First Class Mail.

Denomination/Definitive Stamps

All stamps that have a definitive value assigned to them can be called Denomination/Definitive Stamp. It includes every stamp with varying amounts valued from 1 cent stamps to Priority Mail Express Stamps. Usually, this type of stamp has its value printed on the face of the stamp.

Some of the most commonly used Denomination/Definitive Stamps are the 1 cent and 3 cent stamps. These stamps are usually used to add additional postage to older stamps when their value is insufficient to meet the current postage rates.

Non-Denomination Stamps

Non-Denomination stamps are the stamps that do not have a specific value or denomination indicated on them. In other words, you can also say that Non-Denomination stamps are stamps that don’t have a face value attached to them. The Non-Denominations stamps are also called by the name No-Value Indicator stamps internationally.

How to Buy Stamps For Your Business Mails

There are several ways for you to buy postage stamps for sending your business mail. You can choose to buy postal stamps using the method that is most convenient for your needs. Here are some of the best ways you can buy stamps for your business mails.

1. In-Person/At a USPS Office

The simplest way to buy postal stamps is to do it in person. All you have to do is drive to the nearest USPS office, and you can easily buy some stamps. Of course, if you are not sure where the closest USPS office is, you can always use USPS’s Post Office Locator.

2. Online Postal Store

If you are not in a hurry, USPS’s online postal store is the most convenient way to shop for stamps for your business mails. Buying the postal stamps from the online postal store means you don’t even have to get out of your couch. So in terms of convenience, you can not beat an online store for buying your stamps.

3. Stamps By Phone

Stamps By Phone is a unique initiative from the USPS. In this method, you can simply call 1-800-STAMP 24 (1-800-782-6724) to get a full line of stamps offered by the USPS. You can also order a specific set of stamps for a nominal fee. 

You may then go and pick it up from any place where you see a “Buy Stamps Here” sign. However, at the beginning of 2020, when the pandemic was running rampant throughout the country, USPS stopped this. Instead, they are requesting people to make stamp purchases online. 

4. Stamps By Mail

As you can guess from the title, USPS’s Stamps By Mail option allows you to buy stamps via mail. To do this, you need to use a PS Form 3227-A. Your local Post Office will then fulfill the order. Finally, a letter carrier will deliver the stamps to your home.

You can get the PS Form 3227-A from your local Post Office as well. A few things you should know about Stamps By Mail is that it takes 2 to 3 days to deliver the stamps after placing the order. Furthermore, you must send the payment to the address on the Form envelope before the delivery.

It would be best to remember that you must send the payment along with the PS Form 3227-A. Then, you can make the payment through a check or money order made out to USPS or United States Postal Service.

5. Stamps By Fax

None of us are really familiar with a Fax machine anymore. However, USPS does offer a convenient Stamps by  Fax option. Unfortunately, the Stamps By Fax option is not available at all facilities at present. However, some still prefer to use this method. One of the advantages of using Stamps By Fax is that there is no additional fee for the delivery. 

If you decide to use this option, you should connect with the local Post Office and ensure that Stamp By Fax is available there. Once you have placed the order, the USPS will deliver the stamps to your doorstep in a few days.

You should also note that Stamps By Fax orders tend to get slightly delayed during December. As far as payment is concerned, the best and fastest payment method is a credit card. The USPS will not send the stamp to you unless you make the payment before the delivery.

Direct Mail Automation For One-Stop Solution

As you can understand from this guide, it is not easy to keep track of the postage rate for different mails. It is even more challenging to do it when you deal with bulk mails. To top it all off, the USPS updates their postage charges almost every year.

Manually keeping track of your direct mail process itself can be a handful, let alone keeping yourself updated with the latest postage charges. The easiest way out of this mess is to employ an advanced direct mail automation system like PostGrid.

PostGrid lets you automate your entire direct mail process. This includes everything from personalizing your letter, printing them, and finally mailing them with the required postage stamps. You can even use PostGrid’s address verification API to ensure that your mail is delivered no matter what.

Conclusion

Remember, the question “how many stamps do I need to send a letter?” is bound to cross your mind if you are about to send a postal mail. So, if you want to send bulk postal mail for business purposes, this question will need to be answered.

Going through this guide can certainly help you find how many stamps per ounce you need for sending postal mail. However, this can be quite a task and take up much of your precious time. Hence, it is okay to use a guide like this one to send those occasional single-piece mailers.

But, to adopt such an approach for postal bulk mail is highly impractical. Therefore, businesses must turn towards direct mail automation tools like PostGrid. Using advanced solutions like PostGrid lets you automate all processes involved in direct mail, including personalization, printing, and mailing.

Furthermore, as the price for stamps or postage changes every year, it is rather challenging to keep track of it. With a solution like PostGrid, you can simply automate the entire direct mail process, and it will take care of everything, including accurate postage.

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