Postcard Postage Stamps: What They Cost and How to Use Them

A single domestic postcard postage stamp costs $0.65 in 2026 — that's the First-Class rate for one standard-size card mailed anywhere inside the United States. If your card fits the size rules, you pay less than you would to send a letter. If it doesn't, you pay more. Most of the confusion around postcard stamps comes down to that one distinction, so let's settle it first, then walk through everything else you'll run into: international rates, whether a Forever stamp works instead, how many stamps a card needs, and where to buy them without a trip to the post office.

Postcard Stamp Rate in 2026

A USPS postcard stamp costs $0.65 for one standard domestic postcard. A First-Class letter costs $0.82. International postcards run $1.75 to most destinations. The postcard rate only applies if your card meets USPS size limits — go over them and the card is billed as a letter.

Here's the quick comparison most people actually need:

Mail piece	2026 rate
Standard domestic postcard	$0.65
Oversized postcard (billed as letter)	$0.82
International postcard	$1.75
EDDM bulk postcard (per piece)	~$0.26–$0.30

One caveat before you print a hundred cards: USPS adjusts rates on its own schedule, sometimes mid-year, without much fanfare. The $0.65 figure is current as of early 2026 (per mailpro.org), but confirm it against the live rate on USPS.com before a big send. We'd rather you check for thirty seconds than short-pay a batch.

Postcard Rate vs. Letter Rate

This is the part that trips people up. The size of your card decides which price you pay, not what it looks like or what you call it.

To qualify for the $0.65 postcard rate, USPS requires the card to be:

• Height: 3.5 to 4.25 inches
• Length: 5 to 6 inches
• Thickness: 0.007 to 0.016 inches

Think of it as a decision rule. A classic 4x6 card sits comfortably inside those limits — $0.65, done. A 5x7 card (the size a lot of photo prints and greeting cards come in) is taller than 4.25 inches, so USPS treats it as a letter and charges $0.82. Same goes for anything on card stock thicker than about a credit card, or thinner than a sheet of standard paper, which won't feed through automated equipment.

The rule isn't arbitrary. Machines sort postcards fast when they're a predictable shape. Step outside the box and a human has to handle it, and USPS prices that in. Source for the size table: USPS.com/ship/letters.htm.

Postcard Stamp vs. Forever Stamp

Short version: a Forever stamp works on a postcard, but you'll overpay by $0.17.

A regular First-Class Forever stamp is worth the letter rate — $0.82 in 2026. Stick one on a 4x6 postcard and USPS accepts it. You just handed them 17 cents you didn't owe. Multiply that across a wedding save-the-date mailing or a small-business promo run and the waste adds up fast.

The reverse doesn't work in your favor either. A postcard stamp only covers the $0.65 postcard rate, so you can't use it on a letter without adding postage. If you send both postcards and letters regularly, keep the two on hand separately.

There's a nice wrinkle with the current stamps, though. Most USPS postcard stamps sold today are the Forever-style, non-denominated kind — they show no printed price. When the postcard rate rises, a stamp you bought at $0.65 still mails a postcard at the new rate, no top-up required. Buy a roll now and you're covered through the next increase. (Face-value denominated stamps, the ones with a number printed on them, don't get that protection — you'd need to add the difference.) For occasional senders who stock up ahead, that's the practical reason to buy dedicated postcard stamps rather than defaulting to whatever's in the drawer.

Sending Postcards Internationally

Mailing a postcard abroad costs $1.75 to most countries — nearly triple the domestic rate. That flat figure covers the majority of Global Forever postcard mailings, and like domestic Forever stamps, a Global Forever stamp holds its value if the international rate changes after you buy it.

A couple of things worth knowing before your vacation postcards go out. International postcard rates move independently of domestic ones, so a domestic increase doesn't automatically shift the $1.75 number, and vice versa. And size still matters — an oversized card headed overseas jumps to international letter pricing, same principle as domestic. Confirm the current figure on the USPS International Mail rates page if you're sending in volume.

How Many Stamps a Postcard Needs

One postcard stamp. That's it — for a standard-size domestic card, a single $0.65 postcard stamp is the complete postage.

You'd only need more in two situations. If your card is oversized (over 4.25 x 6 inches), you need letter-rate postage instead — one $0.82 stamp, or a postcard stamp plus enough extra to reach $0.82. If your card is unusually heavy card stock or has an add-on like a magnet or a folded flap, it may exceed the postcard thickness limit and get bumped to letter rate too. When in doubt, weigh and measure before you commit a whole batch. First-time sender? Place the stamp in the upper-right corner, address the right two-thirds of the card, and drop it in any USPS collection box or hand it to a clerk — no envelope needed.

Where to Buy Postcard Stamps

The post office isn't your only option, and for most people it's not the fastest one.

• USPS Store online — the full current lineup, including limited designs like the Vibrant Leaves Postcard Stamps in sheets of 20 (store.usps.com). Ships to your door.
• Retail counters — many grocery chains, pharmacies, and office-supply stores stock stamps near checkout, though postcard-specific designs are hit or miss. Call ahead if you need the $0.65 denomination specifically.
• Online marketplaces and specialty sellers — convenient for bulk, but check authenticity and condition before you buy.

That last point is where we come in. At Mailboxes of Flushing, we source unused stamps from closed businesses and inspect every one for authenticity and unbent, flawless condition — a straightforward way to stock up on genuine wholesale postcard stamps at a fair price. Orders ship within 24 hours, and if anything doesn't meet your expectations, you have 7 days from delivery to reach us for a full refund. If you also mail letters, our Forever stamps collection covers those at the same standard.

FAQ

How much do postcard stamps cost?

A standard domestic postcard stamp costs $0.65 in 2026. Oversized postcards are billed at the $0.82 First-Class letter rate, and international postcards cost $1.75.

How many postage stamps for a postcard?

One. A single $0.65 postcard stamp fully covers a standard-size domestic postcard. Oversized or unusually thick cards need letter-rate postage instead.

How much is a postcard stamp in 2026?

$0.65 for a standard domestic postcard as of early 2026. Rates can change mid-year, so confirm on USPS.com before a large mailing.

How much would 100 postcard stamps cost?

At the $0.65 retail rate, 100 postcard stamps cost $65.00. High-volume senders using EDDM can drop to roughly $0.26–$0.30 per piece, though EDDM requires bulk prep and minimums.

Stocking up for a mailing, a set of travel cards, or just keeping a roll in the drawer for the next rate increase? Browse the authenticated, ready-to-ship postcard stamps at Mailboxes of Flushing and get real postage that ships within 24 hours.