The short answer
A postcard stamp costs $0.65 to mail a standard postcard anywhere in the US, effective July 12, 2026, up from $0.61. The postcard price applies only to rectangular cards between 3.5 × 5 inches and 4.25 × 6 inches that are 0.007 to 0.016 inch thick. Bigger cards, such as 5 × 7 or 6 × 9, pay letter postage starting at $0.82, and square cards cost $1.31 or more.
Postcard stamp price for 2026
USPS charges $0.65 to mail a standard-size postcard by First-Class Mail to any US address. The price rose from 61 cents to 65 cents on July 12, 2026, at the same time the letter Forever stamp went from 78 cents to 82 cents. Mailing a postcard to another country costs $1.75.
Postcard stamps don’t show a cent value. They carry the word POSTCARD instead, and USPS says that word indicates their usage value. Since 2015, USPS has issued postcard stamps that, like Forever stamps, stay equal to the postcard price in effect when you use them. A postcard stamp you bought at 61 cents still pays the full $0.65 today.
Are postcard stamps Forever stamps?
In practice, yes. USPS introduced Forever-style postcard stamps in 2015, and current postcard stamps are nondenominated and valid for the postcard price whenever you mail them. They are not the same as a regular Forever stamp, though: a postcard stamp covers only the postcard price, not a 1-ounce letter.
You can put a regular Forever stamp on a postcard if that’s what you have. It is worth $0.82, so the card is fully paid, but you spend 17 cents more than the postcard price. If you mail postcards often, a book or coil of postcard stamps is the cheaper choice.
Which postcards qualify for the $0.65 price
USPS sets the postcard size limits in Domestic Mail Manual section 101.6.2. Every measurement must fall inside the range, and the card must be rectangular. It must also be made of unfolded, uncreased paper or card stock of uniform thickness.
A card that misses any limit is priced as a letter. USPS also says a card that doesn’t meet the postcard standards must not be printed with the word “Postcard.” A typical 4 × 6 inch photo postcard fits; most greeting-card sizes do not.
| Measurement | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Height (shorter side) | 3.5 inches | 4.25 inches |
| Length (longer side) | 5 inches | 6 inches |
| Thickness | 0.007 inch | 0.016 inch |
Does a 5 × 7 postcard need extra postage?
Yes. A 5 × 7 card is taller than 4.25 inches, so it can’t use the postcard price. USPS charges letter-size pricing instead, which is $0.82 for up to 1 ounce, or one Forever stamp. The same applies to 6 × 9 and 6 × 11 cards, because they still fit within the letter limits of 6.125 × 11.5 inches.
Two details can raise the price further. Letter-size mail that is longer than 6 inches or taller than 4.25 inches must be at least 0.009 inch thick, or it pays the $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge. Square cards also pay that surcharge, because their length divided by their height is under 1.3. A card larger than 6.125 × 11.5 inches is priced as a large envelope (flat), starting at $1.69.
| Card size | How USPS prices it | Postage |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 inches | Postcard | $0.65 (1 postcard stamp) |
| 4.25 × 5.5 inches | Postcard | $0.65 (1 postcard stamp) |
| 5 × 7 inches | Letter | $0.82 (1 Forever stamp) |
| 6 × 9 inches | Letter | $0.82 (1 Forever stamp) |
| 5 × 5 inches (square) | Letter with nonmachinable surcharge | $1.31 |
| Larger than 6.125 × 11.5 inches | Large envelope (flat) | From $1.69 |
How to mail a postcard
Postcards don’t need an envelope. The delivery address, the stamp, and usually your message share one side, and the picture goes on the other. Most printed postcards divide that side with a line: the message area on the left, the address and stamp on the right.
- Check the size against the postcard limits, or buy a Forever stamp if the card is larger.
- Write your message on the left half of the address side, leaving the right half clear.
- Print the delivery address in the space provided: name, street address with apartment or suite number, then city, state, and ZIP Code. USPS suggests capital letters, no commas or periods, and the ZIP+4 code when you know it.
- Add your return address in the top-left corner of the address side, as you would on an envelope, so the card can come back to you if it can’t be delivered.
- Put the postcard stamp in the space near the delivery address, at the top right.
- Drop the card in your mailbox, a blue collection box, or a Post Office lobby slot. For a same-day postmark, ask a retail associate to hand-cancel it.
Write a postcard as if anyone can read it
A postcard travels without an envelope, so everyone who handles it can see the message. Keep account numbers, medical details, and anything else private off the card and send it in a sealed letter instead.
Be careful with add-ons. USPS allows a postcard attachment only if it is paper, fully stuck to the card, and doesn’t get in the way of processing, so leave off plastic charms, loose ribbons, and similar decorations.
Mailing a postcard without buying stamps
If you already have a card and a postcard stamp, mailing it yourself costs $0.65 and is the cheapest option. A print-and-mail service makes sense when you want to turn your own photo into a card or don’t have stamps, a printer, or card stock at hand.
IRIS prints and mails a single postcard to one US recipient per order. A 4 × 6 postcard costs $3.49 and a 6 × 9 postcard costs $4.49, and each price includes full-color printing and First-Class postage. You see the total before paying. IRIS doesn’t mail postcards internationally or to mailing lists, and it doesn’t offer Every Door Direct Mail.
| Option | What you pay | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Postcard stamp on a card you already have | $0.65 | Postage only for a card within the postcard limits |
| Forever stamp on a 5 × 7 or 6 × 9 card | $0.82 for up to 1 oz | Letter postage for a larger card |
| IRIS 4 × 6 postcard | $3.49 total | Full-color printing and First-Class postage to a US address |
| IRIS 6 × 9 postcard | $4.49 total | Full-color printing and First-Class postage to a US address |
Sources & further reading
Product details checked against the IRIS API contract when this article was published. Platform references can change; consult the linked documentation when implementing.
- USPS Notice 123, Price List effective July 12, 2026 (Postal Explorer)
- USPS newsroom, U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July (April 9, 2026)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101, Physical Standards
- USPS, How to Send a Letter or Postcard
- USPS, First-Class Mail and postage
- USPS newsroom, Postal Service Extends Convenience of Forever Stamps to Mailing Postcards (May 26, 2015)
- USPS newsroom, Vibrant Leaves Fall Onto Postcard Stamps (March 14, 2025)
Published by IRIS Postal Forms, operated by Great Lakes Computing Office LLC. Send a correction.