Business guide The IRIS mailing library
Direct mail cost calculator and pricing guide
Calculate direct mail costs with a repeatable formula using current IRIS prices for letters, pages, postcards, Certified Mail, and return receipts.
At a glance
Calculate the cost from line items
For a letter, use this formula: total per piece = $3 base price + (page count × print price) + selected add-ons. The base price includes First-Class Mail postage. Printing costs $0.20 per black-and-white page or $0.40 per color page. Certified Mail adds $6.95, and an electronic Return Receipt adds $2.91 when selected with Certified Mail.
A one-page black-and-white letter costs $3.20. The same letter with Certified Mail and an electronic Return Receipt costs $13.06. Multiply the per-piece result by the number of recipients when every piece has the same page count and options.
Current IRIS prices
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Letter base price, including First-Class Mail postage | $3.00 |
| Black-and-white printing | $0.20 per page |
| Color printing | $0.40 per page |
| Certified Mail add-on | $6.95 |
| Electronic Return Receipt add-on | $2.91 |
| 4 × 6 postcard | $3.49 |
| 6 × 9 postcard | $4.49 |
Postcard prices include full-color printing and First-Class Mail postage. A postcard uses its fixed product price rather than the letter formula.
Build a reproducible campaign estimate
Count the PDF pages.
Use the final PDF rather than a draft because each printed page adds a per-page charge.
Choose black-and-white or color.
Multiply the page count by $0.20 for black-and-white printing or $0.40 for color printing.
Add only the postal records you need.
Add $6.95 for Certified Mail. If you also choose an electronic Return Receipt, add another $2.91.
Multiply by the recipient count.
If documents differ in page count or options, calculate each group separately and add the group totals.
Compare prices on the same basis
A USPS retail First-Class Mail stamp for a one-ounce letter is $0.82. That postal price does not include document printing, an envelope, assembly, or an online workflow, so compare the services included rather than comparing the stamp alone with a finished-mail price.
USPS lists Certified Mail and Return Receipt as extra services. Add them when their records fit the recipient's instructions or your recordkeeping needs; they are not required for every direct-mail piece.
Sources and current instructions
Review the linked source when a mailing depends on current USPS, agency, contractual, or legal requirements.
Calculate an exact IRIS price.
Enter the product, page count, print choice, and postal options to see the line-item total before checkout.
How to send a physical letter online
Mail a letter online without a printer or post office trip. Upload a PDF from your phone or computer, add both addresses, and see the full price before you pay.
Read the guide
How to send Certified Mail online
Send Certified Mail online from a PDF, with no printer or post office trip. See the page limit, fees, the tracking you get, and when you need a USPS receipt.
Read the guide
Checklist for mailing a completed government form
Check the official form revision, signatures, attachments, fees, deadline, filing method, and destination before mailing a completed government form.
Read the guidePlanning mail for a business or team?
Tell us the mailpiece type, expected volume, and workflow you need. We will confirm whether the current IRIS letter, form, or postcard service fits.