Holiday Card Postage Calculator
Add up the postage and card cost for your holiday mailing, including any cards going overseas.
How it works
Postage = domestic × stamp + international × intl stamp · Grand total = postage + cards × card cost
A holiday mailing has two costs people forget to combine: postage and the cards themselves. Postage splits by destination — international letters cost roughly double a domestic stamp — so it pays to separate the two counts. The card-and-envelope cost is easy to underestimate for photo or premium cards, and across a big list it often exceeds the postage entirely.
Worked example
Sending 50 cards with 5 going overseas: 45 domestic × $0.73 + 5 international × $1.65 = $32.85 + $8.25 = $41.10 postage. Add 50 × $1.50 = $75.00 for cards, for a $116.10 grand total, about $2.32 per card.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to mail a holiday card?
Domestically, one standard stamp (about $0.73 in the US) covers a normal-size card. International letters cost roughly double. Oversized, square or unusually thick cards can require extra postage, so weigh and measure anything non-standard.
Do square or oversized cards cost more to mail?
Often yes. Square envelopes and cards larger than the standard letter size can trigger a non-machinable or large-envelope surcharge because they cannot run through automated sorting. Check the dimensions against your postal service's letter limits before buying stamps.
How can I cut the cost of a big card list?
The card-and-envelope cost usually dwarfs postage on a long list, so buying cards in bulk or choosing simpler designs saves the most. Trimming the list, or sending e-cards to some recipients, cuts both postage and card costs together.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.