There are more than 180 countries on the globe. Therefore, you may have friends or relatives who live outside the USA. You can send them sweet messages through postcards or letters, sometimes for a different feel, or send your loved one a special gift package with a personal touch on special occasions like Christmas, birthdays or wedding anniversaries.
In that case, you’ll want to learn more about the USPS’s International Mailing Guidelines. Using USPS® Global Forever® stamps, you can send postcards, letters, or packages to your loved ones living in the UK, Australia, Canada, or any other country.
But the question is, how many stamps do I need for international shipping? To help you, I wrote this guide, in which I have covered every detail of the requirements of shipping international mail. By reading this article, you will get to know about the How many stamps you need for international mail, can you send international mail using forever stamps and can you use regular stamps.
So let’s get started..
What are Forever® Stamps?
A unique non-value stamp is called the Forever Stamp. It was released to help users save money, precisely as First-Class Mail® prices fluctuate. Always representing the cost of one ounce of First-Class Mail postage is the Forever Stamp. A Forever Stamp will cost you the same as a First-Class Mail® stamp if you purchase one on today’s date. It never expires.
Can You Use Forever Stamps for International Mail?
Yes, you can use Forever Stamps for any international mail. The specialty of Forever Stamps is that they never expire. Using Global Forever® Stamps, you can send a 1-ounce letter from the USA to any foreign country.
All international mail shipping costs more than domestic mail. This is because international mail requires you to add additional postage on your mail – letters or packages.
How Many Stamps Do You Need for International Mail at USPS In 2023?
The number of stamps for international mail depends on the weight of the items and the country they will be sent. In general, you need 1 Global Forever stamp for international shipping of items weighing up to 1 ounce at USPS in 2023.
Items are regarded as flat if they have an uneven shape and weigh more than 1 ounce. And the shipping cost of these items will be determined according to the destination country where they will be shipped.
You can also use Domestic Forever stamps for your international items, but this will not be cost-effective. That’s why we suggest that you use Global Forever Stamps only for international mail.
How Many Stamps Do You Need for an International Letter?
Using the single Global Forever Stamp, you can send letters weighing 1 ounce or less from the United States to over 175 countries. Since Forever Stamps never expire, both the Domestic and Global Forever Stamps never expire, and they are non-denominational.
A Global Forever Stamp always covers the postage of a 1-ounce letter for international shipping. International postage is expensive. Previously, the retail cost of each Global Forever stamp was $1.30 but has now increased to $1.40.
You can buy Global Forever Stamps at your local post office or online. There are many websites available that deal in Global Forever Stamps.
If you need a single Global Forever Stamp, you have to buy it from your local post office. And if you want to stock up on Global Forever Stamps, buying a sheet of 10 stamps online is a good idea. You can get some discount on the sheet.
Also read: How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Letter to Canada?
To use Global Forever Stamps, your envelope must be sized to meet USPS’ envelope size requirements. Hence, when choosing an envelope to send a letter, form, or card, keep the specific size of the envelope in mind.
Required sizes of envelopes include:
- The size of the envelope should be rectangular
- It should not be less than 3 ½ inches high, 5 ½ inches long, or 0.007-inch thick
- For letters sent to Canada only, a single Global Forever Stamp covers the postage of an envelope weighing up to 2 oz. No additional fee is required.
Can you Use 3 Forever Stamps for Your International Mail?
Suppose you are sending international mail to a country outside the United States for the first time, and you need to have Global Forever Stamps available. In that case, you may wonder, “Can I use 3 Domestic Forever stamps instead of one Global Forever stamp?” The answer is yes. However, we recommend not using Forever Stamps for international mail. This will increase your postage.
In 2023, the price of a Forever Stamp is 60 cents, and the cost of a Global Forever Stamp is $1.40. If you use 3 Forever Stamps instead of one Global Stamp for international mail, your total postage cost will be $1.80. That means you will spend 40 cents more. So, you can see that using Global Stamps is in favor of your wallet. However, if you are in an emergency to send an international letter and are unable to arrange a Global Forever Stamp, in this scenario, using three Forever Stamps equal to the cost of one Global Forever Stamp would be the right solution.
Also read: How Many Stamps Do I Need Per Oz?
How Many Stamps Do You Need for an International Postcard?
The USPS has set the postage for international postcards and letters the same. This means the number of stamps you would need for a letter internationally is the same as for a postcard. So, a Global Forever Stamp will cover the postage of a postcard in the same way as a letter.
How Many Stamps Do You Need for an International Flat?
As we mentioned above, an item that is oversized and heavier than 1 ounce is considered flat. And obviously, you will need more postage for mailing flat items. A single Global Forever Stamp will only cover postage if the item you’re mailing weighs more than 1 ounce and is unusual in shape.
In order to mail more than 1 ounce flat, you’ll need to use two Global Forever Stamps, and postage costs start at $2.60. The postage is similar in terms of all countries. If your flat weighs 3/4 oz, you will be charged more.
Larger envelopes are called flats, and when you want to mail a large envelope, you must enquire about the price list for the country of destination. You can use the USPS price list to figure out how much postage is needed for your email destination.
Requirement for mailing an International Flat:
- An international flat should be flexible
- It should have four square corners.
- It should be of uniform thickness.
- It should have one dimension, i.e., 11 ½ inches long, greater than 6 ⅛ inches high, or ¼ inch thick.
- It should be no more than 12 inches high x 15 inches long x ¾ inch thick.
- A flat’s weight must be between 1 ounce and 15.994 ounces.
FAQs on How Many Stamps For International Mail
Can I send an international letter with regular stamps?
Of course, you can use a regular envelope for any international mail. It’s not necessary to use any special USPS envelopes or packaging for First-Class Mail International. You can prepare your letter or package like domestic mail. You just have to pay a little attention while writing the address. The recipient’s address should be written in the center of the envelope and the sender’s return address should be in the top left corner of the envelope.
Can I use 2 regular stamps for international mail?
Yes, you can use 2 or 3 regular stamps for your international mail. However, your regular stamps should be added to the appropriate international postage amount.
What happens if you use too few stamps?
It is important that when you send any national or international mail, you must use the postage stamps as per the mail. If you use very few stamps, and if it is First-Class Mail with a return address; it will not be delivered to its destination. Mail will be returned to you, stating the reason for non-delivery, “Returned for additional postage”. You can add any additional postage required on that mail, and resend it.
Can I drop an international letter into the mailbox?
Yes, you can drop your international letter into the mailbox, cluster box, or blue collection box. You can also go to the post office and drop your mail in the mailbox there. However, if your mail contains postage stamps that weigh more than 10 ounces, it won’t be right to put your envelope in a mailbox. In this scenario, you have to hand over your letter to the post office staff.
Conclusion
The design of Globe Forever Stamps is different from other Forever Stamps. Using an adorable stamp on your letter or postcard improves the look of your international mail. Send an international mail with a touch of love to a loved one living abroad. It gives the sender and the recipient a different level of pleasure.
Hello, I’m Kevin, a passionate philatelist from Brooklyn, NY, with years of experience in collecting and studying stamps. Through my blog, I aim to share my knowledge and insights on all things related to stamps, including where to buy them and their current market value. As a trained researcher, I pride myself on providing accurate and trustworthy information to my readers. Feel free to reach out to me through the contact form with any questions or suggestions. Happy stamping!