How to Mail a Letter
Do you need to mail a letter?
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Once in a while, there are still many reasons to send regular letters even in the fast-paced, tech-world of today. Perhaps you want to send a traditional, hand-written thank you note for a gift, or send condolences manually. Pop goes the weaselebooks free download. Perhaps you want to send some cash inserted into a birthday card. There are many occassions when to mail a letter. The good news is that the process of sending a letter is straightforward and incredibly simple. Sending snail mail so easy that you can focus entirely on what you want to say in the letter contents itself.
To mail a letter in the US, here are the steps to follow:
Select The Correct Envelope
Envelopes matter.
When you send a letter, the envelope needs to be strong. Think of it as the case of your valuable mail. Indeed, finding the correct kind of envelope to mail a letter is important. For example, if the letter you select is made of really light paper, once it's in transit, the contents could breakthrough.
Here are a few things to consider when you go about selecting an envelope to mail a letter:
- The destination of the letter - You will want to use a sturdy envelope when you mail your letter overseas. The reason is that along the way, there is a greater chance it could get damaged.
- The letter's intent - If you are mailing a cover letter select a business-size, professional-looking envelope. You can send personal notes in a decorative, colorful envelope if you want to.
- The envelope size - The size of the envelope needs to be appropriate for the size of the contents within. Letters that you write on a note card can be mailed in a smaller sized envelope. Typically, letters that you write on standard paper 8.5 by 11 inches, you can fold this in three and mail-in business-sized envelopes.
- The paper's weight - The paper's weight needs to match the weight of the envelope. Heavy cards should have sturdier envelopes. If your letter is on regular paper, then regular-envelopes made in a similar weight should suffice. If you include photos, find a sturdier envelope that can handle the enclosed weight.
Seal The Envelope
The moment you have selected an envelope to mail a letter, lick the envelope edges to activate the glue, insert your letter inside it and seal the envelope. You can also use a sponge or moistened fingers with water to get the glue wet. If you think the glue won't hold, use some clear tape.
Write Down The Address
On the middle front of the envelope. write down the address. This should include:
- Name of the recipient
- House number
- Apartment number (optional)
- Street name
- City, State
- Postal code or Zip code
Use the two-letter state code or the nine/eleven digit zip code if you know it. Use printed, clear letters in the upper case. Use dark, easy-to-read ink. If machines can't read your handwriting, post office employees will need to read your writing accurately and quickly.
Write address sections on different lines to make it easier to read. Some people use a post office box as an address instead of a home or business address. If this is what you are doing, write down the post office box number followed by the city/state/country, whichever one applies. Include the country's destination if you are writing an international letter. Write the country name on the bottom of the address in the upper case.
Here is an example of a well-written address if you want to mail a letter to the USA from another country:
Mark Tyler Smith
111 Rose Gold Apartment Homes
Apartment 5
Cambridge igcsegeography. White Plains, NY 10603
The Return Address
On the envelope's top left corner, write your address and name. It is better to write your returning address on the envelope front instead of the back. This makes post handling easier. You can also use labels that have your return address pre-printed. The reason you will need to write down your return address is to make sure that the letter returns to you if, for any reason, it does not reach the intended recipient.
For example, your pre-printed return labels can say:
Justin Johnston
55 Lake View Circle
Daly City, CA 94016
First Class Stamps
When you mail a standard-size letter that weighs less than 1 ounce and intended to be sent to a U.S. address, the letter's top right corner needs to have a first-class stamp. You can buy any stamp you need at various retail stores, on USPS online or at any post office. Stamps are available with special designs or standard designs. If you want to buy a commemorative or decorative stamp, ask to see their current selection at the post office. Periodically, stamps increase in price. If you have older postage stamps, check USPS dot com to ensure that the stamps you have will still cover the entire first-class postage cost. At times, you will need to use more than a single stamp.
Mailing The Letter
Deposit The Letter Into The Blue Mailbox
In the U.S., there are USPS mailboxes you will see in most suburbs and cities. These are also called mail drop boxes. All you need to do to mail the letter is to make sure the envelope is properly labeled with the recipient's address and your return address. Check to see if you put the correct number of stamps on the envelope. Open the blue mailbox, drop your mailbox into the slot and close the mailbox.
The box will show a time in which the mail person will collect your letter. The mail person picks up the mail daily. If the blue mailbox indicates a time that has already passed, your letter will be picked up the next day, at the time indicated for the daily pickup. Find a blue mailbox near me.
Take The Letter To The Post Office
If you need to purchase stamps, you can leave your envelope with the post office clerk and he or she will do the mailing for it. Even if you don't need postage and your letter is stamped correctly, you can still let the clerk mail it for you. Find the nearest post office to your home by checking online.
Place The Letter Into Your Home Mailbox
If your home has a mailbox, you can put your letter into the mailbox. Move the mailbox flag upwards to alert the mailman that there is mail to be collected.
Extra Stamps
Over-sized or heavy letters that are meant to be mailed internationally will need additional stamps to reach their intended location. All current rates for postage are displaced at the USPS. If you don't have a scale, go and have it weighted at USPS. The assistant will be able to do exact calculations for how much your mail will cost to send. If you have an accurate scale for postage at home, you can measure and weigh your letter to check to see how much the postage will cost. Check the rates for USPS dot com and check to see how much your letter will cost to send. To the top right letter corner, affix the correct postage.
To mail a letter in most countries, postcards and regular mail cost a small fee to get mailed. The postage stamp indicates your payment. You can buy a stamp from the regular post office. The price of stamps vary in various communities. However, sending a domestic letter within the U.S., letters that weight less than one ounce requires one stamp. That is basically the standard rate.
It normally takes two or three days for your letter to arrive not counting weekdays. International mail takes longer to get to the recipient. Letters with no stamps won't get mailed. It will be returned to the return address. One regular stamp should suffice but if your letter is heavier than normal, you will need more stamps. Find out exactly how much your letter will cost to send by checking at the USPS. You can also get online rates and use your own letter scale, if you have one. You can use USA stamps on international mail, as long as you pay the correct fee.
Does it matter what time of day to mail a letter in your personal mailbox?
To be sure your letter gets mailed promptly, put it in your personal mailbox a day early. Position the flag upwards to ensure that the post office carrier will know that there is something in your mailbox that needs to be mailed. Remember that if you forget to put the flag up in your own personal mailbox, the clerk will not collect your mail.
Find a mail drop off near me.As you can see, it is quite easy to mail a letter in the USA. Stamps don't cost much and if you stay within one ounce, all you need is one stamp. if you send out letters often, it might be a good idea to get your own weighing scale. it might also be a good idea to get more than enough stamps. When you have more than what you need, you will not have to keep running back and force to the post office to buy some more. If all your letters fall below one ounce on the scale, you may not have to buy a scale, as they will all be roughly the same weight.
Postage stamps, envelopes, and packaging supplies such as packaging tape and boxes can be purchased at your local United States Postal Service (USPS). While traditionally people have always had to go to the post office to buy stamps, now there are many places where to buy stamps near me such as retailers like Walmart and Target, pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and grocery stores like Food Lion and Safeway. Its become much easier to find where can i buy stamps, despite several post offices closing.
Where Can I Buy Stamps Near Me
Use the map to find locations that sell US posatge stamps. Feel free to refine your results…
| Location | Category | Region | Days Open | Weekday Hours | Find |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Post Office | All States | Mon – Sat | 9am – 6pm | Locator |
| Walmart | Super Center | All States | Mon – Sun | 24 Hours | Locator |
| Target | Super Center | All States | Mon – Sun | 8am – 11pm | Locator |
| Meijer | Super Center | Midwest | Mon – Sun | 24 Hours | Locator |
| Costco | Wholesale | All States | Mon – Sun | 10am – 8:30pm | Locator |
| CVS | Pharmacy | All States | Mon – Sun | 24 Hours | Locator |
| Walgreens | Pharmacy | All States | Mon – Sun | 8am – 10pm | Locator |
| Rite Aid | Pharmacy | All States | Mon – Sun | 8am – 10pm | Locator |
| Safeway | Super Market | Various | Mon – Sun | 5am – 12am | Locator |
| Kroger | Super Market | Various | Mon – Sun | 6am – 12am | Locator |
| Publix | Super Market | Southeast | Mon – Sun | 7am – 10pm | Locator |
| Food Lion | Super Market | Southeast Northeast | Mon – Sun | 7am – 11pm | Locator |
| Giant | Super Market | North East | Mon – Sun | 24 Hours | Locator |
| Giant Eagle | Super Market | Midwest Northeast | Mon – Sun | 6am – 12am | Locator |
| Harris Teeter | Super Market | East Coast | Mon – Sun | 24 Hours | Locator |
| Ralphs | Super Market | West Midwest | Mon – Sun | 6am – 1am | Locator |
| Albertsons | Super Market | West Southwest | Mon – Sun | 6am – 12am | Locator |
| UPS Store | Courier | All States | Mon – Sun | 9am – 7pm | Locator |
| FedEx | Courier | All States | Mon – Sun | 7am – 10pm | Locator |
| Office Depot | Office Supply | All States | Mon – Sun | 8am – 9pm | Locator |
| Staples | Office Supply | All States | Mon – Sun | 9am – 8pm | Locator |
| Bank of America | Bank | Most States | Mon – Sat | 9am -5pm | Locator |
| Wells Fargo | Bank | All States | Mon – Sat | 9am -5pm | Locator |
| Wawa | Convenience | North East | Mon – Sun | 24 Hours | Locator |
| Amazon | eCommerce | Online | Mon – Sun | 24 hours | Order Now |
Where to Buy Stamps Near Me?
1. Large Retail or Wholesale Stores – Target, Walmart, Costco
Target, Walmart, Meijer, and Costco are large retailer chains and they are located in most towns and cities and some of the best places for where can I buy stamps. Many are open extended hours and in addition to purchasing stamps, you can also buy envelopes and packaging supplies. Not all Targets and Walmart’s sell them so you can ask customer service for help. The Targets and Walmarts that do sell them are classified as “Super Stores”. If you are not sure if your local branch is super store, call ahead and ask if they sell stamps. Costcos on the other hand should have them available in their business services center.
2. Large Pharmacy Chains – CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid
Pharmacy stores like Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS now carry postal stamps and are popular among where to buy stamps. In addition many of them also carry mailing supplies like packing tape and envelopes. To purchase stamps ask the sales clerk. Besides the post office bin name pharmacies tend to be the most popular places where to buy stamps. Small local pharmacy stores will be unlikely to sell them.

3. Grocery Stores – Safeway, Publix, Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, Giant Eagle
Large chain grocery stores like Safeway, Publix, Meijer, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, and Kroger carry postage stamps and are often what people are looking for when trying to find where to buy stamp. For stamps you may need to ask customer service, but for supplies you can usually find half of an aisle dedicated to mailing supplies. these are probably not the only big box grocery stores that carry stamps, you can also inquire at you local Giant, Price Choppers, Shoppers or what ever large grocery store is near by.
4. Retail Copy Centers – Staples, Kinkos, Office Depot
Large retail copy centers like Staples, Office Depot, and Kinkos have stamps available for purchase. Some even offer additional services like putting your package together for you in box, with packing bubbles, and taped properly. Those extra services will cost extra on top of the price you pay for postage.
5. Banks – Wells Fargo, US Bank, KeyBank, Fifth Third
Not a lot of banks sell US postage stamps. You will need to inquire with the teller. At banks, stamps are often sold as single stamps so you really can’t go in and purchase in bulk. Of course going to a bank these days is about as rare as going to your local post office, but are a great solution if you need to find where can I buy stamps near me. Some banks like Wells Fargo, even have a few ATM’s that sell stamps.
6. Gas Stations and Convenience Stores- Shell, Sunoco, Hess, Wawa, 7-11
Many big brand gas stations and convenience stores like Wawa are good places for where to buy stamps near me. The advantage of buying stamps at a gas station is that they are open 24 hours and are at more frequent intervals on the road than other businesses. The next stop you stop in to fill up your tank as the attendant if they sell stamps.

7. Buy Stamps at ATM Machines
Buy stamps at ATM machines. While it is still a new concept, it is slowly growing in popularity. With that being said only brand new ATM machines would have this type of functionality. The only bank branch I have seen do this so far is a Wells Fargo ATM and it was on the west coast of the US.
8. Check Cashing Stores
Many check cashing stores stores sell stamps and envelopes in addition to their normal services. These locations often have better hours than banks and some are even open on Sundays. You can find check cashing stores here.
8. Shipping Stores – UPS Store & FedEx
While UPS and FedEx are competitors of the postal service they actually carry a wide range of USPS products. In addition to stamps, you can get Priority and Express mail through their services as well. If you are looking for where to buy stamps near me these are great because they often carry stamps and shipping supplies.
10. Online – USPS & Amazon
The most convenient place for where can I buy stamps is to purchase them online through the USPS website or through large online retailers like Amazon. When you purchase them online, they get delivered to you via the mail. When you buy postage stamps online it saves the effort of having to run out and get the, however it doesn’t solve your problems if you need a stamp right now for a bill that’s going to be late you will need to find where to buy stamps near me.
25 Places Where to Buy Stamps
Of course all of the stores listed above aren’t the only places where to buy stamps, but they are the most popular in terms of availability and likelihood that that you can find one near you.
What is a Postage Stamp Used For?
A postage stamp is a proof of purchase that you have paid the freight on your mail. It is a small sticker that you place in the top right corner of a box or envelope. Packages that cost more to deliver may need several US-stamps placed on them depending on the weight of the package or envelope.
Stamps come in many different design formats, with the most common featuring the American flag. Stamps of different price ranges often feature different pictures like animals or historical public figures. In addition there are collectable versions that can feature movie themes or famous cartoon characters. All varities contain some type of featured image along with the denomination of its value. A Forever stamp does not show a monetary value, but says the words “Forever” on it and “First Class”
The ink used for a postage stamps is called indicia ink. This specialized ink allows the US postal service to identify whether or not a stamp is real or fake. When your mail goes through a machine at the postal service the first step of the process is to check the indicia ink. Fake stamps and stamps that have been reused or canceled get rejected and returned to sender.
There are personalized stamps you can make at home which don’t have indicia ink, these have special codes embedded on them, that can read on a scanner. For these types you can create your own postage at home with you printer. There is no need to go out and find where to buy stamps near me.
The existence of stamps has been around now for over 200 years. In the early days before advanced postal technology a postal clerk would handle and sort all the mail by hand at a post office. Now the mail system is full of advanced technology that can perform hand writing analysis to determine where your mail needs to be delivered and then sort it through a machine and set it up in the exact order in needs to be delivered by your local carrier.
It’s actually pretty amazing value that for such a low price you can still send a piece of mail across the world and utilize all of the high end technology so cheaply. It’s not just the machines that are impressive there are countless logistics in place such as trucks, boats, and planes. Actually the USPS actually flies mail on Fed Ex plains and commercial airlines because they do not own their own fleet.
While sending envelopes and the like can be inexpensive and is called First Class Mail there are other classes of mail that are much more pricey and have higher standards. For example there is priority, express, delivery confirmation, certified mail, and registered mail classes. This mail gets prioritized by special clerks in the postal service who specialize in these mail classes. They take extra effort to make sure you get what you paid for. When you are looking for where to buy stamps, you won’t find these higher classes of mail.
So what happens when you drop your envelope off to the postal service? First a clerk looks at your mail and validates that it has the correct postage amount and a valid destination. Then they place it in the proper container by groups of zip codes. Next a mail handler loads it onto a truck. The truck driver delivers it to a Processing & Distribution Center (P & DC). At the P & DC your mail gets checked for indicia and several hazmat substances such as anthrax. It then goes through a sorting machine and finds out what general direction it needs to go. If it needs to go to another P & DC in another state it goes on a truck. If it is local, it then gets sorted for the carrier and delivered to the proper post office.
In the case of registered mail which is expensive, your mail or package gets put into a vault that gets monitored by a video camera. Anyone who comes in and out of the vault must sign in or out. The reason being is that the mail in the registry has been paid premium for by the customer for extra protection. If you wanted to send a $10,000 necklace via mail, registered mail is the most secure option. Every piece of registered mail follows a chain of custody that can be tracked to each person that handled it from the first clerk, to the driver, to the carrier.
Other documents irejected scriptures. With the emergence of competing technologies such as email, the demand for buying postage has decreased. Which is also why the amount to buy a postage stamp has increased.
At one time letters were one of the primary methods of communication in this country…parents would write to their sons off at war, sons would write to their girlfriends back home. Those days are long past and have been replaced with phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media. The amount of people looking for where can I buy stamps has declined drastically.
Postage stamps are just not what they used to be; the backbone of communication in America. However there is still a large population that collects stamps and trades them at shows. Some rare stamps can even go for hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the year, condition, and rarity.
The US postal stamp does still have its place and it’s not completely obsolete just yet. There are still bills that come in the mail that require a stamp, there are still packages to be sent at Christmas, wedding invitations, and who doesn’t like receiving a birthday card in the mail not matter how old you are. The problem is they are getting harder to find as USPS local post offices are closing and consolidating. This is why our site is here to help people find where to buy stamps and where can I buy stamps.
How Much are Postage Stamps?
The answer to the question of how much is a postage stamp depends on the weight of the package you are sending. While the demand for stamps has decreased the cost for stamps has increased. Stamps however are still incredibly inexpensive when you consider the technology and logistics involved in mailing a letter and delivering it on time.
Here are the current costs of postage stamps:
- Mailing domestically – Range $0.30 to $0.90
- First Class mail stamp in 2017 is $0.49
- Each additional ounce $0.21
- For flat rate envelopes and boxes the price ranges up to $25 depending on the size of the box
When you search for Where to Buy Stamps Near Me, the stores you will find will sell First Class Forever stamps.
Where to Buy Stamps on Sale?
These are a government issued document and they don’t have sales like a private business would have. Even buying in bulk from USPS doesn’t save you money. I have seen sales where a grocery store retail chain is selling booklets containing $4.40 worth of postage for $4. The idea is that the chain lures you in with a deal on postage and then can try and sell you other items. Normally when I looking for where to buy stamps near me, they are not on sale and I buy them in bulk. There are certain places online though that you can get unused stamps at discounted rates.
Here are the bulk options available:
- Buy a Roll of Stamps–10 count
- Buy a Book of Stamps–20 count
- Buy a Coil of Stamps–100 count
The best value is the “Forever Stamp”. Basically the price you pay for the stamp is good forever. So if you pay 49 cents for a stamp today and tomorrow the price for stamps goes to 55 cents, your stamp can still be used to mail a letter despite the fact it had a lower price for postage.
I find when I buy books of Forever stamps to be the most beneficial, since I normally don’t use them that often it’s easier than having to add postage later if the price of postage rises. For most places you find when you search where to buy stamps near me, they will only sell Forever stamps.
Can You Reuse a Stamp?
No you cannot reuse a stamp. Once a stamp is used it is considered to be canceled. Essentially reusing a stamp is basically stealing, although I am sure the postal inspectors will not be knocking on your door unless you have tried doing this thousands of times.
Stamps are only good for one mailing. You may notice that when you receive a letter there is a round ink stamp that says where your mail originated from and it overlaps onto your postage stamps. This is what is called cancelling the stamp. A clerk or a machine do this so that stamps cannot be reused or resold. If that was the case no one would purchase them or ever have to search for where can I buy stamps near me.
In the early days of technology, a stamp could be faked and slip pass the USPS machines. As I mentioned earlier a postage stamp contains indicia ink. Using a highlighter marker in the top right corner of your envelope could fool a machine. That however is no longer the case and getting caught doing that would lead to trouble anyway. Despite all the technology there are still a lot of hands that touch your mail, if you tried to cheat the system out of postage, most likely a pair of human eyes would catch it somewhere in the process.
What Happens If You Send Mail With Insufficient Postage?
If you try to mail a letter without enough postage, it will be returned to you with a note for insufficient paid postage.
A normal letter with one stamp should only weight up to one ounce. If your letter was slightly over then most likely it will go through. However if you tried to mail something heavy like your tax return with only one stamp, it is coming back to you for sure.
For packages you will see that clerks weigh them when you drop them off. If your package has insufficient postage the clerk will ask you to purchase more stamps.
What Happens If You Apply To Much Postage?
If you put on a package more postage then is required, you are essentially giving away your money. The postal service can’t remove stamps once you have stuck them on. They will cancel your stamps (meaning mark them so you can’t reuse them) and you will have overpaid.
For that reason you should not place two Forever Stamps on an envelope even if its heavy. After the first stamp, adding additional ounces only costs $0.21 per ounce instead of the$0.49 for a one ounce letter. Essentially, if you stick two Forever Stamps on a letter weighing 2 ounces, you would would be paying $0.98 for a letter that should only cost you $0.70.
If you are not sure how much postage to apply to an envelope or package its best to let a postal clerk weigh your package and tell you exactly how much postage to apply.
What is First Class Mail?
First class mail is by far the most popular and cheapest way to have mail delivered by the US Postal Service. First class service allows you to send letters, large envelopes, and post cards. You can also send small boxes first class providing they don’t exceed 15.99 ounces. If your box is over the weight you have to upgrade to the Priority class, which costs more money.
How Long Does It Take to Deliver First Class Mail?
The length of delivery time is dependent on the destination. If you were mailing an envelope with a forever stamp to your friend across town, it should be delivered in one day. Same if you were sending to your friend a few counties over.
On the contrary if you were in New York and were mailing an envelope to your friend in California the delivery time is 3 days. If your friend was in Alaska its 5 days.
The Postal service has a chart of the delivery commitments and should you have any questions about how long it will take, a clerk can answer that for you. If you needed speedier delivery you would have to upgrade from first class to a class like priority or express.
Do International Packages Require US Stamps?
Yes. This is true for both mail coming into and leaving the country. While most countries do have their own mailing systems, there is an international coordination that happens. Even further there is actually USPS presence in foreign countries. When you want to send a letter out of the country you can’t just throw one Forever stamp on it as the rates differ for international. This will cost you more than 2x the price of normal first class for domestic mailing. International First Class currently costs $1.15.
Where Can I Buy Global Forever Stamps
In 2013 the Post office introduced the Global Forever First-Class Mail International stamp. You can buy these in books of 20. The Global Forever stamp means you only need to pay the current price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world even if the rates go up. You will not likely find these specialized postage when you look for where to buy stamps near me, unless you visit a post office.
With that being said you can still mail an international letter without any special postage. You just need to put on 3 Forever stamps, which technically you would be overpaying on postage by $0.32. If you had to send a one ounce international first class letter and you were looking for where to buy stamps near you, I would just get them at a Walmart, bank, or gas station. If you were looking to save the $0.32 then you would have to visit a USPS location to get the postage exactly correct or have a global stamp placed on your letter. So if you are wonder where to buy stamps for international mailing, the best place to purchase them is the post office. All of the retailers above just carry Forever stamps.
Letter Box Near Me
The one extra step that is required when mailing packages into the country is custom forms. These are forms you will need to fill out in addition to purchasing postage. On the customs form you will need to make some basic claims about what is in the package. This system is in place for national security reasons. Should something malicious be mailed, the postal inspection service needs to be able to trace the mail back to its point of origin.
Litter Box Near Me
Where Can I Buy Stamps Conclusion
Letter Drop Box Near Me
If you are looking for where to buy stamps near me, there are a lot of places to purchase postage besides USPS. If you are not sure if a location sells them you can always inquire at the register if they carry them. Your best bet for where can i buy stamps near me is banks, large retailers, pharmacies, and grocery stores.
About The Author of Where to Buy Stamps Near Me
Letter Box Near Me Royal Mail
James served as a Level 17 Postal Service Supervisor at a Processing and Distribution Center in NY for 6 years. He oversaw mailing operations for over 120 employees on the night shift. Through perseverance and dedication he escaped the life without going postal. Now he is the main content contributor for Where to Buy Stamps Near Me.
