The United States Postal Service (USPS) categorises a 9-inch by 12-inch envelope as a big envelope. But what does this entail in terms of postage? If you need to mail something pretty flat, but also something that doesn’t fit in a regular letter envelope, you may be wondering how many stamps you’ll need to affix onto that outgoing mail. Learn more about how many stamps to place on a 9×12 envelope to guarantee its cost is covered — and that it arrives safely.
Adding Postage to 9×12 Envelopes That Weigh More Than an Ounce
Two First Class stamps will cover the cost of a 9×12 envelope that weighs an ounce or less. A First Class stamp has a value of $0.55, but the fee to ship a large envelope is only $1.00, so you’ll technically be paying an extra $0.10 for the convenience of using stamps.
Should your 9×12 envelope end up weighing more than 1 ounce, you’ll need more stamps, and the amount of stamps you’ll require depends on the total weight. You’ll need to pay $0.20 each extra ounce. So, if you’re mailing an item that weighs 4.3 ounces, it’ll cost $1.80 – four First Class stamps.
If you’re unsure about expenses, you can use the USPS postage calculator to confirm that you’re placing the right amount of stamps on your envelope. However, First Class stamps aren’t your only option when it comes to postage.
Paying for Postage on a 9×12 Envelope
If you’re mailing some papers or thin objects using your 9×12 envelope, you can place two First Class stamps on it and slip it into your mailbox. It will then be collected by your mail carrier and delivered to its destination.
Know that there is a possibility of paying a little more than necessary if you choose this route. If you’d rather have your box weighed and paid for in person at your local post office, you can do so and pay with a debit card, credit card, cash, or any other methods of payment your post office takes.
You can avoid paying too much if you choose this method, but you might have to wait in line. Even if going to the post office to buy stamps doesn’t cost you too much money, the time and effort you put into doing so will add up. Since this is the case, you may decide to figure out postage on your own. Weighing and paying for packages has never been simpler, thanks to a plethora of services and helpful products; nevertheless, if you’re only delivering a single item and don’t often ship packages, it may not be the most efficient option.
For instance, if you often ship packages through First Class mail but despise waiting in line at the post office, you can save time and energy by buying the packaging supplies you use most. After that, you can print a shipping label from an online postal service after figuring out how much it will cost to ship your package. Users can quickly and easily print mailing labels and calculate postage using the USPS’s Click-N-Ship service. Stamps.com is another option that provides customers with free postal scales in addition to postage savings.
How Much It Costs to Mail Your Envelope Can Also Be Affected By These Other Variables
Delivery costs to your desired location may increase if your huge envelope is not perfectly flat. While the post office’s various equipment can sort flat envelopes quickly and efficiently, personnel must sort lumpy or inflexible envelopes by hand. There will be some additional labour involved, which will drive up the price.
Imagine, for instance, that you really want to mail that 2-ounce 9×12 envelope, but it’s a little lumpy and you’re not sure if it would fit. Shipping costs could rise to $3.85 (a $2.05 increase). The exact fees you’ll incur for mailing an odd package depend on where you’re sending it and what kind of item it is.
However, 9×12 envelopes are ideal for conveniently sending a wide range of things. Some of the most frequent products you’ll be able to ship in large 9×12 envelopes include:
Books
DVDs
Video games
Photographs
Manuscripts
Artwork on a small scale
Because of their flatness, most of these items can be shipped in place of boxes by using standard postal mail. Remember that when mailing products that require a larger 9×12 envelope, flat and flexible are preferable (and most cheap).
There Are Quicker Ways to Send Your 9×12 Envelope
There are times when a First Class stamp is not the best option because the product needs to get there as quickly as possible. Sending a large envelope via First Class mail can take anywhere from one to three business days (inside the United States), but there is a speedier option available.
Priority Mail Express 2-Day from the US Postal Service promises next-day delivery if shipped before noon, or it will arrive within two days if shipped later. When you consider that the US Postal Service handles almost 500 million pieces of mail every day, that’s an incredible turnaround. However, you should expect to pay a greater premium for this type of rapid service.
It might cost you $1.10 to mail a large, flat, flexible envelope using First Class postage if it weighs 1 ounce. But sending the same parcel with Priority Mail Express 2-Day service could set you back $26.60. The United States Postal Service (USPS) still provides valuable and excellent services for people who need to transport packages rapidly. When it comes to anything that has to be there fast, it may be worth it to invest the extra money for Priority Mail delivery.
