If you’ve got a small package to send, then you may be wondering if you can use stamps to mail packages, and if yes, how many you’ll need to attach to your parcel.
In this article, we’ll go over package shipping rates, and share how many stamps you’ll need to ensure that your items make it to their destination. Read on to find out everything you need to know!
How Many Stamps Do I Need for a Package In [currentyear]?
At current postal rates ($0.58 per Forever Stamp), you need 47 Forever Stamps to cover postage for a flat-rate Priority Mail Express package in [currentyear]. Flat-rate Priority Mail packages require 15 Forever Stamps. Pricing for Media Mail packages starts at $3.19 for 1-pound packages, meaning you need 6 Forever Stamps to cover postage.
If you still have questions about how many stamps your package requires, then our guide can help, so keep reading for more facts!
How Much Is It to Ship a Package?
Before getting into the question of how many stamps you need to ship a package, it’s helpful to know how much postage costs.
USPS offers several kinds of shipping services for packages. Let’s take a look at each one and see how much they cost:
| Service | Starting Price |
| Priority Mail Express | $26.95 |
| Priority Mail | $8.70 |
| First-Class Package Service
(maximum weight 13oz) |
$4.50 |
| Media Mail | $3.19 |
Can You Use Stamps to Mail a Package?
Now that you’ve got a better idea how much postage costs for each of USPS’ package services, you may be wondering if you’re able to use stamps to mail a package.
You can use stamps to mail a package, but it tends to be more work than it’s worth.
For starters, USPS regulations stipulate that packages without a prepaid shipping label weighing 13 ounces or more must be taken to a post office, so the clerk can verify the contents.
In other words, you won’t save yourself time or effort by using stamps to pay for your package, as you’ll still need to drop it off in person.
What’s more, there’s a decent chance that you’ll miscount or miscalculate the number of stamps to add. This could result in either under or overpaying for postage.
If you don’t include enough stamps, your package may get returned to you for insufficient postage. If you include too many stamps, then you’re throwing money down the drain.
To avoid any shipping issues, we recommend using a home postage scale and USPS’ price calculator to determine your postage amount then printing a shipping label.
If you don’t have a scale available at home, take your item to the post office, and have them print the postage for you.
Which Stamps Do I Need for a USPS Package?
If you still want to use stamps to pay for postage on your USPS package, there are some ways to make it easier.
For example, USPS sells Priority Mail Express stamps. These stamps retail for $26.95 each, which covers flat rate shipping for the Priority Mail Express Service.
That means just one of these stamps is all you’ll need when shipping via Priority Mail Express.
USPS also sells Priority Mail stamps, priced at either $7.95 or $8.95. This could be enough to cover postage, depending on the type of envelope or box you choose.
Finally, USPS sells dollar-value stamps (e.g. $2, $5, and $10), which can be used regardless of which shipping service you choose.
In addition to these more expensive stamp options, you can use standard Forever Stamps to cover postage.
We go into more detail about how many Forever Stamps you’ll need for various package weights.
How Many Stamps Do I Need for a 1 Pound Package?
In most cases, you’ll probably use Priority Mail to ship packages weighing 1 pound.
Shipping for Flat Rate envelopes costs $8.95, while those sent in small flat rate boxes cost $9.45.
At the current Forever Stamp rate ($0.58), you would need 16 Forever Stamps to cover Priority Mail shipping in an envelope, and 17 Forever Stamps to cover a small box.
In both cases, you’ll be overpaying for postage if you elect to use Forever Stamps to pay for postage.
In the case of the envelope, postage costs $8.95, but you’ll pay $9.28 (i.e. $0.33 more than you need to).
In the case of the small flat rate box, postage costs $9.45, but you’ll pay $9.86 (i.e. $0.41, more than you need to).
If your package contains books, music, or educational charts, you can send it using USPS’ Media Mail Service.
One pound packages sent via Media Mail start at $3.19. Therefore, you’d need 6 Forever Stamps to cover postage.
As with Priority Mail, you’ll be overpaying. Postage costs $3.19, but you’ll pay $3.48 (i.e. $0.29 more than you need to).
How Many Stamps Do I Need for a 2 Pound Package?
To determine how many stamps you need for a 2-pound package, let’s again look at 2 shipping services: Priority Mail and Media Mail.
As long as you’re using Flat Rate shipping products, a 2-pound Priority Mail package will use the same number of stamps as a 1-pound package.
So, you’ll need 16 Forever Stamps to mail a small Flat Rate envelope, and 17 Forever Stamps to mail a small Flat Rate box.
If you’re using Media Mail for your 2-pound package, expect to pay $3.82.
You’d need 7 Forever Stamps to cover postage. Again, you’ll overpay. Seven Forever Stamps costs $4.06, so you’ll pay $0.24 more than you need to.
To know more, you can also read our posts on how many stamps are needed for a card, Purple Heart Forever stamps, and USPS stamps types.
Conclusion
While you can pay for package shipping using stamps, we usually don’t recommend it. Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail stamps are easy enough to use, but Forever Stamps leave too much room for error.
