Millions of people living in the United States have ties to Mexico in one form or another. Whether these are family, friends, or business connections, it’s certain that a lot of people are sending mail south of the border.
If you count yourself as part of this group, then you may be wondering how shipping to Mexico works. More specifically, you may be asking yourself how many stamps you need when mailing to Mexico. We’ve got your answer here, so keep reading!
How Many Stamps Do I Need for Mexico at USPS In [currentyear]?
Standard-sized letters and postcards being sent to Mexico weighing less than 1 ounce can be paid for using 1 Global Forever stamp (currently costing $1.30). Larger envelopes (known as flats) start at $2.60, and can be paid for using 2 Global Forever stamps in [currentyear]. Additional postage can be paid for using domestic Forever stamps, additional ounce stamps, or additional cent stamps.
If you’ve still got questions about how many stamps you need when mailing to Mexico, then read our complete guide for more information!
How Many Stamps Do I Need to Mail a Card to Mexico?
To determine how many stamps you’ll need to mail a card to Mexico, you’ll need to know how much your card weighs.
Most standard-sized* cards weigh less than 1 ounce, meaning that you’ll only need one Global Forever stamp for mailing.
Like domestic Forever Stamps, the global version will always have the postage value equivalent to the price of a single First-Class International letter at the time of use.
Put another way, Global Forever stamps will always cover the cost of sending a 1 ounce letter or card to Mexico, even if postage increases.
While Global Forever stamps are the easiest way to send cards to Mexico, you can use domestic Forever Stamps, as long as their value adds up to $1.30.
At the current rate ($0.58), you’d need 3 domestic Forever Stamps to cover postage to Mexico.
This is not recommended, as you’d pay $1.74 to mail your card, which is $0.44 more than you need to.
*USPS defines standard-sized letters as those meeting the following criteria:
- Rectangular
- At least 3 ½ inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick
- No more than 6 ⅛ inches high x 11 ½ inches long x ¼ inch thick
How Much Does It Cost to Send an Envelope to Mexico?
Your shipping prices to Mexico will depend on the weight of your item and the service you use to send it.
Standard-sized cards and letters weighing less than 1 ounce (i.e. those that can be sent using a single Global Forever stamp) currently cost $1.30.
Such pieces are sent via USPS’ First-Class Mail International Service.
First-Class Mail International Service covers letters, postcards, and envelopes weighing up to 3.5 ounces.
Here are the prices you’ll pay based on weight. Keep in mind that you’ll need to round up to the next price group if your item is between weights:
| Weight Not Over (ounces) | Price |
| 1 | $1.30 |
| 2 | $1.96 |
| 3 | $2.60 |
| 3.5 | $3.25 |
How Many Stamps Do I Need for Heavier Letters to Mexico?
If you want to send a card with decorative elements, or include some photos in your letter, there’s a good chance that your mailpiece will weigh more than the 1 ounce maximum weight set by USPS.
If that’s the case, you may be wondering how many stamps (and what combination of stamps) you should use.
Here are some possible ways to pay for your letters weighing more than 1 ounce, but less than 3.5 ounces (the maximum weight for First-Class International letters).
2 ounces ($1.96)
- 1 Global Forever stamp, 1 Domestic Forever stamp, one 5¢ stamp, one 2¢ stamp, and one 1¢ stamp (Total = $1.96)
- 2 Global Forever stamps (Total = $2.60, you overpay by $0.64)
- 4 domestic Forever Stamps (Total = $2.32, you overpay by $0.36).
3 ounces ($2.60)
- 2 Global Forever stamps (Total $2.60)
- 5 domestic Forever Stamps (Total $2.90, you overpay by $0.30)
5 ounces ($3.25)
- 2 Global Forever stamps, 1 Domestic Forever stamp, one 5¢ stamp, and one 2¢ stamp (Total = $3.25)
- 3 Global Forever stamps (Total = $3.90, you overpay by $0.65)
- 6 domestic Forever Stamps (Total = $3.48, you overpay by $0.23)
How Many Stamps Do I Need for Large Envelopes (Flats) to Mexico?
If you’re mailing a letter that weighs more than 3.5 ounces, or one that is bigger than standard letter sizes, then you need to look at USPS’ rates for large envelopes (also known as flats).
Flats must conform to the following dimensions:
- Be a minimum of 6 ⅛ inches high x 11 ½ inches long
- Be a maximum 12 inches high x 15 inches long
- Have a maximum thickness of ¾ of an inch
- Weigh between 1 ounce and 15.994 ounces
Pricing for flats starts at $2.60 for one ounce. Below we’ll cover how many stamps you need for flats up to 3 ounces, as well as some different stamp combinations you can use to pay for postage.
1 ounce ($2.60)
- 2 Global Forever stamps (Total = $2.60)
- 5 domestic Forever Stamps (Total = $2.90, you overpay by $0.30)
2 ounces ($3.38)
- 2 Global Forever stamps, 1 Domestic Forever stamp, and one 20¢ Additional Ounce stamp (Total = $3.38)
- 3 Global Forever stamps (Total = $3.90, you overpay by $0.52)
- 6 domestic Forever Stamps (Total = $3.48, you overpay by $0.10)
3 ounces ($4.14)
- 3 Global Forever stamps, one 20¢ Additional Ounce stamp, and two 2¢ stamps (Total = $4.14)
- 4 Global Forever stamps (Total = $5.20, you overpay by $1.06)
- 8 domestic Forever Stamps (Total = $4.64, you overpay by $0.50)
To learn more, you can also read our posts on how many stamps are needed for 3 oz, how many stamps are needed for a Manila envelope, and 14 USPS stamp types.
Conclusion
When shipping to Mexico, it’s best to keep to standard-sized envelopes. This will make knowing how many stamps to use easier.
In addition, if you’re unsure of the most cost-effective way to pay for postage, it’s worth going into your local post office and having them tell you which stamps to use.
