Last Updated on October 9, 2022 by StampGuide Team

How Many Sheets of Paper Per Stamp Can I Mail?

The short answer to how many sheets of paper per stamp is that in most cases, you can mail 4-6 sheets of letter-size paper in a standard business envelope. This only applies if your envelope with the sheets of paper inside weighs less than 1 ounce.

If you use the general guideline of 4-6 sheets of paper per stamp, it’s safe to place one stamp on the envelope. However, there are a few things you need to know about to make sure you don’t waste money on stamps unnecessarily. For this reason, I have included more helpful information so you will have all the knowledge you need about apply the proper postage on all your mail.

 

What happens if your envelope is over the weight limit?

A few years ago, I mailed some important and time-sensitive documents by stuffing as many papers as possible into a standard envelope. I then placed a single postage stamp on the envelope and sent it. A few days later, it was back in my mailbox with the words “Insufficient Postage” stamped on it. That’s when I learned how many sheets of paper per stamp are allowed when mailing standard envelopes.

It was an easy one for the mail carrier to reject. The over-stuffed envelope was a blatant violation of the weight restriction. However, sometimes your letter may appear to be close to the weight limit but may be slightly over, putting you at risk of having your letter returned. That is why it is essential to know how many sheets of paper per stamp are allowed.

 

Why is it necessary to determine how many stamps a letter needs?

Knowing how much you need to pay for postage on your letters is essential in figuring out how many sheets of paper per stamp I can mail. I have often paid more than I should have because I didn’t figure out the correct rates based on the weight of my letters.

Even if you pay extra postage fees by accident, you won’t get your money back. Although you may only spend a few cents more than you should, it will cost you a lot in the long run. But in the following sections, we’ll show you how to figure out the costs of your stamps so you don’t overpay for postage again.

 

How many ounces for one stamp?

• A 1-ounce letter will need at least one First-Class stamp. A First-Class stamp will cost $0.60 after July 2022.
• After that, you have to pay $0.24 for every ounce your package weighs over this amount.

In other words, when you purchase a first-class, standard, or forever stamp, you are just buying the postage for an item that will be sent through the mail and weighs less than one ounce.

Although the rule says you can send one ounce of mail through the postal service with the $0.60 stamp, most postal employees and even postmasters won’t reject your letter if your stamped envelope weighs around 1.3 ounces. You really start to stretch things when they weigh 1.5 ounces or more.

To get your letter to its final destination, you will need to purchase another stamp or even a partial value stamp.

 

How many stamps by weight?

Once you exceed the 1-ounce limit for a First-Class stamp to cover your postage cost, you have to calculate the added stamps you will need to mail your envelopes.

For example:

• One 2-ounce first-class letter costs $0.84.
• One 3-ounce first-class letter costs $1.08, and so on.

 

Determine how many sheets of paper per stamp by weighing your letter.

 

I use an inexpensive food scale in my kitchen for numerous things, including weighing my envelopes if I think they may be over the one-ounce limit. Using a scale with units in ounces and not just grams is helpful. That way, you don’t have to do any conversions. If you plan to mail letters regularly, this will be the best option to determine how many sheets of paper per stamp.

 

When do I need 2 stamps on my letter?

As previously mentioned, an envelope and its contents weighing one ounce will require at least one first-class stamp. A first-class stamp will cost $0.60 in July 2022. After that, you must pay $0.24 per additional ounce of your package.

 

First-Class Mail
LETTERS
Weight Not Over (ounces)	Price
1	0.60
2	0.84
3	1.08
3.5	1.32

As you can see in this chart, after your letter exceeds the 1-ounce (or 1.3 oz if you want to be honest) but is still under 2 ounces, you will need to put a second stamp on the envelope. However, it doesn’t have to be a $0.60 stamp.

You can purchase stamps for as little as 2 cents up to 10 cents. These stamps will allow you to put the correct postage on your envelopes without wasting money. You can purchase these stamps online directly from the USPS website. These savings can add up over time, especially if you plan on mailing a lot of letters.

Conclusion:

I believe we have clearly answered the question about how many sheets of paper per stamp. Use one 60-cent stamp on a one-ounce letter which includes 4-6 sheets of paper.

How did we determine the number of sheets? We are confident that this article has helped you understand why it’s crucial to weigh the envelope before addressing your letter. You can use one of the numerous techniques we described to determine how many stamps you’ll need for your mail once you know the weights of the paper and the envelope.