For a First-Class Mail stamped letter weighing up to 1 ounce, one Forever stamp covers the $0.82 letter price on the USPS schedule effective October 4, 2026. A PWE that is too rigid or unevenly thick may also owe the $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge, making that 1-ounce example $1.31. Prices as of October 2026; check USPS Notice 123 for changes. Weigh the fully packed envelope—not just the card—and check whether the finished piece still qualifies as a letter.
2026 USPS stamped-letter prices
The table shows stamped-letter postage by packed-envelope weight, before any nonmachinable surcharge. The Forever stamp covers the first ounce; each additional ounce is $0.29.
| Fully packed letter weight | Stamped-letter postage | Postage combination |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 oz | $0.82 | 1 Forever stamp |
| Over 1 oz through 2 oz | $1.11 | 1 Forever + 1 additional ounce |
| Over 2 oz through 3 oz | $1.40 | 1 Forever + 2 additional ounces |
| Over 3 oz through 3.5 oz | $1.69 | 1 Forever + 3 additional ounces |
These are the time-limited rates for stamped letters shown in Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026. If your envelope is nonmachinable, add the $0.49 surcharge to the postage in the table. That is why a 1-ounce nonmachinable letter costs $1.31 rather than only the base $0.82.
How to work out how many stamps to use
Use the finished mailpiece to choose postage. A card by itself is not the item the postal scale rates: the envelope, card protection, stiffener, packing slip, and anything else inside all contribute to the final piece. Since those materials and packing methods vary, weigh one fully packed envelope on a postal or kitchen scale instead of relying on a typical card weight.
- Pack it completely. Put the card in its protection, add any stiffener or slip, place everything in the envelope, and seal it as you will mail it.
- Weigh the finished envelope. Use the next listed weight band when the reading is above a band’s limit; USPS charges by the stamped-letter weight bracket, not by how many cards are inside.
- Cover the base and additional ounces. Start with 1 Forever stamp for the first ounce. For each additional ounce, add $0.29 in additional-ounce postage. Stamps can be combined to reach the required postage; it does not have to be one stamp for every part of the price.
- Check the shape too. If the envelope is nonmachinable, include the surcharge as well as the weight-based letter postage. Extra postage for weight does not make an oversized or too-thick piece a letter.
When a PWE stops being a letter
USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101 sets shape, size, thickness, and weight rules for letters. For this stamp guide, the practical limits to remember are a maximum letter weight of 3.5 ounces and a maximum thickness of 1/4 inch. A First-Class letter over 3.5 ounces is charged flat prices; a piece over 1/4 inch thick is a flat, not a letter.
That means you should not keep adding ounce postage when the finished envelope crosses a letter limit. Measure the mailpiece and check USPS’s current flat-mail rules and prices instead. If it still fits the letter limits, use the stamped-letter price table above, then make a separate machinability check.
The nonmachinable surcharge: rigidity and lumps matter
Weight is only half the PWE postage decision. Under the USPS DMM, a letter can be nonmachinable when it is too rigid—USPS describes this as a piece that “does not bend easily”—or has uneven thickness from items inside. A toploader may create either problem if it makes the finished envelope stiff or lumpy. It is the complete envelope that matters, not the name of the protection you used.
The DMM lists other nonmachinable conditions too, including a length-to-height aspect ratio under 1.3 or over 2.5, clasps, strings or buttons, and a plastic or non-paper exterior. If the completed letter meets a nonmachinable criterion, the time-limited surcharge in Notice 123 is $0.49. A 1-ounce nonmachinable letter therefore has $0.82 in base postage plus the surcharge, for $1.31 total.
The standard is not an invitation to force the mailpiece to bend. If the completed PWE does not bend easily or has a lump, apply the USPS criteria and include the surcharge where required rather than assuming a single Forever stamp covers it.
When to skip stamps and use tracked shipping
Stamps are for qualifying letter mail; they do not provide the tracking a package label does. If the order falls into a TCGplayer tracking or signature tier, the buyer selected a service that requires tracking, or you need delivery confirmation, choose an appropriate tracked service instead. Follow TCGplayer’s shipping guidelines for its order requirements, and buy the postage through your chosen carrier or shipping platform. Do not use the letter table as a substitute for those requirements.
For a low-value order that is appropriate for a PWE, keep a simple process: pack, weigh, confirm the letter dimensions and thickness, check machinability, and apply the correct postage. If any part does not fit the letter rules, switch to the right service rather than trying to solve it with more stamps.
What the TCGplayer CSV can—and cannot—tell you
TCGplayer’s shipping export guide includes a Product Weight field in ounces in column K. That is order-export information; USPS postage applies to the complete mailpiece. Weigh the finished envelope on a postal or kitchen scale and check its shape before choosing stamps.
TCG Speed Shipper turns a TCGplayer CSV into printed addresses on #10 envelopes, Avery address labels, or thermal labels, and can print matching packing slips. It doesn't buy postage, but its Shipping Plan gives a stamp estimate for your envelope orders: it adds TCGplayer's Product Weight to the packaging weight you enter (envelope, toploader, slip) and totals the Forever stamps, additional-ounce postage and any nonmachinable surcharge at the prices above. Treat it as an estimate. Weigh anything close to the next ounce before you stamp it.
Common stamp mistakes
- Weighing only the card. Choose postage from the completed, sealed envelope.
- Assuming a toploader is always machinable—or always nonmachinable. Check the finished piece against USPS’s rigidity and thickness criteria.
- Forgetting the surcharge. If the letter is nonmachinable, the surcharge is added to the weight-based letter postage.
- Treating a flat as a letter. A piece over the letter thickness or weight limit needs the applicable flat-mail pricing.
- Using stamps when tracking is required. Check TCGplayer’s shipping guidance and use a tracked service when the order calls for it.
FAQ
How many stamps do I need to mail a trading card in a PWE?
For a stamped letter weighing up to 1 ounce, one Forever stamp covers the $0.82 letter price on the schedule effective October 4, 2026. Add $0.29 for each additional ounce through 3.5 ounces. A nonmachinable letter may also owe a $0.49 surcharge, so weigh the fully packed envelope and check its shape.
How many stamps do I need for a 2-ounce PWE?
The stamped-letter price for up to 2 ounces is $1.11. One Forever stamp covers the first ounce, and the remaining $0.29 can be covered with additional-ounce postage or by combining stamps.
Does a toploader always need nonmachinable postage?
Not automatically. USPS lists a letter as nonmachinable when, among other criteria, it is too rigid and does not bend easily or has uneven thickness. If USPS classifies it as nonmachinable, add the $0.49 surcharge to the weight-based postage.
Can I combine stamps to pay for a trading-card envelope?
Yes. A Forever stamp covers the 1-ounce letter price, additional-ounce postage covers the added weight, and stamps can be combined to meet the postage due.
When does a PWE stop qualifying as a letter?
A First-Class letter over 3.5 ounces is charged flat prices, and a mailpiece over 1/4 inch thick is a flat rather than a letter. Check USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101 for the full shape and size rules.
Does TCGplayer’s Product Weight tell me how much postage to use?
TCGplayer’s shipping export includes a Product Weight field in ounces. Postage is based on the complete mailpiece, so weigh the fully packed envelope and check whether its shape is machinable before choosing stamps.