Square Envelope Postage

[jkiah]

Does anyone know what the postage is for square cards (4 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in)? I am "attempting" to start some holiday cards this weekend and wanted to see if it was too expensive to use this size card for my 100+ Christmas card list.

Thanks y'all!

[doxiegal]

I believe they are an additional 13 cents...

[shell_scraps]

they usps.com website says

First-Class envelopes weighing 1 ounce or less require an additional $0.13 nonmachinable surcharge if any one of the following apply:

* It is a square letter
* It contains very rigid items such as wood or metal
* It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices
* It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter
* It contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven
* The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (calculate this below)

[nbwcc]

I put my 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch cards in the regular greeting card size (Medium SU!) envelopes. This way there is no extra postage!!

[fionna51]

Any envelope mailed must be a minimum size of 3.5 x 5 inches. A2 envelopes are for 4.25 x 5.5 so don't really fit a 4.5 x 4.5 card. There is a surcharge on square envies of 13 cents.

The following is from the USPS site:

First-Class Mail�
First-Class Mail� is used for personal and business correspondence. Any mailable item may be sent as First-Class Mail. It includes postcards, letters, large envelopes, and small packages. The maximum weight is 13 ounces. Pieces over 13 ounces can be sent as Priority Mail.

The minimum size for First-Class Mail is 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007 inch thick. Pieces weighing 1 ounce or less may be subject to the nonmachinable surcharge.

Postcard and Stamped Card Rates:
Postcard (commercially sold) $0.24
Stamped card (sold by USPS) 0.26
Postcard Rate Dimensions:
Minimum: 3-1/2 inches high by 5 inches long by 0.007 inch thick.
Maximum: 4-1/4 inches high by 6 inches long by 0.016 inch thick.
Postcards over the maximum height or length for the card rate are charged the First-Class Mail letter rates; the nonmachinable surcharge may apply.

Nonmachinable Surcharge:
An additional $0.13 is required for items weighing 1 ounce or less with any of the following criteria:
A. Square letters.
B. The height exceeds 6-1/8 inches, or length exceeds 11-1/2 inches, or thickness exceeds 1/4 inch.
C. The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (length is the dimension parallel to the address).
D. It has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.
E. It is too rigid or contains items such as pens that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven.
F. It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.

Personally, I always size my cards to fit envelopes that fit the criteria without having to pay the surcharge. Square cards go in a rectangular envelope. I copied that idea from Hallmark...who supplies rectangular envelopes that are sealed off on one end for their square cards. See a card store for how to do that.