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Sending a postcard abroad from the US

Prices checked

How much does it cost to mail a postcard abroad?

Postage for a postcard from the US to any country is $1.75, the price of one Global Forever stamp. It’s the same for every country, and has been since July 12, 2026. Making one photo postcard yourself costs about $3–5 all in, with a trip or two to a print shop and a post office.

Paper Plane Post, which we make, is $7 for the printed photo card, the postage and the mailing, with nothing else to buy. A card and a stamp are cheaper, if you can wait for the card and get to a mailbox. Make a postcard.

What one photo postcard abroad costs

One card with your own photo on it, mailed to one person abroad, starting from nothing. Prices are before tax.

RouteOne cardWhat else it takes
Store-printed photo postcard, stamp at the counter$0.98 card + $1.75 stamp = $2.73, plus Walmart’s shipping on a small order3–5 business days for the card to arrive, then a trip to the post office
Store-printed card, stamps bought online$0.98 card + shipping, plus $19.60 for a sheet of 10 Global Forever stampsTwo deliveries to wait for, and a mailbox
Print shop, same dayOne color page on cardstock, trimmed to 4×6, from $0.70 (Office Depot) or $0.82 (Staples) before cardstock and cutting fees, + $1.75 stamp: about $3–5Two stops: the print shop, then a post office for the stamp
Print at home$30.16 for 100 Avery 4×6 cards + about $0.04–0.40 of ink + a stampA photo printer, and the stamp trip or sheet
Postcard appMyPostcard from $3.49, Touchnote $4.49, Postcard.bot $2.99 abroadAn app or an account
Paper Plane Post$7Nothing: we print the card, add the postage and mail it

For the apps, see the cheapest ways to send a postcard. A plain 4×6 photo print isn’t a safe substitute for a postcard, because USPS turns away highly glazed card stock.

Sources, checked October 20, 2026: USPS Notice 123, the retail postcard price, $1.75 to every country; Walmart Photo postcards, the 4.25×6 full-photo card, delivered to your home; the 3.5×5 pickup card is too short to mail as a postcard; USPS Postal Store, Global Forever stamps, sold in sheets of 10; Office Depot document printing, color from $0.70, with cardstock and cutting; Staples copies, $0.82 color; FedEx Office Quick Postcards, a minimum of 50; Avery 8386, $30.16 for 100 cards; Epson ET-8550, about 4 cents of ink per 4×6 photo, against 40 cents with cartridges. Prices change; check the seller’s own site before you order.

What USPS doesn’t promise

  • A delivery time. USPS publishes no service standard for First-Class Mail International; it says delivery varies by destination. Our estimate is 1–3 weeks.
  • Tracking. A postcard sent abroad has no tracking or insurance once it leaves the US, and Registered Mail costs well over the card.
  • Any size of card. The postcard price covers rectangular cards from 3½ × 5½ to 4¼ × 6 inches, 0.007 to 0.016 inch thick. A 4×6 card qualifies. If you mail one yourself, mark it “AIRMAIL/PAR AVION”.

The price rises most years: $1.75 from July 12, 2026, $1.70 from July 13, 2025, $1.65 from July 14, 2024.

Questions

How much is a stamp for a postcard to another country?

$1.75. One Global Forever stamp, or $1.75 of postage at the counter, mails a standard postcard by First-Class Mail International to any country. The price has been the same everywhere since July 12, 2026.

Can I use regular Forever stamps on a postcard going abroad?

Yes, at face value, but they don’t add up evenly. A Forever stamp is worth $0.82, so two come to $0.11 short and three overpay by $0.71. One Global Forever stamp is the exact postage.

How long does a postcard take to reach another country?

USPS doesn’t say: it publishes no delivery standard for First-Class Mail International, and the card has no tracking. Our estimate is 1–3 weeks.

What’s the cheapest way to send a photo postcard abroad?

A store-printed photo card and a stamp, at about $2.73 plus shipping, if you can wait for the card to arrive and get to a post office. Paper Plane Post costs more, at $7 with the printing, postage and mailing included.

The 193 countries we mail to abroad

Each country’s page has its postage and how to address the card. We mail within the US too.

Availability can change with postal service disruptions. Make a postcard or read the FAQ.