Have you ever bought a wild birthday card for a friend or family member? you know the type: multiple pages, popups, they can even come with trinkets. There’s no denying that cards like this are great, but there is a downside.
Because of its weight, a permanent stamp often does not provide adequate postage for these types of cards. Then what do you do? Enter the Extra Ounce Stamp, USPS’s money-saving answer to mail that’s a little too heavy. if you want to know more, check out my research on the topic!
what are extra ounce stamps?
usps issues extra ounce stamps to cover postage for more than one ounce (up to a maximum of 3.5 ounces) starting in 2022. you can combine extra ounce stamps with forever or denominational stamps. just like forever stamps, the value of an extra ounce stamp is stable and will always cover the cost of shipping an extra ounce.
if you still have questions about using extra ounce stamps, stay where you are; I have all the answers!
what are extra ounce stamps used for?
Extra ounce stamps are used when you send a card or letter that weighs more than one ounce.
Currently, USPS charges $0.20 for each additional ounce a letter weighs up to 3.5 ounces.
That said, Forever Stamps will cover the cost of postage on the first ounce, but if your item is heavier, you’ll need to make up the difference.
say, for example, you write a long letter or send a birthday card that contains some fancy decorations, making the letter weigh 1.5 ounces.
Your forever stamp covers one ounce, but you still owe usps for the extra half ounce of postage, which is where the extra one ounce stamps come in handy!
what is the benefit of additional ounce stamps?
In addition to covering extra postage fees and ensuring your item gets to its destination (both are important!), extra one-ounce stamps can save you money.
Let’s take the 1.5 ounce birthday card example from earlier to see how it works.
again, your forever stamp will cover one ounce of postage, but what do you do with the remaining half ounce?
One option is to use two forever stamps, which currently cost $0.58 each, meaning your 1.5-ounce letter will cost you $1.16 to post.
Alternatively, you can use a forever stamp and an additional one ounce stamp.
again, a forever stamp costs $0.58, while an additional one ounce stamp costs $0.20. in this scenario, your 1.5-ounce letter will cost $0.78 to mail.
also, using an extra one ounce stamp is $0.38 cheaper than using two stamps forever.
can I use a forever stamp and an additional one ounce stamp?
yes, you can combine a forever stamp with an additional one ounce stamp to ensure your item has enough postage.
are extra ounce stamps good forever?
All USPS stamps, except those with a dollar value printed on them, remain valid for their stated purpose, even if the cost of postage increases.
This way, the extra ounce stamps are like forever stamps. however, they are not called forever stamps to avoid confusion.
Also, it’s important to note that an additional one ounce stamp alone is not enough to send a standard letter.
That said, you should combine it with a forever seal or a denominational seal. hypothetically, you could also use several additional ounce stamps.
how much do extra ounce stamps cost?
usps sells additional individual ounce stamps for $0.20. however, you can purchase an additional 20-ounce sheet of stamps for $4 or a roll of 100 for $20.
Still, please note that these are the rates for additional ounce stamps at this time and the price may change in the future if USPS increases the cost of shipping.
where can i buy additional ounce stamps?
You can purchase additional ounce stamps online at the USPS website, at your local post office, or by calling 1-800-stamp-24 (1-800-782-6724).
In addition, USPS representatives can take your order by phone Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 8:00 p.m. m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 6:00 p.m. m.
can you use additional ounce stamps alone?
yes, you can use additional ounce stamps only for sending letters; however, you will need to use enough to cover the postage fee.
For example, you could use three additional one-ounce stamps ($0.20*3 = $0.60) to cover the postage on a one-ounce letter.
That said, using a forever stamp is a bit cheaper and a lot easier.
what are the extra ounce stamps like?
Like other USPS stamps, extra ounce stamps have an image in the center of the stamp and include the inscriptions “usa”, “extra ounce” and the year of release.
currently, usps has two additional ounce stamp designs you can choose from.
One design, released in 2017, features eight graphic top hats in the style of Uncle Sam. In addition, under each hat there is an oval shape that represents a face.
each face has a different hue, presumably to celebrate the racial and ethnic diversity of the united states.
in addition, usps released a second design in 2021 featuring a bush rabbit, a small cottontail native to the us west coast. uu.
For more information on USPS stamps, you can also see our posts on types of USPS stamps, whether USPS stamps expire, and what are forever stamps.
conclusion
one of usps lesser known stamps, the extra one ounce stamp is a convenient way to pay for small postage costs when mailing letters and cards.
Not only that, but they will also save you money when used for their intended purpose.
Even better, the extra ounce stamps have a stable value, meaning you can stock up now and use them as needed without fear of them expiring or losing value.