RSVP Envelope Postage
A reply envelope needs one Forever stamp, worth $0.82. A reply postcard with no envelope needs a $0.65 postcard stamp. Either way, the stamp goes on before the invitation is sealed.
Your answer
Standard letter
No extra postageRegular letter postage. No surcharge.
- Postage per piece
- $0.82
- 150 invitations
- $123.00
Stamps for each one
1 × Forever (1 oz letter)
Why
- This is a standard letter: within 6.125 x 11.5 in, no thicker than 0.25 in, and length divided by height is 1.41 (it must be between 1.3 and 2.5). USPS rule
Rates last verified on
150 invitations: $123.00 in postage ($0.82 each, standard letter)
Do you have to stamp the RSVP?
No rule requires it. It is etiquette, and it is practical: guests can reply without hunting for a stamp. If the budget is tight, a reply by website or phone needs no postage at all.
The reply envelope
Reply envelopes are usually A1 (4 Bar) or A2. Both are rectangles that pass the shape rule, and a reply card in its envelope is far below 1 oz. One Forever stamp, $0.82, is correct.
Use a Forever stamp rather than a stamp with a printed price. Replies can come back months later, possibly after a price change, and a Forever stamp is always worth the current 1 oz rate.
The reply postcard
A reply card mailed bare, as a postcard, costs $0.65 instead of $0.82. To qualify it must be between 3 1/2 x 5 in and 4 1/4 x 6 in, and between 0.007 and 0.016 in thick, which is roughly normal postcard stock. Very thick double-weight card is over the limit.
It also removes the reply envelope from the suite, which lightens the outer envelope. For 150 invitations, postcards save $25.50 in reply postage alone.
Square reply envelopes
A small square reply envelope has both problems at once. Under 5 in it cannot be mailed at all, and at 5 in or more it pays the $0.49 surcharge like any square, for $1.31 each. Guests will not know that, and the replies come back to them. Use a rectangle for replies even if the invitation is square.
What the RSVP adds to the outer envelope
The reply card, its envelope and its stamp all ride inside the main invitation, so they count toward its weight. They are often what moves a suite from $0.82 to $1.11. Always weigh the invitation with the stamped reply envelope inside.
Budget both together. For 150 invitations at 2 oz with stamped reply envelopes: $166.50 for the invitations plus $123.00 for the replies, $289.50 in all.
Compare the options
| Option | Mail class | Each | For 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 reply envelope | Standard letter | $0.82 | $82.00 |
| A2 reply envelope | Standard letter | $0.82 | $82.00 |
| Reply postcard, 4.25 x 5.5 in | Postcard | $0.65 | $65.00 |
| 5 x 5 square reply envelope | Nonmachinable letter | $1.31 | $131.00 |
| 4.5 x 4.5 square reply envelope | Not mailable as is | Not mailable | - |
Questions and answers
How much postage do RSVP envelopes need?
One Forever stamp, $0.82, for a standard rectangular reply envelope up to 1 oz.
Can I use a postcard stamp on an RSVP card?
Yes, if the card is mailed without an envelope and is between 3 1/2 x 5 in and 4 1/4 x 6 in. The postcard price is $0.65.
Do I have to put a stamp on the RSVP envelope?
No, but it is customary and it makes replying easier for your guests.
Does the RSVP envelope stamp count toward the invitation weight?
Yes. Everything inside the outer envelope counts, so weigh the invitation with the stamped reply envelope in it.