For a flat rate of $1.20 per stamp, Global Forever is the simplest way to mail letters to China from the United States. As long as they amount to at least $1.20, regular domestic forever stamps will work, too. If you exceed 1 ounce, you must pay additional postage. In the USPS Price List, “group 3” represents the postage cost of first-class mail to China.
Table of Contents
The number of stamps I need for a letter to China
Stamps are needed according to the paper weight, so weigh your envelope on a kitchen scale before adding the correct number of stamps, immediately rounding up.
| Weight | Postage Required | Stamps Required |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 ounce | $2.40 | 2 Global Forever Stamps ($2.40) or 5 First Class Forever Stamps ($2.75) |
| 2.0 ounces | $3.39 | 3 Global Forever Stamp ($3.60) or 7 First Class Forever Stamps ($3.85) |
| 3.0 ounces | $4.37 | 4 Global Forever Stamp ($4.80) or 8 First Class Forever Stamps ($4.40) |
| 4.0 ounces | $5.36 | 5 Global Forever Stamp ($6.00) or 10 First Class Forever Stamps ($5.50) |
| 5.0 ounces | $6.34 | 6 Global Forever Stamp ($7.20) or 12 First Class Forever Stamps ($6.60) |
| 6.0 ounces | $7.32 | 7 Global Forever Stamp ($8.40) or 14 First Class Forever Stamps ($7.70) |
| 7.0 ounces | $8.31 | 7 Global Forever Stamp ($8.40) or 16 First Class Forever Stamps ($8.80) |
| 8.0 ounces | $9.29 | 8 Global Forever Stamp ($9.60) or 17 First Class Forever Stamps ($9.35) |
| 9.0 ounces | $11.26 | 10 Global Forever Stamp ($12.00) or 20 First Class Forever Stamps ($11.55) |
| 10.0 ounces | $11.26 | 10 Global Forever Stamp ($12.00) or 20 First Class Forever Stamps ($11.55) |
Status Of Covid-19 / Coronavirus: Delivering Normally
Currently, mail to China is proceeding normally. You can monitor updates on the USPS website. This page will be updated daily if there are any clarifications.
How Many Stamps For A Postcard?
You will have to purchase a Global Forever Stamp for $1.20 if you’d like to send a postcard to China.
- It must be rectangular and not square or round.
- At least 3-1/2″ high, 5″ long, and 0.007″ thick
- The item must not exceed 4-1/4 inches in height, 6 inches in length, and 0.016 inches thick.
Envelope Requirements for China
Your envelope must be a minimum 5” x 3.5”, maximum 11.5” x 6+⅛”, and no thicker than 1/4″.
If your envelope is rectangular, not curved, and not uniform in thickness, it’s not “machinable” and you’ll have to pay $0.15 more for postage. See the full list.
The minimum size for square envelopes is 5″. Square envelopes are non-machinable, so add $0.21 to your order.
How To Weigh Your Envelope for China
Your envelope’s weight should be measured on a kitchen scale. It’s easy to purchase an entry level scale from Amazon for $10.99. There’s also a higher end scale from My Weigh on Amazon Prime for $38. A Milleroo scale costs $8.25 at Walmart, among other cheap kitchen scales.
You can find out the number of stamps you need for 4×6 photos in our guide – no scale needed!
Where To Buy Stamps for China
Online at USPS.com you can purchase stamps for just about $1 – shipping is less than $1 for stamp sheets. Many local banks, as well as Walmart and Amazon, carry stamps. At $16.18 for 20 stamps, Amazon is not a great deal, since you can get them for $5.18 less at the USPS.
Accuracy Notes
Postage rates are reviewed weekly.
The latest increase was announced in October 2020, and it came into effect on January 24, 2021. In addition, the price for an additional ounce increased to $0.20. There will be a 1 cent increase for meter mail and postcards. Letters and flats weighing one ounce did not change.
A previous rate change took place in January 2020. Domestic letters under 3.5 ounces are still charged the same rates. All global first-class mail rates went up for flats and international first-class mail. The global forever stamp went up from $1.15 to $1.20. Your old, round global stamps are worth $1.20 now as well. Additionally, flat rates for domestic flats rose by $0.05 per additional ounce as well as changing for international flats. First-class international mail gained an additional ounce with the $1.15 to $1.20 increase in the base rate.
Where To Apply Stamps On A Letter
A letter’s stamps should be positioned to the upper right of the page, ideally, in one row. However, a letter with multiple rows and lines of stamps will still be accepted by the post office.
Delivery Times For Letters To China
For China letters, the delivery time ranges from 7-21 days, as compared to domestic letters which are delivered in 1-3 days.
