Postcard sizes

[Jeremy Ng]

Hi All,

I would like to ask the typical sizes of everyone's postcards. My cards are a 10 X 15 cm as that was the maximum size for an exhibition. Thanks

[Alan Brignull]

The standard size in Britain years ago was 5½ x 3½ inches, nowadays most are A6 (148x105mm), but there is no postcard rate any more so no official definition. How many countries still have special postage rates for postcards?

[Heide Monster]

The USA has special postcard pricing: 35¢. And the USPS has very clear ideas what a post card is:

First-Class Mail® Postcards

Maximum size: 6 inches long by 4-1/4 inches high by .016 inch thick

Anything larger is priced the same as standard mail; 55¢ domestic, $1.15 international.

First-Class Mail® Stamped Large Postcards

Maximum size: 11-1/2 inches long by 6-1/8 inches high by 1/4 inch thick

I make most of my cards 4"x6" because they will fit into standard ring binder sleeves, but it is also an efficient use of the larger sheets watercolor paper I use to make them.

 

[Bradford]

Unfortunately, there is no International Postcard Rate in the USA either so the standard Letter Rate applies.  The 35¢ postcard rate is only for Domestic Mail.  Also, lettersheets are no longer as well.

[Jeremy Ng]

Malaysia still has a standard international postcard rate of RM0.50 (that's 50 cents to me and probably a lot lesser in Pounds and the Dollar, conversion wise). It was heaven when I was still living in Malaysia. 

In Australia, a postcard's postage is the same as a letter.... 

[Alan Brignull]

Same here, but look on the bright side, that means you can send big postcards (max letter size currently 240x165mm)

[Steph Dodson]

I rarely make postcards small enough to send for the US postcard rate. The small size doesn't appeal to me and I feel like I'm doing more, getting more out of my postage when I send bigger (especially internationally). The last batch of cards I sent out were ~5x8 inches each. Typically my minimum is 5x7 inches, but it always varies, depending on materials used.

[William M]

When I emailed the post office about this here in Taiwan they told me postcard size was 14.8*10.5 centimeter and that anything over that would have to be sent letter rate. However, I've noticed that they aren't always super picky with the size if it's a little over. Postcard rates are 10 NT(about 30 cents USD) for Asia and Australasia, 11 NT for  USA & Canada, 12 NT for Europe/Africa/South America/Central America, 6 NT for Hong Kong and Macau, and 5 NT for domestic.

Most of the rubber stamped postcards I send out fit their size requirements for the postcard rate. Larger cards I sometimes send out(of a collage etc) will you usually be sent at letter rate or as printed matter.