Do postcards need stamps to be mailed through USPS?

Yes, every postcard needs postage of some kind to be delivered by USPS. A standard postcard stamp costs $0.56 as of 2025. High-volume mailers can swap physical stamps for other approved methods, but postage is always required.

• Single cards: a postcard stamp at $0.56 covers standard postcard-rate mail.
• Bulk sends: permit imprints (indicia) or metered postage replace individual stamps.
• Always required: there is no way to mail a postcard without paying postage.