What Are Non-Machinable Stamps?

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USPS mail sorting systems are an important part of its efficiency. In fact, these machines can sort up to 36,000 pieces of mail per hour! While they work best when standard-sized mail arrives, what do you do?

Mailpieces not fitting into the machines should be hand-canceled. This is not unusual as it takes more time.

When this happens, USPS charges a surcharge payable with Non-Machinable stamps. If you have any questions regarding Non-Machinable Stamps, I can help!

What is a non-machinable Stamp?

USPS issues non-machinable stamps to cover domestic postage for First-Class mailpieces not meeting the specified sizing requirements. Examples of Non-Machinable items include square greeting cards, rigid letters, or lumpy letters containing pens or keys. You will be charged a surcharge if you have to cancel such items by hand as they won’t fit in the sorting machine.

For more details on Non-Machinable stamps such as their cost or where to buy them, continue reading!

What Is The Non-Machinable Surcharge For First-Class Mail?

It is important to process unusually sized and/or shaped mailpieces outside the normal automated mail process.

In most cases, they’re hand-sorted by USPS employees, making them more expensive to process, hence the surcharge.

USPS also adds a Non Machinable surcharge onto First-Class mail with the following criteria

A letter with an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1 1/3 or more than 2 1/2 (square envelopes)
Letters that are more than 4 1/4 inches tall or six inches in length and less than 0.009 inch thick
Closures for letters that include buttons, clasps, strings or other similar devices.
Too rigid a letter
A parallel delivery address to the longer side of the letter
An item such as keys, pencils, or pen that causes a uneven thickness in a letter.
A letter that is poly-bagged, poly-wrapped, enclosed in any plastic material, or has an exterior surface made of a material that’s not paper

What are the costs of non-machinable Stamps?

At the moment, non-machinable stamps are $0.88. This makes them $0.30 less expensive than regular-sized First Class letters.

Is it possible to have non-machinable stamps as forever stamps?

Stamps with the word “Non Machinable Surcharge”, written on them like Forever Stamps are valid forever for the current Non Machinable surcharge.

That is, even if USPS prices rise tomorrow and you purchase Non-Machinable stamps now, you will still be able use stamps purchased today.

Do I have to use a non-machinable stamp on my regular mail?

Technically speaking you can use Non Machinable stamps to send regular mail.

However, non-machinable stamps are able to cover First-Class postal rates for one-ounce letters plus any current Non-Machinable surcharge.

You don’t have to pay the surcharge if you are sending a standard-sized letter. You will not be charged extra if you are using a non-machinable stamp to sign your letter.

Are There Two Forever Stamps I Can Use If I Do Not Have a Non-Machinable Stamp?

You can buy two Forever Stamps in order to pay the Non-Machinable surcharge. Forever Stamps are currently $0.58. This means that if you buy two of them together, it will cover $1.16 worth postage.

Also, the non-machinable stamps go for $0.88. For the surcharge, you will need two Forever Stamps to be able to post enough money.

What are the best places to buy non-machinable stamps?

The Non-Machinable stamps are available at the Post Office in your area, the USPS website or by phone 1-800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724).

If you’re buying stamps in person, you can purchase them individually. If you order Non-Machinable stamps online, or by telephone, however, you will need to order a sheet of 20.

How Much Are Non-Machinable Stamps?

Current Non-Machinable stamps can be purchased for $0.88. That price includes $0.58 First-Class fee and the $0.30 Non Machinable surcharge.

A sheet of 20 non-machinable stamps costs $17.60.

What Do Non-Machinable Stamps Look Like?

Because they feature butterflies, non-Machinable stamps can sometimes be called “butterfly stamps”.

This collaboration was initiated by the Greeting card Association and USPS in 2010.

Both organizations also wanted to help consumers know whether they had enough postage for their heavy or unusually-shaped envelopes.

USPS agreed that all Non-Machinable stamps would feature butterflies, and greeting card firms began to print a symbol of the butterfly for cards that did not require a Non Machinable stamp.

USPS currently offers two butterfly stamps. The one featuring the California Dogface is shown, and the other shows the Colorado Hairstreak.

Both stamps include the butterfly image as well as the words “USA”, “Non-Machinable surcharge” and the year the stamp was released.

We have posts that explain what military stamps are, how priority mail stamps work, and what semi-postal marks are.

Conclusion

Is non-machinable mail more expensive?

Non-machinable mailpieces are mail pieces that cannot be processed by standard automated mail processes. They are more costly to process so a surcharge will be applied.

What is a non-machinable stamp for butterflies worth?

December 31, 2009

How Many Ounces Is A Non-Machinable Stamp Good For?

2-ounces

What Is the Value of the Butterfly Stamp in 2021

An extra ounce of silver will cost 20 cents. Non-square-shaped cards with a surcharge will see their price rise from 20 cents to 30 cents. So, the Butterfly Stamps will be priced at 88 cents. June 1, 2020

.What Are Non-Machinable Stamps? (Meaning, Value + More)