Navigating the postal world can be tricky, especially when sending oddly shaped or rigid mail. Non machinable stamps offer a simple solution, ensuring your greeting cards, invitations, or small packages reach their destination safely. This guide will help you understand when and how to use non machinable stamps, saving you time and avoiding mail mishaps while adding a touch of care to your correspondence.
Comparing Types and Uses of Non-Machinable Stamps
| Stamp Design (Year) | Surcharge Value* | Purpose/Usage | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Hairstreak (2022/24) | $0.46–$0.93† | 1 oz odd-size/non-machinable letters | Post Office, Online | Butterfly design, most widely available |
| California Dogface (2019/20) | $0.40–$0.93† | 1 oz odd-size/non-machinable letters | Online, Collectors | Not always at local offices |
| Eastern Tailed-Blue (2016) | $0.35–$0.88† | 1 oz odd-size/non-machinable letters | Online, Collectors | Older design, sometimes found through resellers |
| Generic “Butterfly Stamp” | Varied | Covers non-machinable surcharge | Post Office, Online | All are non-denominated (always meet current rate) |
* Value reflects both base 1 oz First-Class Letter rate + non-machinable surcharge.
† Value depends on year of release and USPS rate at time – all are always valid for current required rate.
Everyday Usage of Non-Machinable Stamps
Non-machinable stamps play a crucial role whenever you send mail that doesn’t fit the Postal Service’s standard requirements for automated processing. Everyday scenarios where these stamps are needed include:
- Mailing square greeting cards (a common example is special occasion or holiday cards).
- Sending wedding invitations with decorative embellishments, ribbons, wax seals, or rigid enclosures.
- Shipping letters or invitations in thick or rigid envelopes that won’t bend.
- Envelopes closed with clasps, strings, or non-standard closures.
- Any letter containing small non-paper items (such as keys, coins, pins) that cause uneven thickness.
- Envelopes made of, or wrapped in, non-paper materials (like plastic or acrylic).
- Parcels or letters with addresses written parallel to the envelope’s shorter side.
If your mailpiece falls into one of these categories, USPS will require you to pay an extra non-machinable surcharge—either as a single specialized stamp or as additional standard postage to cover the fee. Using non-machinable stamps ensures your mail gets the handling it needs and avoids delays or returns.
Benefits of Non-Machinable Stamps
Choosing to use a non-machinable stamp comes with several key advantages:
- Convenience: One stamp covers both the base postage and surcharge—no need to calculate extra fees or combine multiple stamps.
- Peace of Mind: Guarantees that your unusual, decorative, or rigid envelope receives careful manual handling, reducing the risk of damage.
- Delivery Assurance: Avoids delays, rejected mail, or returned items due to insufficient postage.
- Distinctive Design: The butterfly imagery on most non-machinable stamps makes them easy to identify for both sender and postal workers.
- Future-Proof: Like Forever stamps, non-machinable stamps always cover the current surcharge rate for a 1 oz non-machinable letter, regardless of future price changes.
These benefits make non-machinable stamps an essential product when planning to send unique, creative, or valuable mailpieces.
How to Choose the Right Non-Machinable Stamp
Selecting the correct non-machinable stamp is simple when you follow these steps:
1. Assess Your Mailpiece
- Shape & Size: Is your envelope square, unusually shaped, or outside standard USPS dimensions (e.g., less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 length/height ratio)?
- Thickness & Weight: Is it too thick, too rigid, or over one ounce?
- Contents: Does it include embellishments or items that cause bumps or unevenness?
- Material: Is the exterior non-paper, or does it have closures like string or buttons?
If you answer yes to any, you’ll likely need a non-machinable stamp.
2. Determine Your Mailing Weight
- For most greeting cards and invitations, the weight will be at or under 1 oz.
- Heavier or multi-item mail requires extra postage in addition to the non-machinable surcharge.
3. Choose a Stamp Design
- Select from currently available butterfly non-machinable designs (Colorado Hairstreak, California Dogface, etc.).
- There are no functional differences between designs; choose based on personal preference or occasion.
4. Where to Buy
- Purchase at your local Post Office, via the official postal website, or authorized online retailers.
- Sheets contain 20 stamps, but single stamps may be available in person.
5. Alternatives
- If you don’t have a non-machinable stamp, you can use a standard Forever stamp plus sufficient additional postage to cover the surcharge (e.g., Forever stamp + additional ounce/surcharge stamp).
- Ensure total postage meets or exceeds the current non-machinable letter rate for the weight sent.
User Tips and Best Practices for Non-Machinable Stamps
- Double-Check Your Envelope: If using square, rigid, or heavily decorated cards (common with wedding invites and holidays), assume you need a non-machinable stamp.
- Watch Your Address Placement: Always place the delivery address parallel to the long side (not the short square side) to minimize surcharges when possible.
- Avoid Over-decorating: Ribbons, puffy stickers, thick materials, or hard enclosures can trigger non-machinable classification—and make it costlier.
- Purchase in Advance: Stock up before holidays, wedding season, or event-planning times to avoid shortages or last-minute post office runs.
- Apply Stamps in the Top Right: Place your stamp at least 1/4 inch from the envelope’s edges.
- Consider the “Butterfly Icon” Cues: Many greeting cards and stationery use a butterfly icon on the envelope to signal you’ll need a non-machinable stamp.
- Mind the Weight: If your non-machinable mail exceeds 1 oz, add the extra postage for each additional ounce.
- Check for Current Rates: While non-machinable stamps are always valid for the current rate, combining regular stamps must match the latest surcharge.
- Ask at the Counter: If you’re unsure if your envelope requires special handling, ask a postal clerk—they can weigh and advise you.
- Save Unused Stamps: As prices rise, your unused non-machinable stamps always retain full mailing-value for future use.
Comparison Table: Technical Features of Popular Non-Machinable Stamps
| Stamp Name/Design | Issued Year | Denomination at Issue | Always Valid for Current Rate? | Size & Shape | Typical Use Case | Current Estimated Value‡ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Hairstreak | 2022/2024 | $0.88–$0.93 | Yes | Rectangular, butterfly | 1 oz odd-sized letters | $1.19 (2024) |
| California Dogface | 2019/2020 | $0.70–$0.88 | Yes | Rectangular, butterfly | 1 oz odd-sized letters | $1.19 (2024) |
| Eastern Tailed-Blue | 2016 | $0.71 | Yes | Rectangular, butterfly | 1 oz odd-sized letters | $1.19 (2024) |
| Generic Butterfly | Various | Changes with rates | Yes | Rectangular, butterfly | 1 oz odd-sized letters | $1.19 (2024) |
‡ Value refers to the amount the stamp will cover toward non-machinable letter postage as of 2024 USPS rates.
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Conclusion
Non-machinable stamps are the go-to solution for mailing square, rigid, or embellished letters and invitations that need special handling outside the USPS’s automated processes. They combine both convenience and assurance: With a single stamp, your mail receives both sufficient postage and proper manual processing, reducing the risk of delivery problems.
Whether you’re sending wedding invitations, custom holiday greetings, or charming square cards, understanding the essentials of non-machinable mail helps avoid unexpected surcharges, delays, or returns. Always check if your item meets the criteria—and remember, using a non-machinable stamp isn’t just a requirement, but a guarantee of care.
Stock up on these handy butterfly-emblazoned stamps, watch for changes in USPS rates, and enjoy sending your most creative, personal, or important mailpieces worry-free.
FAQ
- What exactly is a non-machinable stamp?
A non-machinable stamp is a special postage stamp that covers both the regular First-Class Mail rate and an additional surcharge required for letters or envelopes that the USPS cannot sort through their machines. These are needed for square, rigid, or decorated envelopes, among other types.
- When do I need to use a non-machinable stamp?
You must use a non-machinable stamp if your mailpiece is square, too rigid, lumpy, contains non-paper closures, has uneven thickness, uses non-paper materials, or is otherwise unable to pass through USPS automated machinery.
- How much does a non-machinable stamp cost in 2024?
In 2024, the total value needed for a 1 oz non-machinable letter is $1.19 ($0.73 base postage + $0.46 non-machinable surcharge). The current butterfly non-machinable stamps always carry the correct value for the prevailing rate.
- Can I use regular Forever stamps for non-machinable mail?
Yes. You can use a combination of standard Forever stamps and additional postage to meet or exceed the required non-machinable rate. But using a single non-machinable (butterfly) stamp is simpler and ensures you pay the exact amount.
- Are there other designs besides butterfly for non-machinable stamps?
At present, the USPS uses butterfly imagery to help consumers and postal workers easily identify non-machinable stamps. Older issues have included designs like the eastern tailed-blue, Colorado hairstreak, and California dogface butterflies.
- Where can I buy non-machinable stamps?
You can purchase them at local USPS branches, online through the official USPS website, or from reputable stamp retailers. Online purchases typically require buying a full sheet (20 stamps), while single stamps may be available in person.
- What happens if I don’t use a non-machinable stamp on non-machinable mail?
If you underpay for postage—such as sending a square or rigid envelope with only a Forever stamp—your mail may be delayed, returned for insufficient postage, or delivered with a “postage due” charge for your recipient.
- Do non-machinable stamps expire?
No. Like Forever stamps, non-machinable stamps are always valid at the current rate for 1 oz non-machinable letters, regardless of when or at what price you originally purchased them.
- How do I know if my greeting card or invitation is non-machinable?
Many greeting cards and invitation envelopes now include a small butterfly icon as a hint to use non-machinable postage. If your envelope is square, unusually shaped, thick, embellished, or rigid, assume it’s non-machinable and use the proper stamp.
- What if my mail is heavier than 1 ounce?
For pieces over 1 oz, you must add the appropriate extra postage to cover the additional ounces plus the non-machinable surcharge. The surcharge applies on top of the base rate for the total weight of your mailpiece. Be sure to weigh your envelope and apply sufficient postage for its weight category.