Yes, gift cards are mailable, and one $0.82 First-Class Mail stamp covers a standard envelope up to 1 oz. Anyone who asks can you send gift cards in the mail is really asking about protection. A stamped letter has no tracking, and USPS domestic claims do not cover gift cards.
Gift cards are easy to lose and easy to spend, which makes them a target. Below you will find postage, safe packing, paid tracking options, overseas rules and the FTC scam warning.
How much postage does a gift card need?
A gift card in a greeting card and standard envelope is a letter, which can be up to 11-1/2 x 6-1/8 x 1/4 in and 3.5 oz. Stamped prices are $0.82 at 1 oz, $1.11 at 2 oz, $1.40 at 3 oz and $1.69 at 3.5 oz. These are the July 12, 2026 prices from Notice 123.
A plastic card weighs a fraction of an ounce. Most cards with an envelope land in the 1 oz tier, but a thick card or holder can reach 2 oz. Weigh the sealed envelope, or check it with the stamp calculator.
When a gift card letter costs more
USPS adds a $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge to letters that cannot run through sorting machines. That makes a 1 oz nonmachinable stamped letter $1.31. Under DMM 101, a letter is nonmachinable if its length divided by its height is under 1.3 or over 2.5, if it is too rigid to bend easily, if it is enclosed in plastic or has an exterior that is not paper, or if it contains loose items that make its thickness uneven.
The same rule says loose items not affixed to the contents can make a letter nonmailable in a paper envelope, so tape the card to the inside of the greeting card rather than leaving it loose.
A square envelope is the usual trap, because its aspect ratio is near 1.0. A rigid holder or a plastic mailer can also fail the test. A rectangular paper envelope with a flat card fixed in place avoids the problem.
Worked examples with real postage
- A card in a rectangular greeting card envelope, 1 oz: $0.82 with one Forever stamp.
- The same card in a thick card that weighs 2 oz: $1.11.
- A square greeting card at 1 oz: $1.31, because of the $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge.
- A 1 oz letter with Certified Mail: $0.82 plus $5.55, or $6.37 in total.
- A 1 oz letter with Registered Mail: $0.82 plus $20.90, or $21.72 in total.
Extra service fees can be paid with ordinary stamps. Registered Mail is only worth it for a very large card.
Can you send gift cards in the mail safely?
Mailing a gift card carries a modest risk, and you can lower it by hiding the clues. Thieves look for envelopes that feel stiff or show a card outline through the paper. First-Class Mail is sealed against inspection, but a thief does not follow that rule.
- Put the card in a greeting card, not a bare envelope, so the plastic is padded by paper.
- Use an opaque envelope. A white security envelope hides the outline better than a thin one.
- Write down the card number, the amount and the store, and keep the receipt.
- Photograph the front and back of the card before you seal it.
- Hand it over at a Post Office counter instead of leaving it in a home mailbox with the flag up.
Tell the recipient the card is coming, and ask for a message when it arrives. A late card is easier to chase if you know the exact day you mailed it.
Which mailing option should you choose?
Whether a stamp is enough depends on the card value. Anyone deciding can you send gift cards in the mail without tracking should weigh that value. Prices come from Notice 123 (July 12, 2026).
| Option | Cost | Tracking or proof |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail letter, 1 oz | $0.82 stamped | None |
| First-Class letter plus Certified Mail | $0.82 plus $5.55 fee | Mailing receipt and a delivery record with signature |
| First-Class letter plus Registered Mail | $0.82 plus $20.90 fee at $0.00 declared value | Mailing receipt (Registered Mail is a separate, sealed service) |
| USPS Ground Advantage, up to 4 oz | $7.90 in Zone 1 to $9.45 in Zone 8 | USPS Tracking |
| Priority Mail, 1 lb tier | $11.00 in Zone 1 to $16.95 in Zone 8 | USPS Tracking |
| Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope | $12.90 | USPS Tracking |
For most gift cards, a stamped letter or Certified Mail is the sensible range. Priority Mail often costs more than a small card is worth.
What Certified Mail adds
Certified Mail gives you a mailing receipt, and USPS keeps a delivery record that includes the recipient’s signature. The DMM Certified Mail rules say it is handled in transit as ordinary mail. It works with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail.
Certified Mail proves delivery, but it does not stop theft in transit. For the steps, see how to send Certified Mail.
Why insurance does not solve the problem
Priority Mail and Ground Advantage include $100 of insurance. That sounds like a fix, but USPS domestic claims do not cover gift cards. Do not count on a USPS payout for a lost card.
Your best recovery path is the card issuer. With the number and receipt in hand, ask the retailer or card company what it can do. USPS does not publish a gift card recovery process, and issuer policies vary.
Can you mail a gift card overseas?
International mail needs a customs form. The International Mail Manual requires an electronically generated form, made through Click-N-Ship, Customs Form Online or a retail counter. PS Form 2976 is the CN 22 declaration, and PS Form 2976-A is the CP 72 dispatch note.
The form pages carry no separate gift card rule. Declare the card honestly and ask the clerk about your destination. Country listings carry prohibitions too, such as Mexico’s ban on banknotes and bearer securities.
Mail to or from Puerto Rico from the mainland needs no customs form.
Is a gift card the same as cash or a check?
Not exactly, but it behaves like cash because anyone holding the card can usually spend it. For the cash rules, read sending cash in the mail.
A paper check names a payee and can be stopped by the bank. If you would rather send one, read how to mail a check.
Gift card scams and what the FTC says
The FTC says “Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments.” If someone pressures you to buy gift cards and share the codes, it is a scam. Scammers pose as IRS officials, relatives in an emergency, utility companies or servicemembers, or claim you won a prize.
If you already bought cards, report it to the gift card company first, then to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The FTC gift card scam page lists the warning signs. Never mail gift cards to a stranger who asks.
What to do if the card does not arrive
Wait a few days past the usual delivery time, then ask the recipient to check with neighbors and the household. Call the card issuer with the number and receipt to report it lost. If you paid for Certified Mail, the delivery record shows whether USPS got a signature.
You can also file a Missing Mail search. USPS accepts the request 7 to 365 days after mailing, and 14 days for domestic Registered Mail.
Tracking a gift card you already mailed
A stamped letter has no scans you can follow. Priority Mail and Ground Advantage show movement. See whether you can track a letter in the mail for the options.
Registered Mail is stricter, as shown in how to send Registered Mail.
For a plain letter, sending First-Class Mail covers postage and limits.
The bottom line for mailing gift cards
So, can you send gift cards in the mail? Yes, as ordinary letters, padded by a greeting card in a rectangular envelope that avoids the $0.49 surcharge. Keep the receipt, add Certified Mail when the value justifies $5.55, and remember USPS claims will not repay a lost card.
