Do Ribbons and Bows Need Extra Postage?
A ribbon, twine or string on the outside of an envelope makes it nonmachinable: add $0.49 per piece. A knot or bow inside does the same if it leaves a lump.
Your answer
Nonmachinable letter
+$0.49 surchargeLetter postage plus the nonmachinable surcharge, because it has to be sorted by hand.
- Postage per piece
- $1.60
- 100 invitations
- $160.00
Stamps for each one
2 × Forever (1 oz letter)
That pays $0.04 more than needed. For exact postage, ask the post office counter to make up $1.60.
Why
- Strings, ribbons, twine and similar ties are nonmachinable. USPS rule
Rates last verified on
100 invitations: $160.00 in postage ($1.60 each, nonmachinable letter)
Outside the envelope
USPS lists "clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices" as nonmachinable features. Ribbon, baker's twine, raffia and cord tied around an envelope all fall under strings. Loose ends catch in rollers and belts, so these pieces are sorted by hand and pay the $0.49 surcharge.
It makes no difference how thin the ribbon is or how flat you tie it. If it is on the outside, the surcharge applies.
Inside the envelope
A ribbon inside is judged on a different rule: uneven thickness. A flat silk ribbon wrapped once around the suite and tucked, with no knot, usually lies as flat as a belly band and causes no problem. A tied bow or a knotted twine makes a ridge you can feel through the paper, and that ridge is what makes the piece nonmachinable.
The test is simple. Seal one envelope, lay it on a table and run your palm across it. A smooth surface is fine. A lump is $0.49.
Flat alternatives that look similar
- A paper or vellum belly band holds a suite together and lies completely flat.
- A flat ribbon wrap with no knot, held by a small sticker at the back.
- A printed ribbon on the card or band itself.
Ribbon adds weight too
Ribbon and twine are light, but a suite that sits just under an ounce step can be tipped over by a bow and a tag. Then you pay $0.29 for the ounce and $0.49 for the lump. Weigh a finished piece with the ribbon on it; here is how without a postal scale.
What about a ribbon on the card only?
A ribbon glued flat to the face of the card, with no knot and no loose ends, behaves like a layer of paper. It is fine. A ribbon threaded through punched holes and tied in a bow is a lump.
Compare the options
| Option | Mail class | Each | For 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper belly band, 2 oz | Standard letter | $1.11 | $111.00 |
| Twine tied around the envelope, 2 oz | Nonmachinable letter | $1.60 | $160.00 |
| Knotted bow inside, 2 oz | Nonmachinable letter | $1.60 | $160.00 |
| Bow tips it to 2.1 oz | Nonmachinable letter | $1.89 | $189.00 |
Questions and answers
Do I need extra postage for a ribbon or bow?
Yes if it is on the outside of the envelope, or if it makes a lump inside. Either way the extra is the $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge.
Does a flat ribbon inside the envelope need extra postage?
Not if it lies flat with no knot and the sealed envelope feels smooth. Only weight then matters.
Does a belly band need extra postage?
No. A paper or vellum belly band is flat and adds only its weight.
How much is postage for an invitation tied with twine?
$1.31 at 1 oz and $1.60 at 2 oz when the twine is on the outside or leaves a lump.