Welcome to Terry Hickman and Greg Koster's

Writer's Postage Chart
(updated for all countries December 9,2009)

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January 2010 Note: Design updated incorporating comments from visitors. Thanks!

December 2009 Note: We have COMPLETELY revised how this information is presented. We hope this will make it much more useful overall and it's certainly easier for us to keep up to date. If it's less useful to you, of course, we want to fix that. PLEASE let us know what you think of it.

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Once again, we strongly urge all users of the chart outside the United States, especially those in New Zealand, to check the chart carefully, and let the authors know of any changes. We cannot be responsible for changes in postal regulations, nor delay or loss of manuscripts.


Please read the boring-looking text below before using these charts (especially if you're a first-time visitor). It contains vital information for you!

This system of charts should be of help to folks sending manuscripts to and from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (not Ireland), and Singapore.  Please keep in mind that we cannot be responsible for lost or slow postal deliveries, or changes in rates which we are not aware of; if you're sending something close to a deadline you may want to double-check with your local Post Office to make sure you've got correct postage.

What we have done is to weigh typing paper, manila and regular envelopes and an oversize paper clip and make up charts so you can submit paper manuscripts and get responses without having to take it to the Post Office and have it weighed. We've assumed you are using the following materials:

Paper: 8 1/2 x 11 inch 20 pound bond. This is the standard for Xerox machines, and for many different brands of typing paper. However it is not universal, and if you are using a lighter or heavier paper these charts will not work. Usually, the paper weight is on the ends of the package, or the front of the box if it comes in a box. One sheet of 20 pound bond paper weights about 4.8 grams.

Manila envelopes: 28 pound kraft, 10 inches by 13 inches or 9 inches by 12 inches manila envelopes. Again, if you are using heavier or lighter envelopes, these charts will not work. I buy manila envelopes in boxes of 100, and the weight is on the front of the box. a 10 x 13 envelope weighs about 21 grams, and a 9 x 12 envelope weighs about 16.3 grams.

Business envelopes: standard #10 envelopes, the kind you send a letter written on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. One envelope weighs about 5.3 grams

An oversize paper clip: which weighs about 1.4 grams.

Note that even if you suspect the rates you see are out of date, the weight calcuation is still good. If you have a 27 page MS on standard 20 pound bond, in a standard manila envelope, you can always determine how much it weighs from the charts, and then use the postage calculators (which we've linked to) to determine what postage you must put on the envelope.

I have a prejudice in favor of disposable manuscripts, and have not bothered to try to work up schedules for getting your manuscripts back if you send them out of your home country. I've also been ultraconservative in weighing all the materials. You might be able to squeeze in another sheet on each of the schedules. And maybe your manuscript will come back---or worse, arrive at the editor's mailbox with postage due, thereby getting your career off to a fine start.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All the information is current as of June 22, 2008. If you know of a postage increase that does not appear to be reflected on the chart, let us know HERE, and we will update the chart.

We're obliged to the people who praised our first effort, and hope this helps our fellow writers.

Onward.


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