Holiday Card Budget Calculator
Enter the list size and card style. The calculator totals the season - cards, stamps at the current rate - and dates the mail-by deadline that actually gets them there.
Holiday cards have two costs and one deadline: the cards themselves (where photo orders beat boxed cards above about 40 names), the stamps nobody budgets at 78 cents a pop, and the December 18 posting date that separates delivered greetings from January apologies.
How to use
- List size first - the real number, plus five for the October forget-me-nots.
- Card style: boxed cards price per card, photo orders price per batch of 50.
- Read the mail-by date and the total before the post office does the math for you. Updates live.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Christmas cards cost to send?
About a dollar per name all-in: 78 cents of stamp plus 20-60 cents of card depending on boxed versus photo orders. Forty-five boxed names lands near 75 dollars all-in - the calculator splits the card and stamp lines so neither is a surprise.
When should I mail Christmas cards?
Domestic first-class posted by about December 18 arrives by Christmas at standard rates; later means priority pricing or January delivery. Photo orders need ordering by early December to leave print-and-address time.
Are photo cards cheaper than boxed cards?
Above about 40 recipients, yes: photo orders run about 56 cents a card in batches of 50, while decent boxed cards price at 80 cents to a dollar each. Below that, the boxed box from the drugstore wins - the calculator prices both for your list.
Is it OK to send holiday cards by email?
For the far-flung list, absolutely - a group email with the family photo costs nothing and keeps the connection alive. The paper cards earn their keep for the relatives who frame them and the older generation who still count them; split the list and both sides are happy.