Answer: 5 sheets
I previously thought it was 20 sheets, but I was misguided thinking you can mail 3.5 ounces with one stamp. If you mailed something that was 3.5 ounces, it would cost you one dollar. A single $0.55 stamp will only mail something that weighs ONE ounce.
One piece of mail, First-Class as of January 26, 2020:
- Under one ounce: $0.55
- Under two ounces: $0.70
- Under three ounces: $0.85
- Under 3.5 ounces: $1.00
Here’s how I figured it out you can mail five sheets with one $0.55 stamp:
- 500 sheets of paper = 5.3 pounds
- 5.3 pounds = 84.8 ounces
- 84.8 ounces / 500 sheets of = 0.1696
- Each sheet of paper weighs 0.1696 ounces
- 1 ounces / 0.1696 ounces = 5.89623 sheets
Thus, you can get five sheets under the one-ounce limit of First-Class mail with one stamp.
You can ignore the photos below, because they show me trying to stuff 20 sheets into one envelope.
You can only mail 5 sheets with one stamp.
A very helpful article. Just stumbled across this site! Thank you for walking us through how you arrived at your answer! -J.D. Thomas
Did you use typing paper, what bond? If you use regular writing paper with the lines on it you can mail 7 sheets with 1 stamp. Just so you know.
Why did you not take into account the weight of the envelope?
Good question! I should update the formula!
Thank you, just the info I needed. Now if the post office can actually deliver the envelope with some timeliness.
Will the envelope be equal to one sheet of paper?