Quick answer
A birthday greeting card is a folded or flat card with a written message for one person. You pick a card, write 40 to 80 words, sign it, seal it in an envelope, and mail it with one First-Class stamp. A7 is the common size: 5 by 7 inches folded, with a 5.25 by 7.25 inch envelope. Mail the card 5 to 7 days before the birthday for US delivery.
What goes on the card
Three parts: the person's name at the top, the message in the middle, the signature at the bottom. A short note beats a long one. If the card has printed verse, add two or three lines in pen above the signature. Handwriting is readable on matte stock. Gloss stock smears ballpoint ink.
Card sizes and formats
- A2: 4.25 by 5.5 inches folded. Envelope 4.375 by 5.75 inches.
- A7: 5 by 7 inches folded. Envelope 5.25 by 7.25 inches. The standard retail size.
- A9: 5.5 by 8.5 inches folded. Used for group cards with many signatures.
- Flat cards and postcards: 4 by 6 inches. No fold. Postcards need no envelope but leave the message visible.
Paper and card stock
Card stock is sold by weight per ream. 80 lb cover stock is the light end. 100 lb cover stock is about 14 points thick and holds a crease without cracking. 110 lb stock suits cards that travel in a mail sack. Paper under 65 lb bends and shows creases.
Timing
USPS First-Class Mail moves a letter in 2 to 5 business days inside the US. Send a birthday card 5 to 7 days before the date. Send an international card 2 to 3 weeks before the date. Cards mailed on the birthday arrive late and read as an afterthought.
Mailing rules
- One Forever stamp covers a letter up to 1 ounce. A card plus envelope weighs about 0.2 to 0.4 ounces.
- Square envelopes cost extra. USPS sorts them by hand as nonmachinable mail.
- A card thicker than 0.25 inches or rigid inside the envelope moves to the package rate.
- Write the return address in the top left corner. USPS returns undeliverable mail to that address.
- Skip wax seals, ribbon, and glued-on buttons. They jam sorting machines.
Cost
Boxed cards run $0.50 to $1.50 per card. Single cards at a card shop run $3 to $8. Handmade cards run $6 to $15 when the maker charges for time and paper. The Greeting Card Association reports about 6.5 billion cards sold in the US each year; birthday is the top everyday category.
Buy or make
Buy when you need one card and want a printed design. Make when you need 20 or more, or when the message carries the card. Print on 65 lb to 110 lb cardstock, trim to size with a paper cutter, and print one test sheet before a full run. Check the printer's margin settings: most home printers stop 0.25 inches from each edge.