Shipping TO AND FROM the USA - UPDATED
Make Your Exchanges Easier, Less Expensive, and More Successful
Hey Everyone,
This post is updated to reflect the accurate value of the new International Peace Stamp, designed to send one standard size and weight envelope anywhere within the USA
If asked to describe the contents at the post office, your letter contains “documents / personal correspondence”. This accurately describes the contents and will lead to the greatest success in shipping.
Please keep reading if you are shipping cranes to or from the USA. So much has changed with shipping in the past few years. If you are sending cranes to or from the USA, they impact you!
Here is how to successfully send your cranes and letters. It’s possible to do so for under $2 from the USA to almost anywhere in the world!
How to Send a Peace Crane Anywhere in the World FROM the USA
One global stamp can be used to mail a standard-sized envelope to almost any country in the world.
No need to calculate zones or distances. Just one stamp, and your crane can travel across oceans.
How to Send a Peace Crane Anywhere in the World TO the USA
While many countries do not have the special stamp option, the rules (and costs!) for shipping a standard envelope vs. a larger package remain the same. So, minus the Global Stamp, most everything here applies to you as well.
BUT ALSO!!! Many countries are now refusing or returning packages to the shipper that are going to the USA because of the tariff restrictions. Last year, many exchanges were unsuccessful because participants outside the USA shipped their cranes to the USA, only to have them be returned, undelivered. Following the steps below will assure a successful, and much less costly exchange.
What One GLOBAL (in USA) or Base Rate (outside USA) Stamp Covers
United States:
1 Global Forever stamp = 1 oz anywhere in the world
Most other countries:
No “forever” equivalent
Pricing depends on:
destination region
base rate usually 20–30 grams
That one small fee is enough to send:
your envelope (standard letter size)
your letter
your one crane representing your group
In real life, that usually means:
→ a letter + 1–2 cranes
→ OR a few very lightweight cranes on their own
Envelope Size
To qualify as a standard letter (the simplest, least expensive option), your envelope should be:
Standard Letter Size
No smaller than 3.5” x 5” in USA
No larger than 6 1/8” x 11 1/2” in USA
While sizes and weights are similar worldwide, exact limits and pricing can vary slightly by country. When in doubt, check your local post office. But, if you just keep in mind the standard letter size in your country, this is the way to go!
The Thickness Rule
This is the part where most people go wrong:
👉 Your envelope should be no thicker than about 1/4 inch (≈ 6 mm)
👉 And it must be flat and flexible
That means:
No bulky stacks of cranes
No “lumpy” envelopes
No rigid or overstuffed mail
If it gets too thick or uneven, the post office may:
charge more
return it
or treat it like a package
So… How Many Cranes Can You Send?
Here’s a good rule of thumb:
1 stamp:
1 letter + 1–2 small cranes
OR up to ~3–5 very light cranes (if packed flat)
2 stamps:
a longer letter + a very small handful of cranes (as long as the envelope stays flat)
Tip: Arrange cranes gently so they don’t create bumps (and flatten flatten flatten)
What If You Use More Than One Stamp?
You can absolutely add more stamps to send more weight.
But here’s the key:
More stamps do NOT change the thickness rule.
Even with extra postage:
the envelope still needs to be flexible
and not overly bulky
This is critical to avoid being flagged as a package when shipping to and from the USA.
A Better Way for Classrooms (and Groups)
If you’re working with a class or a large group, there’s a much more meaningful and practical approach than sending a box with many cranes and letters:
Send one symbolic crane + one group letter.
That’s it.
Why?
Because mailing 25 or 30 cranes in one envelope:
makes it too thick
risks being returned
his very expensive
Then Do the Rest Digitally
Have each student:
write their own letter
type it (or photograph it)
and send it to the teacher
The teacher can then:
email all letters to the partner teacher
who prints and distributes them on the other side of the world
Bonus Round (Our favorite exchange upgrade!)
Before sending:
swap first names of students in each class.
Now each child writes:
→ “Dear Emily,”
→ “Dear Akira,”
instead of a generic letter to “a student somewhere.”
It’s a small shift—but it creates a real, human connection.
A Simple Way to Think About It
One stamp isn’t meant to send many cranes.
It’s meant to send one meaningful connection.
A single crane, representing the class or group.
A shared letter from everyone involved.
And then dozens of voices carried digitally, person to person.
Before You Mail It
Hold your envelope in your hands and ask:
Does it bend easily?
Does it feel smooth and flat?
Would it slide through a machine?
If yes, you’re good to go!
With one stamp, you can reach almost anywhere on Earth from the USA. Internationally? Almost the same shipping ease if you use the post office strategically.
How amazing is that?!?!?
Fold a crane.
Buy a single stamp.
Meet the World.
I’m packing now. We’re taking a brief holiday before the Stamp Expo in Boston. So if you are looking for me, I may be out of reach for a bit. Ping me more than once if you’re getting anxious. I’ll do my best to keep up.
Sue DiCicco