DIY Mailing vs PostPal: The True Cost of Sending Mail in Canada

When you need to send a letter, your first instinct might be to handle it yourself. After all, how expensive can a stamp and envelope really be? But here's the problem: you can't just buy one stamp or one envelope. You're forced to buy in bulk - and that changes the math entirely.

In this post, we'll break down what it actually costs to send a letter the DIY way versus using an online service like PostPal.

Let's start by listing everything you need to send a single letter the traditional way:

1. Stamps

Canada Post's current rate for a standard domestic letter (up to 30g) is $1.15 when purchased in a booklet. Single stamps at the counter cost even more. You can't buy just one stamp - the smallest booklet contains 6 stamps, costing around $6.90.

2. Envelopes

A box of 50 standard #10 business envelopes runs about $8-12 at office supply stores. That's roughly $0.16-0.24 per envelope. Need a larger envelope for multiple pages? Those cost more.

3. Paper

A ream of 500 sheets of printer paper costs around $12-15, working out to about $0.03 per sheet. Seems cheap, but you'll also need to factor in printing costs.

4. Printer Ink or Toner

Here's where costs add up quickly. A standard ink cartridge costs $25-40 and prints roughly 200-300 pages. That's approximately $0.10-0.15 per page. Laser toner is more economical per page but requires a larger upfront investment.

5. The Hidden Costs

• Printer maintenance: Paper jams, alignment issues, dried ink cartridges
• Storage space: Keeping supplies on hand takes up room
• Waste: Misprints, addressing errors, damaged envelopes

Let's add it all up for a single domestic letter:

Item	Cost
Stamp (domestic)	$1.44
Envelope	$0.20
Paper (1 sheet)	$0.03
Printing (1 page)	$0.12
Materials Total	$1.50

At $1.50 per letter in materials alone, DIY mailing might look affordable on paper. But here's the catch: you can't actually buy these supplies for just one letter.

If you only send a few letters per year, DIY mailing is even more expensive:

• Stamps expire mentally: You buy a booklet of 6, use 2, then forget where you put them
• Printer ink dries out: Inkjet cartridges can dry up if not used regularly
• Supplies go missing: Envelopes get lost in drawers or damaged over time
• Rates change: Your old stamps may no longer cover postage, requiring additional stamps

For occasional senders, the waste and inconvenience make DIY mailing particularly poor value.

Now let's look at what you get with PostPal:

PostPal Pricing

• Domestic letters: $6 CAD (anywhere in Canada)
• International letters: $12 CAD (worldwide)

What's Included

• Professional printing on quality paper
• Standard business envelope
• Canada Post postage
• Address validation (prevents delivery errors)
• Mailed within 24 hours
• Attach up to 5 documents

No printer needed. No trip to the post office. No hunting for stamps. Just write your letter online and we handle the rest.

Here's how DIY mailing stacks up against PostPal:

Factor	DIY	PostPal
Cost per letter	~$1.50	$6
Upfront investment	$50+ in supplies	$0
Minimum purchase	6 stamps, 50 envelopes, 500 sheets	1 letter
Address validation	Manual	Automatic
Supplies needed	Printer, ink, paper, envelopes, stamps	None

The per-letter math favours DIY, but only if you're sending enough mail to justify the bulk purchases and already have a printer.

To be fair, there are situations where traditional mailing might work better:

• High volume: Businesses sending hundreds of letters may benefit from bulk postage rates
• Handwritten notes: Personal cards and letters where handwriting matters
• Special enclosures: Packages, gifts, or items that can't be digitized
• You enjoy the ritual: Some people find writing and mailing letters therapeutic

For standard correspondence, documents, and letters where convenience and professionalism matter, online mailing services offer clear advantages.

The per-letter cost of DIY mailing looks appealing on paper, but the reality is you can't buy supplies for just one letter. You're stuck purchasing booklets of stamps, boxes of envelopes, reams of paper, and ink cartridges - most of which will sit unused in a drawer.

At $6 per domestic letter, PostPal lets you send exactly what you need, when you need it. No bulk purchases, no leftover supplies, no hassle.

Ready to skip the supply run? Send your first letter with PostPal and see how easy mailing can be.