Can I put a thank-you note or gift message in a Media Mail package?
USPS's rules: Yes
Yes. The DMM lets you enclose a personal message or greeting in a Media Mail package without paying First-Class Mail postage, as long as it is secondary to what you're shipping, and the package pays Media Mail prices on the combined weight. Short gift wording such as "Happy Birthday, Mother" and an inscription in the book that isn't personal correspondence are allowed too. A long letter that isn't secondary to the package would need its own First-Class Mail postage.
Rates verified on
The rule, in USPS's words
Quoted from the official pages linked below each quote, checked Oct 19, 2026.
“An incidental First-Class Mail attachment or enclosure may be a bill for the product or publication, a statement of account for past products or publications, or a personal message or greeting included with a product, publication, or parcel.”
“is closely associated with but secondary to the host piece, and is prepared so as not to interfere with postal processing.”
“A manuscript dedication or inscription not having the nature of personal correspondence.”
What it costs to ship
Media Mail costs the same to every US address, with a 1 lb minimum ($4.39) and any fraction of a pound rounded up. Ground Advantage, USPS's ground package service with tracking included, is priced by weight and zone: online is USPS's commercial price for labels bought online, and the counter price is retail.
| Package | Media Mail | Ground Advantage online, Zones 1-9 | Ground Advantage at the counter, Zones 1-9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | $4.39 | $8.01 to $11.22 | $10.05 to $13.65 |
| 2 lb | $5.13 | $8.39 to $13.42 | $11.30 to $19.80 |
| 5 lb | $7.34 | $10.35 to $20.24 | $13.75 to $27.45 |
Worked examples
- A 15 oz book with a 0.5 oz card: 15.5 oz, still the 1 lb price, $4.39.
- A 1 lb book with a 1 oz card: 1 lb 1 oz rounds up to 2 lb, $5.13.
- A 2 lb box with a handwritten thank-you on the packing slip: still $5.13.
Every weight from 1 to 70 lb: Media Mail rates · Ground Advantage rates
Edge cases
- Written additions such as "Do Not Open Until Christmas" are on USPS's list of additions that need no First-Class postage (DMM 173.6.2).
- A letter not closely tied to what's in the box needs First-Class Mail postage paid on it (DMM 703.9.4.1).
- Candy, a bookmark charm or another small gift isn't a message: see mixed box.
What to do
- Keep notes short and about the order, and weigh the box with the note in it.
- Paper flyers and coupons follow a different rule: see packing slips and flyers.
Sources
Rates verified on from each official page below.
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 173: Media Mail and Library Mail prices and eligibility
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 703: military mail and mixed classes
- USPS Notice 123: price list (effective Oct 4, 2026), Media Mail and Ground Advantage prices
- USPS: temporary price change for 2026 holiday shipping (Aug 25, 2026)
Free 1-page Reseller Cheat Sheet: fees on 8 platforms, Media Mail and stamp prices
What each platform takes from a $10, $25 and $50 sale, Media Mail 1-10 lb, Ground Advantage to Zones 1, 5 and 8, and the Forever stamp, on one printable page. The link appears as soon as you sign up.