Guide

Envelope safety basics.

Good mail should be easy to read, easy to sort, and unlikely to break open.

Readable comes first

Decoration should never compete with the address. Leave clear space for the recipient, return address, postage, and any postal marks. If the envelope is heavily patterned, use a plain address label.

Flat and flexible wins

Many envelopes pass through machines. Raised buttons, thick charms, rigid trinkets, and hard corners can tear paper or require a different mailing class. When in doubt, choose a larger envelope or skip the item.

Clean contents

Loose confetti, glitter, powders, liquids, oils, food crumbs, and strong scents can cause problems. If you want a celebratory effect, print the confetti pattern on paper instead.