You send a cancellation to your insurer, a file to the CAF, or a check to a craftsman, and the question arises each time: what postage should you choose to ensure the letter arrives on time without paying more than necessary? In 2026, La Poste offers several mailing options with prices and proof levels varying from simple to quadruple.
Proof of sending, proof of receipt: what each option really guarantees
Before comparing prices, it’s worth asking the right question: what level of proof do we need? A standard administrative letter does not require the same coverage as a formal notice or a lease termination notice.
See also : Everything You Need to Know About Acthéane: Effectiveness, Expert Opinions, and Potential Risks
The green letter at €1.52 for 20 g provides no tracking. Once dropped in the yellow box, there is no way to prove it was posted. It is suitable for non-legal mailings: postcards, informational invoices, family correspondence.
Adding a tracking sticker (€0.50 in 2026) changes the game. You get an online tracking number that confirms delivery. It is not a legal proof of receipt, but it is sufficient when you simply want to verify that the item has arrived. To understand the details of each letter postage rate in France, weight and format are as important as the chosen option.
Further reading : Everything You Need to Know About Recognized Degree Programs: Definition, Benefits, and Examples
The registered letter generates a receipt signed by the recipient. At €6.11 for 20 g (level R1), it is the only legally enforceable proof in case of a dispute. It is reserved for letters that trigger a legal deadline: cancellation, rental notice, invoice dispute.
Green letter, Services Plus Letter, red e-letter: comparing delivery times and rates for 2026
The green stamp remains the cheapest solution for standard mail in France. The announced delivery time is three working days (J+3). For most everyday mail, this pace is sufficient.
The Services Plus Letter (turquoise stamp) costs €3.47 for 20 g, with delivery in J+2. The price difference is significant compared to the green letter. It is chosen when one less day matters, for example, for a file to be submitted before a close deadline.
The red e-letter, priced at €1.60 in 2026, works differently. You write your letter online, La Poste prints it, puts it in an envelope, and delivers it in J+1. This is the fastest option without having to go to the post office. It is well-suited for typed documents (reminder letters, invitations) but does not allow for attaching an original document or a check.
What format for what rate
The base rate corresponds to a standard envelope (C6 or DL format) weighing a maximum of 20 g. Beyond that, each weight increment increases the price. A common mistake is to underestimate the weight of a multi-page file: three A4 sheets with their envelope often exceed 20 g and move into the next weight category.
- Up to 20 g: base rate (€1.52 for green letter)
- From 20 to 100 g: second tier, higher rate depending on the chosen option
- Beyond 100 g: the differences widen, especially for registered mail where each step adds several euros
Weighing your mail before postage avoids a return due to insufficient postage. A kitchen scale does the job.
My Stamp Online: save on letter postage without leaving your desk
The My Stamp Online service from La Poste allows you to buy and print your stamps from a computer. You stick the label on the envelope, drop the mail in a yellow box, and it’s done.
The advantage is not limited to time savings. Starting in 2027, a discount of 4 cents per stamp is planned for users of this service. For a regular volume of mailings (customer reminders, administrative letters, paper invoices), the savings become tangible.
My Stamp Online also provides access to tracking for the options that offer it, directly from the customer area. You generate the receipt, track the delivery, all without waiting in line.
When this option is not suitable
For a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, dropping it at the counter or in a mailbox with the prepaid label remains the standard procedure. Online registered mail also exists, but it requires the content to be a digital document. If you need to send a signed original, you go through the counter.
Postal rate increase in 2027: anticipate now
Postal rates are regularly reviewed upwards. For individuals sending a few letters a year, the impact remains moderate. For professionals, associations, or condominiums that send dozens of letters each month, buying stamps before the end of the year locks in the current rate.
Stamps purchased at the old rate remain valid after a price increase, making it a simple cost-saving measure to implement.
Choosing the right postage option involves crossing two criteria: the required level of proof and the available budget. The green letter covers the vast majority of standard mailings, the tracking sticker at €0.50 adds sufficient traceability for important mail without legal stakes, and the registered letter remains the only choice when an acknowledgment of receipt is required.
For those who send regularly, My Stamp Online reduces both cost and time spent at the post office.