Pricing is where most people stall before they launch. Charge too little and every mailing drains you; charge too much with no track record and nobody subscribes. The good news: you don't have to guess, and you don't have to be the cheapest club to find your people. Here's a simple way to land on a number, backed by what hundreds of active mail clubs actually charge.
Key takeaways
- Most active clubs charge $10–$15 a month; the median is about $11.
- Price for your time, not just materials. Cheaper doesn’t mean more subscribers.
- Rule of thumb: price at 2–4× your cost per piece.
- Start with one tier. Roughly two-thirds of clubs do.
- Change prices anytime; your current members keep the rate they joined at.
What most clubs charge
We looked at pricing across hundreds of active Posthouse mail clubs, the ones currently live and taking members. Here is where they set their monthly price:
More than half land at $10–$15, and the median is about $11. If you're sending postcards or a single print, somewhere around $10–$13 is a well-supported starting point.
And don't assume the lowest price wins. Looking across clubs on Posthouse, we haven't seen cheaper subscriptions reliably attract more members. If $15 makes the club worth it for you, there's no need to cut it to $10 on the hope that more people will join.
Cheaper doesn't necessarily mean more subscribers.
Start from one envelope
You don't have to make the thing yet. Just picture one mailing you'd be proud to send and outline it: the print or letter, the envelope, and what goes inside. Then add up what that one piece would cost:
| Line item | Example cost per piece |
|---|---|
| Printing / materials | $1.00–$3.00 |
| Postage | $0.60–$1.50 (often the biggest fixed cost) |
| Envelope / packaging / label | $0.20–$0.75 |
| Payment + platform fees | ~3–5% of the price |
That's usually $2–$5 for a postcard or small print (check current postage rates for your real numbers). Don't stop at break-even. Price at 2–4× your cost per piece so there's margin for your time, for members who cancel, and for the next postage increase.
If the price feels hard to make work, simplify instead of cutting it. One thoughtful letter or a single beautiful print can be the whole club.
Give yourself permission to charge
It's easy to think, "I love making this, so I shouldn't charge much." But the drawing, the writing, choosing the paper, and packing it all up are part of what someone is paying for. Your care is the product. Pick a price you'd still feel good about after an afternoon of packing, with a little breathing room for an extra stamp or an edition that runs long.
One tier or several?
Start with one. About two-thirds of active clubs run a single tier, and one clear offer is easier to describe, fulfil, and sustain. When clubs do add a second tier, it's typically priced about $4 more (roughly 1.5×): think a $10 standard and a $15 premium with an extra print or a handwritten note. Add a tier when you have a genuine second thing to offer. A permanent founding-member rate for your first subscribers is another nice option, and they keep it even after you raise prices.
Monthly or prepaid?
Billing is monthly by default, but you can offer prepaid plans too. Among active clubs, about half offer a 3-month plan and a third offer annual. Prepaid brings cash forward to cover materials and improves retention, since a member who's paid for the year rarely drifts away after month two. A 10–15% discount is a fair trade for that commitment.
Pricing for international members
About two-thirds of active clubs ship internationally, and they charge a median of ~23% more for it. International postage genuinely costs more, so a separate international price lets you reach a global audience without eating the difference.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Underpricing to feel accessible. A price that barely covers postage collapses the first time costs rise.
- Forgetting postage goes up. Rates climb most years. Build a margin that survives the next increase.
- No cushion for churn. Price so it still works when some members cancel.
- Too many tiers, too soon. Earn complexity once you have distinct offers.
Change your prices anytime
Your prices aren't set in stone. As your costs rise or your work grows, raising what you charge is normal and healthy. The thoughtful way to do it is to grandfather the members you already have: let them keep the rate they joined at, and apply the new price to new sign-ups. It rewards the people who showed up first, and it avoids a sudden jump that sends members looking for the exit.
On Posthouse, that happens automatically. Change a tier's price whenever you like, and your current members stay at their original rate while new members pay the new one, with no spreadsheets or manual migrations. So you can start at a comfortable number, prove the value, and raise it later without disrupting anyone already on board.
You don't need to become a business expert to start. Know what your envelope costs, pay yourself for your time, and pick an offer you'd be happy to keep making. Add it to Posthouse and share your page, and we'll handle the recurring payments, address collection, and the monthly mailing list. For the bigger picture, browse our other mail club guides, or see how Posthouse compares to a general platform.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good starting price for a mail club?
Between $10 and $15 a month, with a median around $11. Price to clear your cost per piece (materials, printing, postage, packaging) with margin for your time, then adjust once you see real demand.
Is $15 too much for a mail club?
Not automatically. It depends on what you send and what it costs to make. Don’t rule out a price just because another club charges less. Cheaper doesn’t reliably win more subscribers.
Should I offer more than one tier?
Not at first. About two-thirds of active clubs run a single tier. If you add a second, it is typically priced about $4 more than the first (roughly 1.5×).
Can I raise prices later?
Yes, anytime. When you change a tier’s price, your current members keep the rate they joined at, so you can raise prices for new members while rewarding the people who have been with you. Start conservatively and raise it as your work grows.