How Much Do You Add to an ¥84 Stamp? Making Up Old-Rate Stamps and Postcards, with a Combination Table

Old-rate stamps still work: just add the shortfall

Japanese stamps have no expiry date, and stamps bought before a price increase are worth their face value. An ¥84 stamp counts as ¥84 of postage paid, so to use it on a ¥110 teikei letter, add ¥26 of stamps alongside it and the letter will be delivered. The same goes for older ¥62 and ¥82 stamps, and even older ¥50 and ¥80 stamps.

Postcards work the same way. Official postcards with a printed ¥63 stamp and leftover New Year postcards can be used as they are by adding ¥22 of stamps. Return-paid postcards made before the increase, and private postcards with a ¥63 stamp already on them, are fine too once you add the shortfall.

Quick-reference table of differences for old-rate stamps and postcards

Here are the old-rate stamps and postcards people most often have left, the difference from current rates, and the combination of low-value stamps (¥1, ¥2, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50) that uses the fewest.

If you don't insist on the exact amount, you can use even fewer stamps. For example, an ¥84 stamp plus ¥20 and ¥10 makes ¥114, overpaying by ¥4, but takes only two extra stamps. A ¥94 stamp plus one ¥20 stamp makes ¥114, and an ¥82 stamp plus ¥20 and ¥10 makes ¥112. When space on the envelope is limited or you have few low-value stamps, allowing a few yen of overpayment makes life easier.

Which rate was that stamp for? How postcard and letter rates have changed

Knowing what rate a stamp was originally for makes it easier to decide which mail to use it on to keep the difference small. Here are the main rate changes over roughly the last ten years (including revisions tied to consumption tax increases).

The October 2024 revision was the biggest increase in about 30 years. The split between 25 g and 50 g for teikei mail was removed, making it a flat ¥110 up to 50 g. So both ¥84 and ¥94 stamps are now used by adding the difference to ¥110. ¥52, ¥62 and ¥63 postcards and stamps keep the difference smallest when used on postcards (¥85).

• ¥52 postcard: add ¥33 (20 + 10 + 2 + 1)
• ¥92 stamp: add ¥18 (10 + 5 + 2 + 1)
• ¥80 stamp (1994–2014 teikei up to 25 g): add ¥30 (20 + 10)
• ¥50 postcard or stamp: add ¥35 (20 + 10 + 5) to use it as a postcard today

Making up rates with only ¥84 and ¥63 stamps

Even without low-value stamps, combining ¥84 and ¥63 stamps gets you reasonably close to many rates. These combinations keep overpayment to a minimum.

Two ¥63 stamps on a ¥110 letter overpay by ¥16, but that's much better than two ¥84 stamps (¥168). For ¥140 teikeigai mail, on the other hand, ¥84 + ¥63 fits nicely, overpaying by only ¥7. With one or two low-value stamps, you can hit the exact amount.

Adding Tokutei Kiroku (+¥210) or Kan'i Kakitome (+¥350) makes the total large, which is a good chance to use up old stamps you have. Even when you handle it at the counter, you can pay by sticking stamps on.

Differences for return-paid postcards, mini letters and New Year postcards

Besides stamps, you may have mail stationery with postage already printed on it. All of these can be used by adding the difference in stamps, but with return-paid postcards you need to be careful where you stick them.

With a return-paid postcard, the outgoing half (which reaches the recipient) and the reply half (which they send back) are each treated as a separate piece of mail. Putting ¥44 on the outgoing half alone still leaves the reply half underpaid. For invitations where you're asking for an RSVP, always put ¥22 on the reply half too. Likewise, when reusing a return envelope you prepared earlier, check that the stamp on it isn't still at the old rate.

How to place several stamps

There's no rule on how many stamps you can use. But post office machines apply postmarks and read addresses, so take care where you place them.

• Group them in the top left of a vertical envelope, or the top right of a horizontal one
• Keep them clear of the address and postcode boxes. If they're getting close, arrange them in two vertical columns
• Don't overlap stamps. Overlapped parts may not count toward the postage
• On a postcard, put the difference stamps below or beside the printed stamp
• If you use a New Year postcard for something other than a New Year card, it's delivered as an ordinary postcard once you add the difference

Some people dislike how a row of stamps looks. For business documents or formal letters, paying at the counter and having it printed with a postage meter mark looks cleaner than lining up several small difference stamps. Old stamps are best used on personal letters, or used up in bulk on higher-priced teikeigai or registered mail.

What to do with stamps you can't use up and spoiled postcards

At post office counters, you can exchange unused stamps and postcards for stamps or postcards of other values by paying a fee. Postcards you made a mistake on and New Year postcards you didn't send can also be exchanged. Note that you can't get cash back for them.

• Exchanges carry a fee per item. Check the amount at the post office
• Exchanging an ¥84 stamp for a ¥110 stamp costs the difference plus the exchange fee. Adding difference stamps and using it is cheaper
• Badly soiled or torn stamps may not be accepted for exchange
• You can exchange them for stamps and postcards, or for Letter Pack and Smart Letter envelopes. If you have a large amount, ask at the counter

Rather than paying a fee to exchange stamps, adding the difference and using them as they are means no loss. If you have lots of old-rate stamps, try the stamp combinations feature of the Postage Calculator: enter the face values and quantities you have to find a combination that hits the postage exactly or overpays the least.

Related reading

• Checking how many grams cost how much: How many A4 sheets fit in standard-size mail?
• Postage for a Kaku 2 envelope: How much postage for a Kaku 2 envelope?
• Adding Tokutei Kiroku with old stamps: Tokutei Kiroku, Kan'i Kakitome or Letter Pack: which is cheapest?

FAQ

Can I still use ¥84 stamps?

Yes. Stamps have no expiry date and count as ¥84 of postage. To use one on a ¥110 teikei letter, add ¥26 of stamps (such as ¥20 + ¥5 + ¥1).

How much do I add to a ¥63 postcard?

¥22. The current postcard rate is ¥85, so put a ¥20 stamp and a ¥2 stamp near the printed stamp and it can be used. For a ¥62 postcard, add ¥23 (¥20 + ¥2 + ¥1).

How much do I add to a ¥94 stamp to send a teikei letter?

¥16. Three stamps, ¥10 + ¥5 + ¥1, make exactly ¥110. Adding a single ¥20 stamp makes ¥114, overpaying by ¥4, but takes only two stamps in total.

Can I make ¥140 with only ¥84 and ¥63 stamps?

Not exactly, but ¥84 + ¥63 makes ¥147, which you can use on ¥140 teikeigai mail (within limits, up to 50 g) by overpaying ¥7. With ¥50, ¥5 and ¥1 stamps, 84 + 50 + 5 + 1 hits it exactly.

How many stamps can I put on?

There's no upper limit. Group them in the top left of a vertical envelope or the top right of a horizontal one, keeping them clear of the address and postcode. Don't overlap stamps.