Holiday Card Guide 2025
Spread seasonal joy with festive cards for friends and family
Holiday cards have been spreading joy in the U.S. for 150 years — and the tradition is still going strong, even in our digital world.
Americans started sending holiday cards in the mid-1870s, when a Boston printshop owner named Louis Prang mass-produced the nation’s first Christmas cards. He offered big-money prizes for artwork and used elaborate lithographic methods to reproduce the lushly colored works onto cardstock. Many millions of his trailblazing greeting cards sold throughout the 1880s.
Today, holiday cards cover everything from Christmas and Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, winter solstice, and New Year’s — and they’re as much a holiday tradition as gift-giving, favorite foods, and joyful music. A holiday card is a cheerful reminder that someone is thinking of you, whether nearby or half a world away.
Younger generations have embraced the tradition and run with it, making it their own. Custom photo cards, retro designs, rustic vibes — there’s something for everyone. Many cards even become part of the recipients' holiday décor or get saved as keepsakes.
Where should I shop for holiday cards this year?
There are virtually unlimited card choices out there — and nice ones available at almost any price point.
- If you favor shopping local, your neighborhood bookshops, stationery stores, and even coffee shops likely feature cards made in small batches by creative crafters.
- Pharmacies and big-box stores often have resources for creating custom-printed cards, with or without the option of including a family photo or a photo collage.
- Custom-printed cards can also be designed and ordered online, with lots of styles and fonts to pick from, and with templates for personal greetings. Some of these providers will address and stuff the envelopes, affix the stamps — even do the mailing if you’d like.
Take note: If you'd like to include a professional family portrait with your card, it’s best to book an appointment well before the holidays!
If it’s a seamlessly coordinated look you’re after, the Postal Service offers holiday cards in box sets — with cards, envelopes, and corresponding stamps:
- The Holiday Cheer set offers reproductions of four different contemporary collages featuring a holly wreath, amaryllis flowers, cardinals perched on mistletoe, and an evergreen branch decorated with fruit. The mixed-media artwork was created by Denise Fiedler, who used gouache and acrylic paints to color shapes cut from pages of a vintage gardening book.
- The Holiday Joy set features four different festive designs created by illustrator Michelle Muñoz. She channeled her love of Christmas, vintage ornaments, and Mexican folk art to create unique images of holiday decor: two traditionally shaped ornaments; a vibrant poinsettia; and a whimsical blue flower.
Tips for smooth sending
Even before you choose your cards, consolidating recipients’ addresses will make the card-sending process much easier. You might want to address each envelope by hand, or you can use a spreadsheet to create mailing labels at home. Instead, you can upload your address list to an online card vendor who, for an added fee, can use it to prepare your mailing. Note that it's best to have a few extra cards and envelopes on hand for last-minute additions — like when you’re surprised by a card from a long-lost friend.
Bonus idea: Include a short holiday newsletter or add a handwritten note. A simple line like “Congrats on the new baby!” goes a long way.
Stamps make your card’s first impression — a visual “pop” the moment your card arrives. USPS always offers a variety of seasonal stamps and many others representing a range of tastes and interests. If you have a variety of stamps, it can be fun to match them to recipients’ passions!
How much postage does my holiday card need?
It’s worth considering that cards in square envelopes and mail-pieces that don’t bend easily require extra postage — a non-machineable surcharge — because they require special attention and handling. This includes envelopes with wax seals or button-and-string closures. The stamp for the non-machineable surcharge rate runs almost 60 percent above the standard “Forever” stamp, which is sufficient for most rectangular envelopes weighing up to an ounce.
Cards sent outside of the United States also require additional postage. For international mail, use the round Global Forever stamps or any combination of stamps equaling the Global Forever rate (currently $1.70).
Just as there are countless varieties of holiday cards, there are many ways to infuse joy into the process of preparing and sending your own cards. A bit of up-front planning gets your card project rolling and allows you to mail early enough for your greetings to be enjoyed throughout the season. Playing festive music, involving kids (if you want!), and enjoying a treat or two while you assemble your holiday cards are fun ways to shift into the holiday mood.