Happy Cards

How to send gift cards in the mail

Young woman with manicured nails holding a pink greeting card envelope.

Mailing gifts can be pricey, plus you’ll need to wrap them, make sure they’re well packaged and make the trip to the post office to pay for postage. You can easily send gift cards through the mail, without the hassle or the expense of mailing bulky gifts – and you don’t have to worry about sending them a gift they’ve already got. But can you mail any gift card? Here’s our guide to sending gift cards in the mail.

How to send gift cards by mail

Gift cards are a great option when you need to send a gift long distance, don’t want to pack up bulky gifts, or risk buying something they already have. And you won’t need anything more than an envelope and something to keep your gift card safe and secure to send it. You can send physical gift cards or buy an egift card and print it out to send in the mail – the choice is yours.

You can get special gift card envelopes from the US Postal Service for a flat rate or choose your own to make the recipient feel extra special. Plus, you can choose to track your delivery to give you more peace of mind. Sending gift cards in the mail is easy and far safer than sending cash, especially if you choose an option that must be activated by the recipient before they can spend their credit.

What gift cards can be sent by mail

Most gift cards can be sent in the mail, whether that’s a plastic card you pick up at the store or an egift you buy online. For an egift card, you’ll need to print out your confirmation email and drop that in the mail.

While it might be easier than going to the store to get your gift card, the downside is it won’t look as nice when the recipient opens it up. Whatever you choose, it’s nice to send it in a cute greeting card, so you can really personalize your gift. Plus, if you’re sending a physical gift card, packaging it inside a greeting card can help disguise what’s inside.

Sending egift cards by email

If you want to send a gift card without the added paper and plastic of a physical gift card, you could use a digital option. Egift cards can be send by email, directly to your recipient’s inbox, reaching them in just a matter of minutes. They can then use the egift card code to spend online or instore. You can browse our full range of egift cards online.

Top tips for sending gift cards by mail

Mailing gift cards is a popular choice and the USPS has created a special flat fee for that reason. You can pick up a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope from most post offices, which makes paying for postage easy. Plus it’ll protect your gift card on its journey too, as it has a slot for holding your card built in. If you can’t get a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope, use a padded one, or a cardboard envelope to make sure your gift card’s well protected. If you’re worried that your gift card might not make it to its destination, make sure you always include a return address somewhere on your envelope, so it can make its way back to you.

Depending on the value of the card, you might also want to think about insuring your package or choosing a tracking option so you can see where it’s got to. Of course, choosing a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope means it automatically comes with tracking included.

How safe is it to send gift cards by mail?

While there’s always a risk involved when you send something in the mail, mailing a gift card is much safer than sending cash, plus, if you take a few simple steps, you can pretty much guarantee your gift will arrive safe and sound.

Make sure your gift card is packed well to avoid it being damaged or stolen. Put your return address on the envelope so it comes back to you if there is a problem, and use tracked mailing options so you can contact the postal service if it does go astray. Still not sure? Why not choose an egift card instead and get the details sent straight to the recipient’s email?

So, when you need an easy, secure gift you can send in the mail, a gift card is a great choice.

Ready to mail a gift card to that special someone? Browse the full range of gift cards from the Kroger Family of stores online today!