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Enter a target in yen and the Japan Post stamps you hold. It lists up to five combinations that match exactly or overpay least, fewest stamps first.

📘 How to Use

  1. Enter the target postage amount you need to pay.
  2. Add the stamp denominations you have on hand using the presets or custom input.
  3. Adjust the quantity for each stamp denomination in your inventory list.

Japan Post Stamp Combination Finder

For Japan Post stamps. All amounts are in Japanese yen (JPY), and values you add yourself are treated as yen too.

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Japan Post Stamp Combination Finder｜Calculate How to Pay Insufficient Postage

This online tool is for Japan Post stamps, with every amount in Japanese yen (JPY). It finds the most efficient way to combine the stamps you hold to pay a specific postage amount. If you've ever had a letter returned for "insufficient postage," simply enter the amount due and the stamps you own, and this calculator will find the best combinations to make up the difference.

💡 Tool Features

  • Finds Optimal Combinations: Calculates up to 5 of the best ways to combine your stamps, prioritizing exact matches and solutions that use the fewest stamps.
  • Handles Overpayment: If an exact match is impossible, it intelligently finds combinations that slightly exceed the target amount, minimizing waste.
  • Fully Customizable Inventory: The quick-add buttons are Japan Post stamp values in yen. You can also add any other denomination you own, such as a commemorative stamp, and specify the exact quantity of each you have available.
  • Easy Results Summary: The output clearly displays the total value, the number of stamps used, and a breakdown of the combination, with a button to copy a text summary.

🧐 Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What does "insufficient postage" mean?

A. This occurs when the postage affixed to a mail item is less than the required amount for its weight, size, or destination. The postal service may return the item or require the sender or recipient to pay the remaining balance. This tool is designed to help you figure out exactly which stamps to use to pay that balance.

Q. Can I add a stamp value that is not on the buttons?

A. Yes. Type the face value in the custom field and press Add. The tool treats every number as an amount in Japanese yen (JPY), the target amount included. The field takes whole numbers only, from 1 to 99999 JPY, so a stamp that is not a whole number of yen cannot be entered.

📚 About Japanese Postage

This tool is built for the Japanese postal system. In Japan, if postage is short, an item is often returned or delivered with a notice for the recipient to pay the difference at the post office. The tool opens with a 110 JPY target, the standard letter rate in Japan since October 1, 2024 (a postcard costs 85 JPY). The sample stamps include 84 JPY and 63 JPY, the old letter and postcard rates, because many people still have those stamps and need to add the difference.