Thank You Card Time and Cost Calculator
Enter gifts and writing time to plan your thank you cards.
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Thank You Card Time and Cost Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Thank You Card Time and Cost Calculator works
Enter the number of cards and how long each takes to write and address.
Total time is cards × minutes. Sessions are total hours divided by your session length.
Weeks to finish uses how many sessions you can fit each week.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Thank you cards to write | 80 |
|---|---|
| Minutes per card | 6 |
| Card and envelope cost each | $1.5 |
| Postage each | $0.82 |
| Days until your deadline | 45 |
| Hours you can write per session | 1 |
| Writing sessions per week | 3 |
- 80 cards × 6 minutes = 8.0 hours of writing.
- Cost 80 × ($1.50 + $0.82) = $185.60. To finish in 45 days write 1.8 cards a day. At 3 one-hour sessions a week you finish in 2.7 weeks.
Result:
| Total writing time (hours) | 8.0 |
|---|---|
| Total cost | $185.60 |
| Cards per day to meet the deadline | 1.8 |
| Writing sessions needed | 8 |
| Weeks to finish at your pace | 2.7 |
| Done by the deadline? | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
When should thank you cards be sent?
Etiquette guides suggest within 2 to 3 months of the wedding, and within a few weeks for a birthday or shower. The sooner the better.
How can I write them faster?
Write a few each day, keep one template note and add a personal line, and address envelopes in a separate batch.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.