Did you know the U.S. Postal Service handles more than 484 million items of mail every single day? That equates to a whopping 20.2 million pieces each hour, and over 5,000 each second!
So how much does a standard letter weigh?
On average, an envelope weighs approximately 0.238 ounces (6.75 grams).
The sheet of paper inside comes in at around 0.159 ounces (4.5 grams).
This means that a standard letter will typically weigh around 0.397 ounces (11.25 grams).
Letters have been an important part of history for thousands of years, with the first handwritten letter thought to have been sent around 500 BC by Queen Atossa of Persia.
Over time, letters grew in popularity as people became more literate.
Today, letters compete with popular electronic forms of communication, including emails and instant messaging.
Despite this, the U.S. Postal Service still manages to handle over 484 million mail pieces each day, including letters.
~ Fun Fact ~
Signed by George Washington in 1792, the Postal Service Act makes it illegal to open a letter addressed to someone else. So, no peeking!
Resources
https://www.sapling.com/8506228/weight-standard-envelope
https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-mail/
https://facts.usps.com/one-day/
https://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/handwritten-letters-which-made-history/