QSL card questions, answered
Everything hams ask about QSL cards and about MailQSL, the service that prints and mails your cards for you.
QSL basics
What is a QSL card?
A QSL card is a written confirmation of a two-way radio contact (a QSO) between two amateur radio operators. It is traditionally a postcard showing the callsign, date, time, frequency or band, mode, and signal report of the contact. Hams exchange QSL cards as a courtesy, to collect as mementos, and as proof of contact for operating awards.
How do I send a QSL card?
You can send QSL cards three ways: directly by mail to the other operator’s address, through a QSL bureau which batches cards cheaply but slowly, or through an online service. With MailQSL you design the card in your browser, upload your log, and the service prints and mails a physical card to each contact for you — no printer, envelopes, or stamps needed.
Is MailQSL a QSL bureau?
No. A QSL bureau batches cards between clubs and can take months or years. MailQSL mails a physical postcard directly to each contact’s address via USPS First Class, typically arriving within 3–5 business days in the US.
Do electronic confirmations like LoTW replace paper QSL cards?
Electronic systems such as ARRL’s Logbook of The World and eQSL are widely used for award credit, but many operators still want a physical card to hold, display, or send as a courtesy — especially for special contacts, DX, and portable operations. Paper and electronic QSLing are complementary, not exclusive.
Using MailQSL
What does MailQSL cost?
MailQSL costs $2.99 per card mailed. The price includes printing on 4×6 inch postcard stock, USPS First-Class postage (US and international), automatic address lookup, and delivery tracking. There is no subscription, setup fee, or minimum order.
Do I need a printer to send QSL cards with MailQSL?
No. MailQSL prints and mails the cards for you. You design the card and upload your log in the browser; the service handles printing, addressing, postage, and mailing.
What log file formats can I upload?
ADIF (.adi, .adif), CSV, and Excel (.xlsx) — the formats logging programs already export. MailQSL auto-detects fields like callsign, QSO date, band, mode, and RST, and you can review the field mapping before addresses are looked up.
How does MailQSL find mailing addresses?
MailQSL looks up a mailing address for every callsign in your log automatically. If no address is found for a callsign, you can enter one manually or skip that contact — cards without a complete address are never charged or printed.
How long does delivery take?
US delivery typically takes 3–5 business days via USPS First Class. International delivery times vary by destination country.
Can MailQSL mail cards internationally?
Yes. International cards cost the same $2.99 as US cards, with postage included. Delivery times vary by destination.
Can I preview cards before they are printed?
Yes. Every card in a job has a preview showing exactly how the contact’s details filled into your design. Nothing is printed or charged until you approve the job.
Do I need an account to try MailQSL?
No account is needed to start. You can pick a design and customize your card as a guest; your work is saved and moves into your account when you sign up.
What size are the cards?
MailQSL cards are standard 4×6 inch (approximately 102×152 mm) postcards, printed edge to edge. The front carries your design and QSO details; the back carries the recipient address and postage.
What happens if a card can’t be delivered?
USPS returns undeliverable mail, and each card’s delivery status is visible in your MailQSL dashboard. Returned cards are not refunded, so double-check addresses before approving a job.
Try it yourself
Designing is free and takes a couple of minutes. See pricing or how it works.
Design your card now