Italian Phrase
Quanto costa mandare questa lettera?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for the price of sending a specific letter. It is a practical question you would ask at a post office or when preparing to mail something.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are at the post office, a shipping counter, or talking to a friend about mailing costs. It works for both ordinary letters and registered mail, as long as you point to the exact piece of paper.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantocostamandarequestalettera?
Quanto
Interrogative adverb meaning “how much”. It is used before a verb to ask about price or quantity.
costa
Third‑person singular of the verb *costare* (to cost). It agrees with the infinitive phrase that follows.
mandare
Infinitive of *mandare* (to send). In questions about price, the infinitive functions as the object of *costa*.
questa
Demonstrative adjective meaning “this”. It must agree in gender and number with the noun *lettera*.
lettera
Feminine noun meaning “letter”. The article is omitted because the demonstrative adjective already specifies it.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto costa mandare questa lettera?
How much does it cost to send this letter?
Per una raccomandata costa 1,50 €, per una normale 0,80 €.
For a registered letter it costs €1.50, for a regular one €0.80.
✕Common Mistakes
Quanto costo mandare questa lettera?
Use the verb *costa* (third‑person singular) instead of the noun *costo* in this question.
Quanto costa mandare a questa lettera?
The infinitive *mandare* does not need a preposition here; the object is introduced by the demonstrative *questa*.
Quanto costa mandare questa lettera di?
Do not add *di* after *questa lettera*; the demonstrative already defines the noun.
↔Alternatives
Quanto devo pagare per spedire questa lettera?
How much do I have to pay to ship this letter?
Qual è il prezzo per inviare questa lettera?
What is the price to send this letter?
Che prezzo ha la spedizione di questa lettera?
What price does the shipment of this letter have?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, postal rates are set by Poste Italiane and differ for ordinary, registered, and international mail. Prices are usually displayed on a board at the counter, but asking “Quanto costa…?” is still the most polite way to confirm the exact amount, especially if you need a special service like insurance or tracking.