Italian Phrase
Quanto costa mandare questo?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for the price of sending a specific item, such as a letter, parcel or package. It is a practical question you’ll hear at post offices, courier desks, or when arranging a shipment with a friend.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are at a post office, a shipping counter, or talking to someone who can arrange a delivery. It works both in casual conversation and in more formal settings; just adjust the level of politeness if needed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quantocostamandarequesto?
Quanto
Interrogative adverb meaning 'how much' used to ask about price or quantity.
costa
Third‑person singular present of the verb *costare* (to cost). It agrees with the implied subject ‘it’.
mandare
Infinitive of *mandare* (to send, to mail). In this construction it follows *costa* to express the cost of an action.
questo
Demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘this’, referring to the item you want to send.
🗨In Conversation
Quanto costa mandare questo?
How much does it cost to send this?
Costa cinque euro, più il peso extra se supera un chilo.
It costs five euros, plus extra for weight over one kilogram.
✕Common Mistakes
Quanto costa mandere questo?
The correct infinitive is *mandare*; *mandere* is a misspelling.
Costo quanto mandare questo?
The order *costa quanto* is ungrammatical; the interrogative *quanto* must come first.
↔Alternatives
Quanto devo pagare per spedire questo?
How much do I have to pay to ship this?
Qual è il prezzo per inviare questo?
What is the price to send this?
Quanto costa spedire questo pacco?
How much does it cost to ship this package?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, postal and courier services often ask for the weight and dimensions before giving a price, so be ready to provide that information. When speaking to staff in a formal setting (e.g., a bank‑run post office), you can use the polite form: *Quanto costa mandare questo, per favore?* In the south, you might also hear the colloquial *quanto costa spedire* instead of *mandare*.