Quick answer
A postage stamp in bingo is a 2x2 block of four squares in any corner of the card, like a stamp on an envelope. There are four possible stamps, each needing 4 numbers, and the free space is never part of one. One card has a 27% chance of a stamp by the 40th call, and in a room with 500 cards the first stamp usually comes around call 13.
Where does the postage stamp go?
Picture a stamp in the corner of an envelope. On a bingo card that’s a 2x2 block in one of the four corners:
| Stamp | Squares | Number ranges |
|---|---|---|
| Top left | B1, B2, I1, I2 | 1–15 and 16–30 |
| Top right | G1, G2, O1, O2 | 46–60 and 61–75 |
| Bottom left | B4, B5, I4, I5 | 1–15 and 16–30 |
| Bottom right | G4, G5, O4, O5 | 46–60 and 61–75 |
Any one of the four completes the pattern unless the caller limits it. The N column and the free space are never involved.
Postage stamp odds by call
We calculated these exactly for a single card, allowing all four corner stamps:
| Calls made | Chance one card has a stamp |
|---|---|
| 30 | 8.8% |
| 40 | 27% |
| 50 | 58% |
| 60 | 89% |
Half of single cards have a stamp by call 48. Across a room it’s one of the fastest games you can run: our simulation puts the first stamp at about call 20 with 50 cards and call 13 with 500 cards.
Tips for players
- Ignore N calls. Numbers 31–45 can’t help, so that’s a breather.
- Watch for the “three of four” corner. Once a stamp has three marks you need one specific number, so keep that one in mind.
- Check which corner the caller allows. If the game is “top right only,” your other three corners don’t count, and a premature shout can slow the game down.
Tips for callers and hosts
The postage stamp is a quick, low-stakes game that suits the early part of a session or a short break between bigger patterns. It’s also easy to verify since there are only four numbers to read back.
If you want a little more suspense, ask for two stamps on the same card (often called a double stamp) or move up to the six pack and nine pack, which are larger blocks in the corners.
Variations
- Specific corner stamp: only one named corner counts. The odds then match four corners, because it’s still four specific numbers.
- Double stamp: any two stamps on one card.
- Four stamps: all four corner stamps, a 16-number game that plays more like a big shape.
- Large stamp: a 3x3 corner block, better known as the nine pack.
Frequently asked questions
What does a postage stamp look like in bingo?
It's a small square of four marked spaces tucked into a corner of the card, two across and two down. For example, the top-left stamp is B1, B2, I1 and I2.
Can the postage stamp be in any corner?
In most US halls, yes: any of the four corners wins unless the caller names a specific corner, such as 'upper right stamp only'.
Is postage stamp faster than four corners?
Yes. Both need 4 numbers, but there are four possible stamps and only one set of four corners. One card is about three times as likely to have a stamp as four corners by call 40 (27% against 7.5%).
Keep reading
Four Corners Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
Four corners bingo needs just the four corner squares of your card. See exactly which numbers count, the real odds by call, and when halls use it.
Six Pack Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The six pack bingo pattern is a 2x3 block of six squares in a corner of the card. See all 8 ways to make it, the exact odds by call, and host tips.
Nine Pack Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The nine pack bingo pattern is a 3x3 block in any corner, always including the free space. See the 4 positions, the 8 numbers needed and exact odds.
Bingo Odds Calculator
Work out your chance of winning a bingo game based on cards and players.