3 Ways To Seal An Envelope - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Seal an Envelope PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla

Last Updated: May 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Sealing The Old-Fashioned Way
    • |
  • Using Commercial Envelope Moisteners
    • |
  • Making DIY Envelope Moisteners
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla. Fahim and Seema Mojawalla are Shipping and Logistics Experts based in Grand Island, New York. They are the Co-Owners of Island Ship Center, a shipping depot, print shop, small gift boutique, and business center. Founded in 2006, Island Ship Center is now one of the top three FedEx Authorized ShipCenters® in the country (out of 4,600 locations), is a FedEx Spotlight Store, and has the honor of being a PRINTING United spotlight store. They are also a USPS Approved Postal Provider and a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet. The award-winning business has served as a training center and model in their industry for years, so much so that Fahim and Seema created AYM High Consultants, a contemporary business coaching enterprise for fellow business owners and purveyors in the printing and shipping industry. From their palletized freight packing and shipping warehouse operation, to their store serving individual clients’ mailing and shipping needs, Fahim and Seema have developed Island Ship Center to be the “Spa of Shipping.” This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 171,546 times.

Maybe you just need to know how seal an envelope, or maybe you're desperately seeking alternatives to the standard licking method. You could always buy self-sealing envelopes[1] -- available at most office-supply stores, and they require no moistening of any kind. Otherwise, you have a number of options.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Sealing The Old-Fashioned Way

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  1. Step 1 Consider the old-fashioned method if you only have one or two envelopes to seal. 1 Consider the old-fashioned method if you only have one or two envelopes to seal. Old-fashioned licking is the most common method, as long as you don't have too many envelopes to seal. It can be cumbersome and inefficient if you're handling a large number of envelopes at once.
    • Contrary to urban legend, envelope glue is not toxic—it’s composed primarily of gum arabic, an ingredient found in a number of common foods. Even if you cut your tongue on the edge of the envelope, the glue won’t sneak in and kill you. [2]
  2. Step 2 Lick the envelope. 2 Lick the envelope. Swipe your tongue carefully across the seal of the envelope. Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 3 Seal the envelope. Fold the flap down, and then run your fingers over the top to set it in place. The wetness from your tongue will moisten the glue on the seal, allowing it to bond with the paper of the envelope when sealed.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Using Commercial Envelope Moisteners

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 1 Use conventional envelope moisteners. These are typically plastic bottles topped with a small sponge and are available at most office supply stores. To use this type of envelope moistener:
    • Hold the bottle vertically, sponge-end down, and run it along the strip of envelope glue while gently squeezing.
    • Be careful not to squeeze the bottle too much, or you may over-moisten the envelope and leave it sodden or puckered.
    • This method is more efficient when you need to seal a large number of envelopes at once (making it useful for sending out wedding invitations, holiday cards, etc.), but it can become messy if you squeeze the bottle too enthusiastically.
  2. Step 2 Use a combination moistener/sealer machine. 2 Use a combination moistener/sealer machine. These represent the latest in envelope-sealing technology and will both moisten and seal your envelopes for you. Electric moistener/sealer machines will automatically feed envelopes through, while manual machines must be hand-fed, potentially making them as labor intensive as other, lower-tech methods.
    • Because these are a relatively new technology, they’re not without their glitches, and some models may work better than others. Be sure to do your research before investing.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 3 Try a vintage envelope moistening wheel. If you prefer an old-school approach, you can find envelope moistening wheels online and in stores specializing in vintage office equipment. Most are ceramic and feature a cylindrical wheel perched in a rectangular basin, which makes them rather resemble an office tape dispenser. To use one, fill the basin with water, run the envelope’s glue strip across the top of the moistened wheel (like running a knife blade over a whetting stone), and fold and press the envelope flap to seal. Though a bit old-fashioned, these envelope moisteners have the advantage of durability—the ceramic wheel won’t disintegrate as sponges do.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Making DIY Envelope Moisteners

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  1. Step 1 Use a sponge[3] X Expert... 1 Use a sponge[3] , cotton swab, inexpensive 1/4"-wide paint brush or cotton swab to help you moisten your envelopes. This approach will spare your tongue and may allow you to seal a larger number of envelopes than the tongue alone could handle. To use this method, get a small bowl and fill it with warm water. Lightly moisten your sponge, cotton swab, paint brush or cotton swab in the water and swipe it across the glue of the seal. Fold the moistened flap and press down on it to seal the envelope. But be judicious with the amount of water you moisten with. Start light and re-apply if necessary—if you over-moisten, the paper may become soggy or begin to pucker.[4]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 2 Use tape or glue. You can simply tape the envelope shut by folding the flap of the envelope down and running a strip of regular tape across the top. For a less DIY-look, you can use double-sided tape or glue along the inside of the flap before folding down and sealing. Many prefer to use a glue stick over traditional liquid glue because it’s less messy and dries more quickly, but both are viable options.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 3 Use stickers. If you want to add a little unconventional personality to your envelope, you can seal it with stickers—just fold the flap down and place stickers across the line where the flap and body of the envelope meet. But be aware that stickers may not leave the most professional of impressions and may be less secure than other methods.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 4 Seal it with nail polish. Nail polish, it turns out, is one of the great household multi-taskers, and one of its lesser-known qualities is its ability to save you trouble sealing envelopes—and to offer a particularly strong and secure hold while doing it. Just swipe the nail polish along the inside of the envelope flap and press it shut. You might want to opt for clear nail polish to avoid giving the envelope’s seal an odd color—unless, of course, that’s the look you’re going for.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Seal an Envelope 5 Make a wax seal. Dating from the Middle Ages, the use of wax to seal envelopes is perhaps the most classic and impressive of all the envelope-sealing methods.[5] For hundreds of years the use of wax seals was almost exclusively limited to royalty and nobility (given that most everyone else was illiterate and didn’t have much use for letters), and today it carries with it an air of prestige that will likely impress your recipient. As a bonus, sealing an envelope with wax can give you a dignified reason to melt things with fire.[6] See How to Use Sealing Wax with a Glue Gun and How to Use Sealing Wax with a Melting Pot.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Is there a DIY recipe for an envelope sealing solution? Community Answer Community Answer I use water, and that works for me. However, you may want to mix in some liquid glue with the water if you want a stronger adhesive. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
  • Question Do you seal it with your initials or the recipient's? Otterly Badgerific Otterly Badgerific Top Answerer It is usual to place your own initials using the seal, not those of the recipient's. If you'd rather not use initials, use a symbol such as a star, an animal or a logo. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question Can I use clear tape over a label that won’t stick? Donagan Donagan Top Answerer Yes, as long as it doesn't interfere with a postal worker's ability to read an address and an optical reader's ability to read a bar code. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Things You'll Need

  • An envelope
  • A small bowl of water and small sponge, or an envelope moistener (optional)
  • A self-sealing envelope (optional)
  • Tape or glue (optional)
  • Nail polish (optional)
  • A wax seal (optional)

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References

  1. ↑ Fahim and Seema Mojawalla. Shipping and Logistics Experts. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.isitbadforyou.com/questions/is-envelope-glue-bad-for-you
  3. ↑ Fahim and Seema Mojawalla. Shipping and Logistics Experts. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_jgiqBtMQAI
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be4JnYHbypM
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7bV_m5X_Lw

About This Article

Fahim and Seema Mojawalla Co-authored by: Fahim and Seema Mojawalla Shipping and Logistics Experts This article was co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla. Fahim and Seema Mojawalla are Shipping and Logistics Experts based in Grand Island, New York. They are the Co-Owners of Island Ship Center, a shipping depot, print shop, small gift boutique, and business center. Founded in 2006, Island Ship Center is now one of the top three FedEx Authorized ShipCenters® in the country (out of 4,600 locations), is a FedEx Spotlight Store, and has the honor of being a PRINTING United spotlight store. They are also a USPS Approved Postal Provider and a UPS Authorized Shipping Outlet. The award-winning business has served as a training center and model in their industry for years, so much so that Fahim and Seema created AYM High Consultants, a contemporary business coaching enterprise for fellow business owners and purveyors in the printing and shipping industry. From their palletized freight packing and shipping warehouse operation, to their store serving individual clients’ mailing and shipping needs, Fahim and Seema have developed Island Ship Center to be the “Spa of Shipping.” This article has been viewed 171,546 times. 13 votes - 52% Co-authors: 15 Updated: May 8, 2025 Views: 171,546 Categories: Letters Article SummaryX

To seal an envelope, you have to wet the glue on the back of the envelope flap. You can do this by licking along the edge of the flap, or you can dab the glue with a moist sponge or a sponge-tipped bottle if you’d prefer not to lick the glue. If your envelope doesn’t have glue, you can close it with tape, stickers, or clear nail polish. To learn how to make a wax seal for your envelope, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Jun 23, 2016

    "Ceramic moistener wheel - genius! I couldn't find one, but I found and purchased a similar thing called an..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Fahim and Seema Mojawalla Co-authored by: Fahim and Seema Mojawalla Shipping and Logistics Experts 13 votes - 52% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 15 Updated: May 8, 2025 Views: 171,546 Anonymous

Anonymous

Jun 23, 2016

"Ceramic moistener wheel - genius! I couldn't find one, but I found and purchased a similar thing called an..." more Anonymous

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Dec 21, 2016

"Learned some good advice on what to do when sealing a large number of envelopes at once. Learned that envelope glue..." more Anonymous

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"Clear information combined with humor is always great!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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