How much does a postage stamp cost? As of 2026, a First-Class Forever stamp costs $0.82. That price took effect on July 12, 2026, when the US Postal Service raised the rate from $0.78 — a 4-cent increase that was part of a broader ~5% rate adjustment across mailing services.
If that feels like a lot for a little sticker, some perspective: the stamp price has climbed from $0.58 in 2021 to $0.82 today, and USPS has raised rates roughly twice a year under its “Delivering for America” plan as it tries to dig out of multi-billion-dollar annual losses. Even so, 82 cents to send a letter anywhere in the country remains one of the best deals in American life.
Here’s every current rate that matters — letters, postcards, international mail, and the extras — plus how Forever stamps work and how to spend less on postage.
Current USPS Stamp Prices (2026)
- First-Class Forever stamp (1 oz letter): $0.82
- Metered First-Class letter (1 oz): $0.78 — businesses using postage meters pay 4 cents less
- Each additional ounce (letters): $0.29
- Domestic postcard: $0.65
- International letter or postcard (1 oz): $1.75
- Large envelope / flat (1 oz): $1.46
Those are the rates in effect since the July 2026 increase, approved by the Postal Service Governors and reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The additional-ounce price held steady at $0.29, which is small mercy if you mail heavier envelopes.
What Is a Forever Stamp, Exactly?
A Forever stamp is exactly what it sounds like: a First-Class stamp that remains valid forever, no matter how many times prices rise. Buy a book of 20 at $0.82 each today, and those stamps still mail a 1-ounce letter ten years from now even if the rate hits a dollar.
This makes Forever stamps a genuinely good hedge against inflation — one of the rare consumer products where stockpiling before a price hike is completely rational. When USPS announces its next increase (and there will be one), anyone holding Forever stamps bought at the old rate mails at the new rate for free.
One caveat: Forever stamps cover the 1-ounce First-Class letter rate only. If your envelope weighs more, you still need additional-ounce postage at the current rate.
Postage Costs Beyond the Basic Stamp
Mailing a letter
A standard letter (up to 1 oz, standard envelope) needs one $0.82 Forever stamp. A 2-ounce letter needs $1.11 ($0.82 + $0.29). Weigh anything lumpy, rigid, or square — non-machinable letters carry a surcharge (currently around $0.46 extra) because they can’t run through automated sorting.
Mailing a postcard
Postcards are the bargain of the postal system at $0.65. Requirements: rectangular, at least 3.5″ x 5″ and no more than 4.25″ x 6″, on card stock. Anything bigger or flimsier gets charged letter rates.
International mail
A 1-ounce international letter or postcard costs $1.75 — the Global Forever stamp covers this. That’s remarkably cheap for crossing an ocean; private carriers charge many times more for the equivalent.
Extra services
- Certified Mail: $5.55 (proof of mailing + delivery confirmation — the standard for legal documents)
- Return receipt (green card): additional fee on top of Certified
- Tracking: included free with Priority Mail and Ground Advantage packages
Why Do Stamp Prices Keep Going Up?
Three forces, all working against the Postal Service:
- Collapsing mail volume. Americans send a fraction of the First-Class mail they did 20 years ago — email and electronic billing ate the business — but USPS still has to visit 168+ million addresses six days a week. Fixed costs, shrinking revenue.
- Rising operating costs. Fuel, wages, vehicles, and facility maintenance all cost more every year.
- The Delivering for America plan. USPS’s 10-year turnaround strategy explicitly calls for regular above-inflation price increases to reach financial stability. The agency lost about $9 billion in fiscal 2025 alone.
USPS receives essentially no tax dollars for operations — it funds itself through postage and services. So when costs rise, stamp prices follow. Expect this pattern to continue: the agency has signaled that twice-yearly adjustments are the new normal.
Ways to Save on Postage
- Stock up on Forever stamps before increases. USPS announces hikes weeks in advance. Buying a few books at the old price is instant, risk-free savings.
- Use a postage meter or online postage. Metered mail costs $0.78 per ounce vs. $0.82 for stamps. Services like Stamps.com or Pirate Ship also offer discounted commercial rates — worth it if you mail regularly.
- Weigh before you stamp. A kitchen scale prevents the classic mistake: one stamp on a 1.2-ounce letter gets it returned to you, wasting days. When in doubt, add the extra ounce.
- Send postcards when you can. At $0.65, they’re 17 cents cheaper than letters for short messages.
- Go digital for bills and statements. The cheapest stamp is the one you never buy — most banks and utilities offer free electronic delivery.
- Buy stamps at face value. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and ATMs sell books of Forever stamps at face value. Avoid third-party sellers marking them up.
Stamp Price History: How We Got to $0.82
The climb has been steep. USPS raised the First-Class stamp price six times in five years — from $0.58 in 2021 to $0.78 just before the July 2026 hike to $0.82. That’s a 41% increase in half a decade, far outpacing general inflation.
For context, a stamp cost $0.49 as recently as 2014 and $0.37 in 2004. The pace of increases accelerated sharply once the Delivering for America plan took effect, shifting USPS from rare, small adjustments to regular, larger ones. If the current pattern holds, $1.00 postage is a matter of “when,” not “if” — which is exactly why buying Forever stamps ahead of each announced increase remains the smartest consumer play in the postal system.
Postage Stamp FAQs
How much is a book of stamps in 2026?
A book of 20 Forever stamps costs $16.40 (20 × $0.82). Rolls of 100 run $82.00.
Do Forever stamps expire?
No — never. That’s the entire point. A Forever stamp bought in 2010 for $0.44 still mails a 1-ounce letter today.
Can I still use old stamps?
Yes. Any unused US postage stamp ever issued remains valid for its face value. Combine old denominated stamps to reach the current $0.82 rate (e.g., a $0.55 stamp plus a $0.27 stamp).
When is the next stamp price increase?
USPS hasn’t announced the next one yet, but the pattern under the Delivering for America plan points to another adjustment within roughly 6–12 months of July 2026. Watch for announcements from the Postal Regulatory Commission.
How much does it cost to mail a letter internationally?
$1.75 for a 1-ounce letter or postcard anywhere in the world via First-Class Mail International — covered by a single Global Forever stamp.
What’s the cheapest way to send a package?
For lightweight packages, USPS Ground Advantage is usually cheapest, with rates starting around $4–$5 for small, light parcels. Pirate Ship and similar services can shave a bit more off with commercial pricing.
The Bottom Line
A postage stamp costs $0.82 in 2026 — specifically, a First-Class Forever stamp for a 1-ounce letter. Postcards are $0.65, international mail is $1.75, and each extra ounce is $0.29. Prices will keep creeping up, so the smartest move is the simplest: keep a book of Forever stamps in a drawer and buy a fresh one whenever USPS announces the next increase. At 82 cents to reach anyone in America, it’s still a bargain.
