Postal Stamps Cost: Current Prices & Fees

A postage stamp is a prepaid receipt for a specific kind of mail, and the price you pay depends on what you are mailing, not just on the stamp itself. A letter, a postcard, and a large envelope each have their own rate. Weight pushes the rate up, and a few oddly shaped or rigid envelopes add a surcharge.

USPS sets all of these rates in its Notice 123 price list. The current version took effect on October 4, 2026, and we last checked it on Oct 14, 2026. This guide explains the stamp types, what each one costs, and how stamps compare with metered postage.

The stamp most people buy is the Forever stamp. It is sold for the current one-ounce letter rate, which is $0.82 at the retail counter. A Forever stamp stays valid for a one-ounce First-Class letter even after prices rise, so a stamp bought today still works later without extra postage. The price you pay is the rate in effect on the day of purchase.

Forever stamps cover only a one-ounce letter. A heavier letter needs additional postage.

A standard letter that weighs more than one ounce costs more to mail. The postage grows in steps by the ounce, up to the point where a letter becomes a different kind of mail.

In practice, a few sheets of paper in a standard envelope often stay under the one-ounce limit, but thick paper, a card with a keepsake, or a stack of pages can push it into the next band. When you are unsure, weigh the envelope on a kitchen scale before you buy stamps, or ask a clerk to weigh it.

Not everything you mail fits a letter rate. Postcards cost less than letters, and large flat envelopes cost more. A letter that is square, rigid, lumpy, or secured with a clasp may be treated as nonmachinable and charged a surcharge.

Semipostal stamps are a special case. They carry a higher price than regular postage, and the extra amount supports a designated cause. The table lists the current price for these stamps.

Businesses often print postage using a postage meter instead of buying stamps. USPS charges a lower rate for a metered one-ounce letter, listed above as $0.78, compared with the stamped rate. The difference is small per piece but adds up for a business that mails every day. If you only mail a few letters a month, stamps are simpler and the savings from metering do not justify the equipment.

Letters and postcards sent abroad are priced separately from domestic mail. A one-ounce international letter costs $1.75, and an international postcard costs $1.75. Heavier international letters cost more, and the rate may depend on the destination country's price group. A Forever stamp alone does not cover international postage unless the USPS label says it is a global stamp.

You can buy stamps at a Post Office, from the USPS online store, at the self-service kiosk in most Post Offices, and at many grocery stores, pharmacies, and office supply shops. Third-party retailers sometimes sell books of stamps at face value, but you should avoid buying from unknown online sellers who offer steep discounts. Stamps sold far below face value are often counterfeit, and fake stamps can cause your mail to be returned.

Buy stamps from USPS or an established retailer, and check the denomination printed on the stamp. A stamp marked Forever has no price printed on it, while a stamp with a number needs the rate to match or exceed the postage you owe.

Stamps from earlier rate periods can still be used. A Forever stamp always covers a one-ounce letter. A stamp with a printed value works as long as you add enough additional stamps to reach the current rate. Mixing several older stamps is allowed, as long as the total meets the postage required.