US Stamp Cost: Current Prices & Fees

A postage stamp pays for a specific mail service, and the United States Postal Service sets the price of each service in a public price list called Notice 123. The stamp most people buy is the Forever stamp, which is sold for a standard 1-ounce letter, but the same list covers postcards, large envelopes, extra ounces, and mail sent abroad.

Prices change on a schedule the Postal Service announces in advance, and the most recent change took effect on July 12, 2026. This guide covers what a stamp costs today, what you pay for a book or a coil, how the price has moved, and how to work out the postage for something heavier than a basic letter.

A Forever stamp is priced at the current First-Class Mail letter rate, which is $0.82 for a stamped letter weighing up to 1 ounce. That covers a standard envelope with a few sheets of paper inside. A metered letter, the kind printed by a postage meter or an online postage service, costs $0.78, so stamps are slightly more expensive per letter than metered postage.

Stamped mail sent at the 2-ounce weight costs $1.11. If you would rather not buy a different stamp for every weight, the Additional Ounce stamp is sold for $0.29 and is used together with a Forever stamp on heavier letters.

The name describes how the stamp keeps its value. A Forever stamp has no price printed on it, only a mark showing it is good for First-Class Mail letter postage. If the letter rate rises after you buy it, the stamp still covers a 1-ounce letter. If you bought one at an older, lower price, you can use it today without adding anything.

That also means a stamp bought before July 12, 2026 does not need a top-up stamp. The previous price was $0.78, so anyone holding older stamps paid less than the current price and is still covered for a standard letter.

A Forever stamp pays for a letter only. A stamp with a fixed value printed on it works differently: if that value falls short of the current rate, you add stamps until the total matches the price.

Domestic postcards have a lower rate than letters. A postcard costs $0.65 to mail within the United States. Postcards have size limits, so a card that is too large, thick, or rigid is charged as a letter instead. The Postal Service publishes the exact size standards for each mail shape.

A large envelope, which the Postal Service calls a flat, costs $1.69 for the first ounce. Flats are the right choice for documents you do not want to fold, such as certificates, photographs in a stiff mailer, or a multi-page contract. Heavier flats cost more per added ounce, so weigh the envelope at the post office counter or on a postal scale if you are close to a weight limit.

The price you see today is a snapshot of a rate that has been rising in steps. Before July 12, 2026, a Forever stamp cost $0.78 and a domestic postcard cost $0.61. Compare that with $0.82 and $0.65 now to see how much each changed in the most recent adjustment.

The Postal Service announces changes ahead of time through its Federal Register notices and press releases. Check usps.com for the latest notice if you are planning a large mailing and want to confirm the current price before you buy.

Stamps are sold in several pack sizes. A booklet of 20 Forever stamps and a coil of 100 are the most common, and the price of a pack is the letter rate multiplied by the count. Because a Forever stamp holds its value, buying a larger coil is a reasonable way to avoid trips to the post office, as long as you will use them.

Packs are sold at post offices, on the USPS online store, and at many grocery stores and pharmacies. Retailers other than the Postal Service sometimes sell stamps at face value, but check that the price printed on the pack matches the current rate.

A basic international letter costs the same to every destination. A 1-ounce letter sent to Canada, Mexico, or any other country costs $1.75, and an international postcard costs $1.75 to every country. A Global Forever stamp is the stamp sold for this purpose, and it pays for a 1-ounce international letter.

Heavier international letters, parcels, and tracked or insured services are priced separately. The USPS international price calculator on usps.com gives the exact figure for a package based on weight, size, and country.

Several details decide how much postage a piece of mail needs:

• Weight: a letter is priced by the ounce, and the weight is rounded up. Extra inserts, glossy paper, or a stiff card can push a letter over 1 ounce.
• Shape: rates depend on whether an item counts as a postcard, letter, large envelope, or package. A square, rigid, or lumpy envelope can be charged at a higher rate even when the contents are light.
• Stamped or metered: metered and online postage has a lower letter price than stamps.
• Destination: domestic mail and international mail have separate rates.
• Extra services: Certified Mail, tracking, signature confirmation, and insurance are added on top of the base postage.