If you’re standing at the kitchen counter with a stack of bills or a belated birthday card, you’re probably wondering one thing: how much is this going to cost me? The current cost of a first class stamp is $0.78.
Honestly, it feels like that number changes every time we look at a mailbox. It does. Since early 2024, we’ve seen three different price hikes. The most recent jump happened in July 2025, when the price climbed from $0.73 to the current $0.78.
But here’s the kicker. While the price of "shipping" just went up again on January 18, 2026, the price of a standard stamp actually stayed the same. It's a bit of a head-scratcher. Basically, the USPS decided to hike prices for packages but gave the humble letter-writer a temporary pass.
The current cost of first class stamp and what you’re actually paying for
Most people just call it a "stamp," but the Postal Service is very specific. That $0.78 gets you a one-ounce letter sent anywhere in the United States.
If your letter is a bit chunky—maybe you’re sending photos or a thick wedding invitation—you’ll need more than just one stamp. Every extra ounce costs another $0.29.
Breaking down the 2026 mailing costs:
- Standard 1-oz Letter: $0.78 (The "Forever" stamp)
- Metered Mail (1-oz): $0.74
- Domestic Postcards: $0.61
- International Letters (1-oz): $1.70
- Large Envelopes (Flats): $1.63
You've probably noticed that "Metered Mail" is cheaper. That’s for businesses that use those fancy postage machines. For the rest of us buying a book of stamps at the grocery store, $0.78 is the magic number.
Why did the price stop moving in January 2026?
It’s rare for the USPS to say "no" to a price increase lately. Under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s "Delivering for America" plan, we’ve been conditioned to expect a hike every six months like clockwork.
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So why the pause?
Postmaster General David Steiner—who took over the reins recently—noted that the service wanted to "balance revenue needs" with "market conditions." Translation: they didn't want to scare people away from using the mail entirely.
However, don't get too comfortable. This is just a breather. The USPS has already signaled that another increase is likely coming in mid-2026. If you have a drawer full of old Forever stamps, you’re sitting on a tiny gold mine of savings.
Forever stamps: The best "investment" in your junk drawer
The Forever stamp is arguably the smartest thing the USPS ever invented.
If you bought a Forever stamp back in 2019 for $0.55, you can still use it today to mail a letter that "costs" $0.78. You don’t have to add those annoying 1-cent or 2-cent "makeup" stamps.
It’s basically a way to hedge against inflation.
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I know people who bought thousands of stamps when they were $0.60, and they’re still using them today. It’s not going to make you a millionaire, but in a world where everything from eggs to Netflix subscriptions is getting pricier, a 20-cent savings per letter feels like a small win.
What changed on January 18, 2026?
This is where the confusion starts. If you went to the post office this week and saw higher prices, you weren't imagining things. While the current cost of first class stamp stayed at $0.78, "Shipping Services" took a massive hit.
- Priority Mail went up by an average of 6.6%.
- USPS Ground Advantage (the one we use for most small packages) jumped a whopping 7.8%.
- Priority Mail Express rose about 5.1%.
Basically, if it fits in an envelope, the price is stable. If it needs a box, you’re paying the 2026 premium.
The "Non-Machinable" Trap
Have you ever sent a square envelope? Or one that’s really stiff because of a card inside?
The post office hates those.
Anything that can’t go through their automated sorting machines is considered "non-machinable." This usually adds about $0.49 to the price of your stamp. So, that $0.78 stamp suddenly becomes $1.27.
People get "Return to Sender" notices all the time because they didn't realize their square wedding invitations required extra postage. Always weigh your mail if it feels "off" or "weirdly shaped." It’ll save you a week of transit time and a lot of frustration.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026
We are currently in a "wait and see" period. The USPS is still losing money—about $9 billion in the 2025 fiscal year—though that’s slightly better than the year before.
Because they are mandated to be self-sustaining, those losses have to be made up somewhere. Usually, that’s your wallet.
Most experts, including analysts from organizations like AARP and Pitney Bowes, expect the July 2026 rate change to bring the first class stamp closer to $0.82 or $0.85.
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It sounds high, but the US actually has some of the cheapest postage in the developed world. In the UK, a "First Class" stamp (now called Green or Red) is well over $1.50 when converted from pounds.
Actionable steps for the 2026 mailer
Stop buying stamps one at a time. It's a waste of gas and time.
If you send more than five letters a year, buy a coil or a book now. Since we know a price hike is likely coming in July, buying at the $0.78 rate is a guaranteed "return on investment."
Check your local Costco or BJ's. Sometimes they sell "old stock" of Forever stamps at the previous rate for a few weeks after a price change, though that's getting harder to find.
Also, if you're a business owner, look into Metered Mail. Saving 4 cents per letter doesn't sound like much, but if you send 1,000 invoices a month, that's $480 a year back in your pocket.
Finally, use the USPS "Price Calculator" on their website before you head to the counter. It's the only way to be 100% sure about weight and dimensions so you don't overpay—or worse, underpay and have your mail vanish into the "insufficient postage" void.
Stay ahead of the July 2026 hike by stocking up on Forever stamps at the current $0.78 rate before the mid-year adjustment.