You’re standing at the kiosk, digging through your wallet for a few coins, and you realize you haven’t checked the price of a stamp in months. It’s a common feeling. Honestly, the current value of forever stamps has been moving so fast lately that it feels like you need a spreadsheet just to mail a birthday card.
But here is the weird part about right now: for the first time in a long time, the price didn't go up this winter.
If you bought a book of stamps last summer, you’re holding onto a tiny piece of paper worth 78 cents. That is the official rate as of January 2026. While shipping prices for boxes and heavy packages just spiked on January 18, the humble Forever stamp is sitting still.
The 78-Cent Freeze
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been on a tear. Since 2021, we’ve seen rate hike after rate hike. It became a bit of a running joke—or a source of genuine frustration—depending on how much mail you actually send.
In July 2025, the price jumped from 73 cents to 78 cents. Most experts, including those watching the "Delivering for America" plan closely, expected another 5-cent bump to hit this month. But Postmaster General Daniel Steiner—who took the reins in mid-2025—decided to forgo a January increase for First-Class mail.
Basically, the USPS decided to give our wallets a breather, at least on the envelope side of things.
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This doesn't mean the Post Office is suddenly flush with cash. Far from it. While the current value of forever stamps remains 78 cents, "Shipping Services" are a different story. If you’re sending a Priority Mail box or using Ground Advantage, you’re paying about 6% to 8% more than you were last month.
Why Your Old Stamps Are Worth More Today
The magic of the "Forever" stamp, introduced back in 2007, is that it’s essentially an inflation-proof asset. Well, a very small one.
If you have a sheet of stamps from 2019 tucked in a desk drawer, you paid 55 cents for each of them. Today, you can slap one of those on a standard envelope and it will reach its destination just fine. You effectively "earned" 23 cents in value per stamp by just... waiting.
- 2019 Price: 55 cents
- 2021 Price: 58 cents
- 2024 Price: 73 cents
- 2026 Current Value: 78 cents
It’s not exactly going to fund your retirement, but for small businesses mailing out hundreds of invoices or couples sending 200 wedding invitations, that 23-cent difference is huge. We’re talking about saving nearly $50 on a single mailing just by having older stock.
What Most People Get Wrong About Stamp "Value"
There’s a common misconception that you can trade stamps back to the Post Office for cash. You can’t.
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The "value" is strictly in the service. A Forever stamp represents the "price of a one-ounce First-Class Mail letter," regardless of what that price happens to be on the day you mail it.
Also, don't confuse Forever stamps with "First-Class" stamps that have a specific denomination printed on them. If you find an old stamp that actually says "44 cents" on it, it is only worth 44 cents. You’ll have to add "make-up" stamps (those annoying 1-cent and 5-cent ones) to reach the current 78-cent requirement.
The Mid-Year Warning
While we dodged a bullet this January, the freeze isn't permanent. The USPS has signaled that they will likely revisit the current value of forever stamps in July 2026.
Historically, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) reviews these requests in the spring. If inflation stays sticky or mail volume continues to drop—which it has, down billions of pieces over the last few years—we could easily see stamps cross the 80-cent threshold by the time summer hits.
Real-World Math: Mailing in 2026
If you’re heading to the post office today, here is what the rest of the "Mailing Services" menu looks like:
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Postcards are currently 61 cents. It’s a bit steep for a piece of cardstock, but it’s still the cheapest way to send a physical note. If you’re sending a letter to a friend in London or Tokyo, an International Global Forever stamp will run you $1.70.
One thing people often forget is the "additional ounce" fee. If your letter is heavy or has a stiff card inside, that first stamp covers the first ounce. Every ounce after that costs an extra 29 cents.
Actionable Steps for 2026
Since we know a price hike is likely coming in July, the best move is to buy in bulk now.
- Check your inventory: Dig through your junk drawers. Any stamp that says "FOREVER" is worth 78 cents today and will be worth more if the price goes up in July.
- Buy before June: If you have a big event coming up—a wedding, a graduation, or a holiday mailing—buy your stamps before the summer. You’re locking in the 78-cent rate.
- Use Metered Mail for Business: If you run a small business, "Metered Mail" (postage printed from a machine or online service like Stamps.com) is actually cheaper. Currently, a metered 1-ounce letter is 74 cents, saving you 4 cents per envelope compared to a physical stamp.
- Avoid Third-Party Scams: Be incredibly careful with Facebook or Instagram ads offering "discounted" Forever stamps at 50% off. These are almost universally counterfeits. If the price is significantly lower than 78 cents per stamp, it’s a scam. Stick to the USPS website or reputable big-box retailers like Costco.
The 78-cent price point is a rare moment of stability in a volatile postal market. Take advantage of the freeze while it lasts, because if the last five years have taught us anything, that "Forever" value is only going in one direction: up.