You’re standing at the kiosk or scrolling through the USPS website, and you just want to know one thing: how much is this going to cost me? Honestly, the way postage rates jump around lately, it feels like you need a math degree just to mail a birthday card. But here’s the bottom line for today.
The current first class stamp cost is 78 cents.
That’s the price for a standard one-ounce letter. If you’re using a Forever Stamp you bought three years ago, you’re golden—it still works, no extra cents required. That’s the whole magic of the "Forever" branding. But if you’re buying new ones today, January 16, 2026, you're shelling out 78 cents a pop.
It’s been this way since July 2024, when the price took a 5-cent jump from 73 cents. While other shipping services like Ground Advantage and Priority Mail are seeing price hikes this very week (as of January 18, 2026), the basic stamp is actually staying put for a bit.
Why the first class stamp cost didn't go up this month
Usually, we expect a New Year’s price hike. It’s basically a tradition at this point. However, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the USPS governors decided to hold off on raising the price of First-Class Mail stamps for the start of 2026.
Why the mercy?
Basically, they’re trying to balance the "Delivering for America" 10-year plan with the fact that people are mailing fewer letters. If they raise prices too fast, even more people just switch to email. Also, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has been tightening the leash lately. They recently introduced a rule that basically says the USPS can’t just spam rate increases whenever they feel like it; they’re moving toward a once-a-year limit for these "Market Dominant" products.
So, for now, your 78-cent stamp is safe. But don't get too comfortable. Word on the street—and by street, I mean official USPS filings—is that we’re likely looking at another increase in mid-2026. Probably July.
Breaking down the current rates
Not everything fits in a standard envelope. If you've got a "lumpy" letter or something a bit heavier, the math changes.
- Standard Letters (1 oz): 78 cents.
- Metered Letters (1 oz): 74 cents. (If you have a postage meter at work, you're saving 4 cents).
- Additional Ounces: 29 cents each.
- Postcards: 61 cents.
- International Letters: $1.70.
- Non-machinable Surcharge: $1.27. (This is for those square envelopes or the ones with rigid stuff inside that can’t go through the sorting machines).
If you’re mailing a wedding invitation with a wax seal or a bunch of dried flowers, you're definitely hitting that non-machinable rate. Don't try to sneak it through with a regular stamp; it’ll either come back to you or show up at your friend's house with "Postage Due" stamped on it in big red letters. Super embarrassing.
The strategy of the Forever Stamp
If you’re someone who actually still mails physical mail—bills, thank you notes, or those "just because" cards—the best move is always to buy in bulk before July.
Think about it this way. In 2019, a stamp was 55 cents. Now it's 78. That’s a massive jump in a relatively short window. By grabbing a few coils or books of 20 now, you’re essentially "locking in" the 78-cent rate. Even when the price inevitably hits 80 or 85 cents later this year or next, your stamps are still valid.
💡 You might also like: Finding Another Word for Littering and Why the Nuance Actually Matters
It's one of the few things where the value actually goes up after you buy it.
What about packages?
People often get confused between a "First-Class Letter" and "First-Class Package Service." To make things more confusing, the USPS renamed the package side to USPS Ground Advantage a while back.
If you’re trying to send a bubble mailer or a small box, you aren't using 78-cent stamps anymore. Well, you could plaster the box in about 10 stamps, but it’s a headache. Ground Advantage rates are actually increasing on January 18, 2026. Retail prices for a small 4-ounce package are starting at around $7.30.
Actionable steps for your mail
Since we know the first class stamp cost is holding steady at 78 cents until at least July, you have a window of opportunity.
First, check your desk drawers. Any Forever Stamp, no matter how old or how much you originally paid for it, is worth 78 cents today. If you find a sheet from 2010, use it.
Second, if you have a big event coming up—like a wedding or a graduation in the fall—buy your postage now. You'll likely dodge the price hike coming in the second half of the year.
Finally, if you're mailing something weird, take it to the counter. The "non-machinable" rules are fickle. A square envelope might look cute, but it costs more because it has to be hand-cancelled. It’s better to pay the extra few cents now than to have your mail delayed for weeks.
Stock up on a book of 20 for $15.60 at your local post office or grocery store today, and you won't have to worry about the next rate change for a while.