Ever dug through a kitchen junk drawer, found a single, slightly crinkled stamp, and wondered if it was still "good"? It’s a classic move. You're looking at that little piece of adhesive paper—maybe it has a flag on it, or a flower, or a classic "First-Class" designation—and the question isn't just if it'll stick. It's: how much is a forever stamp worth in actual dollars today?
As of early 2026, a standard First-Class Forever stamp is worth 78 cents.
If you bought that same stamp a few years ago for 60 cents or 63 cents, you basically made a tiny, paper-based investment. It’s still valid for exactly one ounce of mail, even though the price to buy a new one has climbed. That is the whole "magic" of the Forever stamp. You buy it at yesterday's price to cover tomorrow's inflation.
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Honestly, the way the USPS has been moving lately, those stamps are like little slips of gold for your desk. Let's get into the weeds of why that 78-cent number matters and what's changing with the mail right now.
Why the Value of Your Stamps Just Changed (Again)
The Postal Service is in the middle of a massive, 10-year overhaul called the "Delivering for America" plan. Postmaster General David Steiner—who took over the reins recently—is pushing for financial stability. This has meant more frequent price hikes than we were used to back in the 2000s.
We just saw a five-cent jump in mid-2025. One day a stamp was 73 cents; the next, it was 78 cents. If you have a book of 20 stamps you bought in early 2025, you paid $14.60. Today, that same book costs $15.60 at the counter.
Here is the current breakdown of what you'll pay at the post office right now:
- Single Forever Stamp: $0.78
- Book of 20 Stamps: $15.60
- Coil of 100 Stamps: $78.00
- Postcard Stamp: $0.61
- International (Global Forever) Stamp: $1.70
It’s worth noting that while stamp prices held steady for the January 2026 update, other services didn't get off so easy. If you're shipping a box via Ground Advantage or Priority Mail, you likely noticed a price bump on January 18th. The USPS decided to freeze stamp prices for the start of the year, but most experts expect another hike toward the middle of 2026.
The "One Ounce" Rule You Probably Forget
A Forever stamp covers exactly one ounce of weight in a standard-sized, rectangular envelope. If your letter is heavy—maybe you’re sending a stack of wedding photos or a particularly thick "get well" card—that 78-cent stamp won't cut it alone.
You’ll need "additional ounce" postage. Right now, each extra ounce costs 29 cents. If you don't have those specific 29-cent stamps, you can just slap two Forever stamps on there, but you’re technically overpaying by about 27 cents. Not a huge deal if it’s one letter, but it adds up if you're mailing out 100 graduation invites.
What Really Happened With Stamp Prices?
Postage used to be predictable. For decades, a stamp price might stay the same for four or five years. Those days are gone. The USPS now has the authority to adjust rates twice a year to keep up with inflation and operational costs.
Some people think the "worth" of a stamp is what they paid for it. That's a myth. If you find a "Forever" stamp from 2007 (when they first launched at 41 cents), it is worth exactly 78 cents today if you use it to mail a letter.
Expert Tip: Never sell your old Forever stamps to those "discount" websites for less than their current value. Unless they are rare misprints (which is incredibly unlikely), their value is tied directly to the current First-Class rate.
Unusual Envelopes and Hidden Costs
The "worth" of a stamp also depends on what you're sticking it on. If your envelope is square, or rigid, or has a string-and-button closure, the USPS considers it "non-machinable."
Basically, it can't go through their automated sorters.
For these, a regular Forever stamp isn't enough. You’ll need a "Non-Machinable Surcharge" stamp, which currently sits around $1.27. If you use a standard 78-cent stamp on a square envelope, there’s a good chance it’ll show up at your friend’s house with a "Postage Due" stamp on it. That’s a bit of a buzzkill for a birthday card.
Is It Worth "Stockpiling" Stamps?
This is the question everyone asks when a price hike is announced. If you know the price is going from 78 cents to, say, 82 cents in six months, should you buy 500 stamps now?
Mathematically, sure. You’re "earning" a few percentage points of "profit" by avoiding the future price increase. But let’s be real: unless you’re running a small business that sends thousands of invoices by mail, the savings are usually just enough to buy a cup of coffee.
However, there is a certain peace of mind in having a few books of stamps in the drawer. You don't have to worry about the specific math or whether you have enough "cents" on the envelope. You just stick it and forget it.
The Muhammad Ali and "Love" Stamp Factor
Lately, the USPS has been leaning hard into cool designs. Just this month, they unveiled the Muhammad Ali Forever stamp in Louisville. They also released the "Love 2026" series.
Even though these have different pictures, their functional value is identical. Whether it’s a picture of "The Greatest" or a simple American flag, it’s worth 78 cents. Some collectors (philatelists) might argue that certain commemorative sheets will be worth more to collectors in twenty years, but for 99% of us, they are just 78-cent stickers that get our mail from point A to point B.
What Most People Get Wrong About Stamp "Worth"
One of the weirdest misconceptions is that old stamps with a specific price printed on them (like "32 cents") become "Forever" stamps over time.
Nope.
If you find a 32-cent stamp from the 90s, it is still only worth 32 cents. To mail a letter today, you’d need to add another 46 cents of postage. The "Forever" status only applies to stamps that actually say "Forever" on them.
Also, don't forget about the Global Forever stamp. If you're mailing a letter to Europe or Asia, your standard 78-cent stamp won't get it across the ocean. You need the $1.70 Global stamp. It’s round, usually features a moon or the earth, and—true to its name—it also stays "Forever" valid for a one-ounce international letter regardless of how much the price goes up later.
Actionable Steps for Your Mailbox
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and make sure you aren't overpaying (or underpaying) for your mail, here is what you should do:
- Check your stash: Look for the word "Forever." If it’s there, you’re good for one ounce. If there’s a number (like 50c), you’ll need to buy "make-up" stamps.
- Invest in a small scale: If you mail things often, a $10 digital kitchen scale will save you a fortune. Anything over 1.0 ounces needs that extra 29 cents.
- Buy before July: Historically, the USPS likes to move rates in the summer. If you use a lot of mail, late June is the time to buy your year's supply of stamps at the current 78-cent rate.
- Use the "Metered" trick: If you have a postage meter for a small business, a letter actually costs less—74 cents instead of 78. It's a small discount, but it's the only way to pay less than the standard "worth" of a stamp.
The bottom line is that while 78 cents feels like a lot compared to the 29 cents we paid in the 90s, the Forever stamp remains one of the few things you can buy today that is guaranteed to hold its utility forever. It’s a tiny insurance policy against the rising cost of... well, everything.