If you’re standing at a self-service kiosk or looking at a book of stamps you bought last summer, you’re probably bracing for the "price hike" talk. We've been conditioned for it. It feels like every time we turn around, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is tacking on another nickel to the cost of a letter.
But here is the weird part. How much are us stamps today? They are actually holding steady.
As of right now, in January 2026, the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp is 78 cents. If you bought stamps back in July 2025, you are still good. The USPS decided to skip the usual January increase for "Market Dominant" products (that's postal-speak for letters and postcards), which is a massive breath of fresh air for anyone still sending wedding invites or utility bills by hand.
The Current Price Breakdown
Let's look at the actual numbers. Honestly, it's easier than people make it out to be.
- Standard 1-ounce Letter (Forever Stamp): $0.78
- Postcards: $0.61
- International Letters (Global Forever): $1.70
- Additional Ounces: $0.29
- Metered Letters: $0.74
It’s a bit of a relief. Last year was rough on the wallet, with the jump from 73 cents to 78 cents in July 2025. That was a big leap. Before that, we were looking at 68 cents in early 2024. The pace has been relentless, mostly because Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's "Delivering for America" plan is trying to pull the USPS out of a multi-billion dollar hole.
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Why Shipping is a Different Story
Don't get too comfortable, though. While your letters aren't getting more expensive today, your packages definitely are. On January 18, 2026, the USPS pulled the trigger on a series of shipping rate hikes.
Basically, they are separating "mailing" from "shipping." If you're mailing a birthday card, you’re fine. If you’re shipping that birthday present, you’re going to feel it. Priority Mail prices jumped by about 6.6%, and USPS Ground Advantage—which most of us use for standard packages—went up by roughly 7.8%.
It's a strategic move. The USPS knows they have a monopoly on the mailbox, but they’re fighting tooth and nail with UPS and FedEx for the porch. They have to keep shipping rates "competitive," but "competitive" in 2026 apparently means "more expensive than last year."
The "Forever" Loophole Still Works
The best financial advice regarding the mail hasn't changed since 2007: buy Forever stamps.
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If you have a drawer full of stamps from 2019 when they were only 55 cents, you can still use them today to mail a standard letter. No extra 1-cent or 2-cent "makeup" stamps required. They are called "Forever" for a reason.
The USPS has hinted that while they skipped the January 2026 hike for stamps, a mid-year increase in July is highly likely. They usually announce these things a few months in advance. If you use a lot of mail for a small business or just like the art of a handwritten note, stocking up at the 78-cent rate before the summer hits is a smart move.
What Really Happened with Postal Inflation?
We used to go years without a price change. From 2014 to 2016, a stamp stayed at 49 cents. It actually dropped to 47 cents for a while in 2016 because a temporary "emergency" surcharge expired.
Those days are over.
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The current strategy involves twice-a-year price adjustments. It’s tied to the Consumer Price Index, but it’s also tied to the fact that the USPS lost about $9.5 billion in the 2025 fiscal year. They are trying to modernize a network that was designed for a world that didn't have TikTok or overnight Amazon delivery.
Actionable Tips for 2026
- Check your stash. Look for the word "Forever" on your stamps. If it’s there, it doesn’t matter what you paid for it; it’s worth 78 cents today.
- Bulk up before July. If history repeats itself, we will see another 3-to-5 cent jump in July 2026. Buying a couple of coils now is basically a guaranteed 5% return on your money.
- Use Metered Mail for Business. If you have a postage meter, you’re only paying 74 cents. That 4-cent difference adds up fast if you're sending out hundreds of invoices.
- Watch the weight. Anything over 1 ounce will cost you an extra 29 cents. Use a kitchen scale if you're stuffing a card with photos or cash.
The bottom line? How much are us stamps today is a question with a "for now" answer. Enjoy the 78-cent rate while it lasts, because the mail is only going in one direction: up.
Check your local Post Office for the new 2026 commemorative designs, like the Muhammad Ali stamps, which are sold at the current 78-cent Forever rate.