Honestly, it feels like every time you blink, the price of mailing a simple letter has ticked up another few cents. We've all been there: standing at the kitchen counter with a stack of bills or a late birthday card, staring at a sheet of stamps bought three years ago and wondering, "Is this even enough anymore?"
The short answer is yes—if you have Forever stamps. But the actual rate for postage stamp changes more often than most people realize. In fact, we’ve entered a bit of a weird era for the United States Postal Service. For the first time in a while, things are staying somewhat steady for letters, while packages are getting hit with some pretty heavy price hikes right now in January 2026.
The current rate for postage stamp in 2026
As of today, January 18, 2026, the cost of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp is 78 cents.
If you're looking for a quick breakdown, here's what you’re likely to pay at the counter:
- Standard 1 oz Letter: 78 cents.
- Metered Mail (for businesses): 74 cents.
- Domestic Postcards: 61 cents.
- International Letters (1 oz): $1.70.
The Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, has been pretty vocal about the need for "frequent but predictable" price increases to keep the USPS afloat. However, they actually took a breather for the start of 2026. While shipping services like Priority Mail just saw a jump this week (about 6.6% on average), the basic stamp stayed put at that 78-cent mark.
It’s a bit of a relief, but don't get too comfortable. Word on the street—and by that, I mean the official USPS filings—is that they’re already eyeing July 2026 for the next potential mailing services hike.
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Why does the price keep moving?
It's basically a math problem. The USPS is trying to dig itself out of a massive financial hole while dealing with a world that sends way fewer letters than it used to. They use something called the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to justify these jumps. If inflation goes up, the rate for postage stamp follows.
But it’s not just inflation. The "Delivering for America" plan is a 10-year strategy aimed at making the post office self-sustaining. Part of that plan involves aggressive pricing. They’re betting that even if we complain about a five-cent increase, we’re still going to pay it because, honestly, where else can you send a physical object across the country for under a dollar?
What about those "Forever" stamps?
This is where people get confused. If you bought a sheet of stamps back in 2019 when they were 55 cents, are they still good?
Yes. Absolutely.
That is the entire point of the Forever stamp. Once you buy it, it covers the one-ounce letter rate for the rest of eternity. It doesn’t matter if the rate for postage stamp climbs to five dollars in the year 2050; those old stamps will still get your letter delivered.
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Pro Tip: If you know a price hike is coming in July, go buy five books of stamps in June. It’s basically a guaranteed return on investment that beats the stock market.
Special stamps and weird sizes
Sometimes a single stamp isn't enough. If you’re mailing a wedding invitation that’s square or has a heavy wax seal, the post office considers that "non-machineable."
Basically, it can’t go through the automated sorter without getting mangled. For those, you're looking at a starting rate of $1.27.
And if your letter is over one ounce? Every additional ounce costs another 29 cents. If you’re sending a thick stack of photos, don’t just slap one stamp on it and hope for the best. It’ll either come back to you or show up at your friend's house with "Postage Due" stamped on the front, which is kinda tacky.
Shipping is a different beast entirely
While the rate for postage stamp is holding steady today, the shipping side of the house is getting more expensive. On January 18, 2026, the USPS implemented its latest round of competitive price changes.
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If you use Ground Advantage (the replacement for the old First-Class Package Service), prices just went up by an average of 7.8%. Priority Mail Express—the "I need it there tomorrow" option—climbed by about 5.1%.
The logic here is different than for letters. Shipping is a crowded market. The USPS has to compete with UPS and FedEx. They adjust these rates based on "market conditions," which is code for "we need to make more money on Amazon returns and holiday packages."
Saving money on postage
If you're a small business owner or just someone who mails a lot of stuff, paying retail prices at the post office counter is a sucker's game.
Using services like Pirateship or Stamps.com gets you access to "Commercial Pricing." Even with the 2026 increases, these rates are significantly lower—sometimes up to 80% cheaper—than what you'll pay if you stand in line at the local branch.
Looking ahead to July 2026
The USPS usually announces their summer price changes in April. If history is any guide, we should expect the rate for postage stamp to potentially hit 80 or 82 cents by the time we’re all lighting fireworks for the Fourth of July.
It's part of the new normal. The "semi-annual" price hike has become a staple of the postal calendar. While it’s annoying, it’s also the price of keeping those blue boxes on the corners and the mail trucks running six days a week.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your stash: Look at your current stamps. If they say "Forever," you’re golden for the current 78-cent rate.
- Stock up now: Since a mid-year increase is highly likely, buying a few extra rolls of stamps now will save you 5–10% on your mailing costs by August.
- Use a scale: For anything thicker than a standard envelope, weigh it. Avoiding a $1.50 "non-machineable" surcharge or an "additional ounce" fee is the easiest way to keep your mailing costs down.
- Skip the line: If you’re shipping packages, use an online label provider to bypass the new 2026 retail price hikes.