Look, nobody actually enjoys thinking about the post office. It’s one of those things you ignore until you’re staring at a wedding invite or a tax form wondering if that stamp from 2022 is still good. But if you haven’t checked the us post office letter postage rates lately, you might be in for a surprise. Things have changed. A lot.
The Postal Service used to be this slow-moving creature of habit. You’d get a tiny price hike every few years, maybe. Now? It feels like we’re on a rollercoaster. Since the "Delivering for America" plan kicked into gear under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (and continued into 2026), we’ve seen more frequent adjustments than a caffeine-addicted editor’s first draft.
The 2026 Reality Check
Honestly, the biggest news right now is actually what isn’t happening. If you were bracing for a massive jump this January, you can breathe. For the first time in a minute, the USPS decided to hold steady on "Market Dominant" prices for the start of the year.
Basically, the cost of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp is staying at 78 cents.
It’s a weird relief. Last July, we saw a 5-cent jump from 73 cents to 78 cents. That was a big pill to swallow. But for early 2026, the Board of Governors decided to give our wallets a break. This doesn't mean the rates are frozen forever, though. They've already hinted that mid-year 2026—probably around July—might see the next bump.
If you’re sitting on a pile of Forever stamps you bought back when they were 50 cents, you’re basically a financial genius. You can still use those for a 1-ounce letter today without adding a single penny of extra postage. That’s the beauty of the "Forever" branding. It’s a hedge against inflation that actually works.
Breaking Down the Current Rates
Let’s get into the weeds of the us post office letter postage rates because it’s not just about that single stamp. Most people forget that letters aren't just 1-ounce rectangles.
First, the basic 1-ounce letter. If you walk into a post office and buy a single stamp, it’s 78 cents. But if you use a postage meter for your business, you’re actually saving a few bucks over time. The metered rate is currently 74 cents. It sounds like a tiny difference, but if you’re mailing out five hundred invoices, that’s $20 staying in your pocket.
Then there’s the "Additional Ounce" fee. If your letter is a bit chunky—maybe you’re sending a few extra photos or a thick legal document—it’s going to cost you. Every ounce after the first one adds 29 cents.
So, a 2-ounce letter costs $1.07.
A 3-ounce letter? That’ll be $1.36.
The Weird Stuff (Non-machinable Letters)
This is where people usually get caught. You buy a beautiful, square wedding invitation. Or maybe it has a wax seal, a string, or it’s just too stiff to bend. The USPS sorting machines hate these.
If your letter can’t go through the automated sorter, you have to pay the "non-machinable surcharge." Right now, that’s an extra 49 cents on top of your regular postage. If you’re sending a 1-ounce square invite, you’re looking at $1.27 per envelope. People often skip this and end up with dozens of returned invites and very annoyed guests. Don't be that person.
What About Postcards and International Mail?
Postcards are still the "budget" way to send a physical note, though even they aren't as cheap as they used to be. The current rate for a standard-sized postcard is 61 cents.
Now, if you’re sending something across the pond or just over to Mexico, you’re looking at Global Forever stamps. These are currently sitting at $1.70. Just like the domestic ones, if you buy a sheet of Global Forevers today, they will cover a 1-ounce letter to any country in the world, forever.
It’s kind of wild that you can send a piece of paper from New Jersey to a tiny village in the Swiss Alps for less than the price of a cheap candy bar.
Why Do the Rates Keep Moving?
It’s easy to get frustrated with the USPS. We’ve seen rates climb significantly over the last few years. But there’s a logic to it—sort of. The Postal Service is trying to dig itself out of a massive financial hole.
Postmaster General David Steiner (who took the reins recently) and the Board of Governors are operating under a 10-year plan called "Delivering for America." The goal is to reach break-even status. Between 2020 and 2026, the strategy has been to lean into "judicious" price increases while trying to modernize the actual delivery network.
They also point out that compared to other countries, the us post office letter postage rates are still a bargain. In the UK or Germany, you’re often paying significantly more for a standard letter. Whether that makes you feel better when you’re standing in line on a Tuesday morning is another story entirely.
Shipping vs. Mailing: The January 2026 Split
Here is the part that confuses everyone. While the "Mailing Services" (stamps, postcards, etc.) stayed flat this January, "Shipping Services" did not.
If you’re sending a package via Ground Advantage or Priority Mail, you’re paying more as of January 18, 2026.
- Priority Mail went up about 6.6%.
- USPS Ground Advantage saw a 7.8% hike.
- Priority Mail Express increased by roughly 5.1%.
So, if you’re looking at the us post office letter postage rates and thinking, "Wait, I thought everything went up," just remember that letters are currently in a "safe zone" while packages are the ones taking the hit.
How to Save on Postage in 2026
If you’re a business owner or just someone who still writes a lot of letters, there are ways to keep your costs down.
First, buy stamps now. If there’s a mid-year hike coming in July 2026 (and there almost certainly is), buying a few coils of 78-cent stamps today is a 100% guaranteed return on investment. You can’t get that in the stock market.
Second, check your dimensions. A "Letter" must be rectangular. If it’s a square, it’s a non-machinable letter. If it’s too thick (more than 1/4 inch), it becomes a "Flat" or a "Large Envelope."
A 1-ounce Flat currently starts at $1.63. If you can fold that document one more time and fit it into a standard #10 envelope, you save 85 cents. Do that a hundred times a year and you've just paid for your Netflix subscription.
The "Flat" Trap
Flats are those big orange or white envelopes. They have to be flexible. If you put a piece of cardboard in there to keep a photo from bending, the USPS might reclassify it as a "Package."
A package is way more expensive than a flat. We're talking the difference between $1.63 and $7.30 or more for Ground Advantage. If it doesn't bend, it's not a flat.
Actionable Next Steps
To make sure you're not overpaying or getting mail sent back to you, keep these points in mind for your next trip to the counter:
Check your current stash of stamps. If they say "Forever," you are good to go for any 1-ounce standard letter, regardless of what you paid for them.
Invest in a small digital scale if you mail things frequently. Guessing "this feels like an ounce" is a great way to have your mail arrive "Postage Due," which is embarrassing and slow.
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If you are a business, look into metered postage or online services like Stamps.com or Pitney Bowes. The 4-cent savings per letter (74 cents vs 78 cents) is the lowest hanging fruit for cost-cutting in 2026.
Wait for the official USPS announcement in April or May regarding the July 2026 rate change. That is when we will know if the 78-cent era is coming to an end.