USPS Postage Rates: How Much Does It Cost to Mail a Letter?
Quick answer
A standard 1-ounce letter now costs $0.82 to mail. These USPS rates took effect July 12, 2026, according to the official USPS Notice 123 price list.
- $0.82 for a 1 oz standard letter
- $1.11 for a 2 oz standard letter
- $0.65 for a domestic postcard
- $1.69 for a 1 oz large envelope
- $1.75 for a 1 oz international letter
When the Post Office raises its prices, we eventually have to raise ours too. Unfortunately, that's just the reality of running a mailing business: everything gets more expensive over time, and USPS still has an enormous network to operate. The latest increase moved a Forever Stamp from $0.78 to $0.82. Honestly, four cents is pretty reasonable for getting a letter across the country, so I don't think many people are going to lose sleep over it. If you're trying to turn the dollar amount into the right number of stamps, use our stamp-count calculator.
Complete 2026 USPS Mail Rates
These are the final USPS retail rates effective July 12, 2026. Letter, metered-mail, postcard, and flat prices come from the First-Class Mail table in USPS Notice 123; Certified and Registered Mail fees appear in its Extra Services tables. USPS lists the complete set of final files on its July 2026 Price Change page.
| Mail Type | Current Price (2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Letter (1 oz) | $0.82 | Standard letters, bills, documents |
| Additional Ounce (each) | + $0.29 | Multi-page letters, thick documents |
| Metered Mail (1 oz) | $0.78 | Businesses using a postage meter or approved online postage |
| Postcard (Domestic) | $0.65 | Marketing, quick notes |
| Large Envelope/Flat (1 oz) | $1.69 | Catalogs, magazines, large documents |
| International Letter (1 oz) | $1.75 | Letters to other countries |
| Certified Mail Add-On | + $5.55 | Mailing receipt and electronic delivery or attempted-delivery record |
| Registered Mail Add-On | From $20.90 | Maximum security, valuable items |
How Forever Stamps Hold Their Value
At The Letter Pilot, we print enough mail that even a small postage increase adds up. When USPS announces a new rate, we'll usually buy Forever Stamps before it takes effect so we can lock in the lower purchase price for some of our future mail.
A Forever Stamp is tied to the current price of mailing a 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter, not the price printed on a receipt when you bought it. If we paid $0.78 for a stamp and the current letter rate is $0.82, that same stamp still covers the full $0.82 postage. In practical terms, we saved four cents on that future mailing. It's not exactly an investment portfolio, but it's a pretty useful way for a mail-heavy business to stay ahead of a rate increase.
USPS describes Forever Stamps as nonexpiring and always valid for the current first ounce of First-Class postage. You can read the USPS explanation of Forever Stamps.
Recent Forever Stamp Prices
USPS postage rates have steadily increased over recent years. Here's how Forever Stamp prices have changed, showing the importance of buying stamps in advance:
| Year | Forever Stamp Price | Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $0.60 | - |
| 2023 | $0.66 | +$0.06 (10%) |
| 2024 (July) | $0.73 | +$0.07 (11%) |
| 2025 (July) | $0.78 | +$0.05 (7%) |
| 2026 (July) | $0.82 | +$0.04 (5%) |
USPS implemented a mid-year increase on July 13, 2025, bringing the Forever Stamp price to $0.78.
How Much Is a Book or Roll of Stamps in 2026?
Buying a book or coil does not lower the face value of each stamp, but it can save you a few trips to the Post Office. At the current $0.82 Forever Stamp rate, a standard book of 20 represents $16.40 in postage and a coil of 100 represents $82.00 in postage.
Need stamp counts by weight rather than dollar cost? See our stamps-to-mail-a-letter calculator.
| Format | Stamps | Current postage value |
|---|---|---|
| Single Forever Stamp | 1 | $0.82 |
| Book of Forever Stamps | 20 | $16.40 |
| Coil of Forever Stamps | 100 | $82.00 |
| Additional Ounce Stamp | 1 | $0.29 |
The $0.82 and $0.29 values come from the final USPS July 2026 Notice 123. USPS sells Forever Stamps in several formats, including books of 20 and coils of 100. Format availability varies by stamp design. See the USPS Flag 2026 stamp listing.
The One Business Mailing Rate Worth Knowing
Most people do not need to worry about business mailing rates. One exception is Every Door Direct Mail, usually shortened to EDDM. EDDM Retail currently costs $0.260 per piece. It is mainly useful for businesses that want to advertise to every address along selected neighborhood routes, whether that means promoting a local offer or trying to generate leads nearby.
For ordinary letters, this probably does not apply to you. EDDM uses qualifying marketing-mail flats and its own preparation rules. USPS says EDDM Retail mailings must include at least 200 pieces, with a limit of 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code. You can choose the neighborhoods and carrier routes through the USPS mapping tool instead of building a traditional mailing list. See the USPS Every Door Direct Mail guide, and verify the current price in the July 2026 Notice 123.
Mailing Cost FAQs
Prices below are verified against the USPS July 2026 Notice 123.
How much does it cost to mail a letter in 2026?
It costs $0.82 to send a standard 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter within the U.S.
How many stamps do I need for 2 ounces?
You'll need $1.11 in postage: the current $0.82 one-ounce letter price plus $0.29 for the additional ounce.
Does the Certified Mail fee include postage?
No. Certified Mail costs $5.55 in addition to postage. A standard 1-ounce letter with Certified Mail costs $6.37 before optional services such as Return Receipt. See the USPS Extra Services price table.
More postage and stamp guides
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How Many Stamps Do I Need? USPS Stamp Calculator by Weight and Envelope Type
Use the USPS stamp calculator to figure out how many Forever or additional-ounce stamps to use by weight and envelope type. Need dollar postage rates instead? See 2026 USPS postage prices.
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