USPS Postage Rates: How Much Does It Cost to Mail a Letter?
Quick answer
A typical letter requires one 82-cent stamp to mail.
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
Choosing an envelope first? Our size finder shows which envelopes fit your paper or card and helps check the finished mailpiece.
We created this quick reference for more complex letter-mailing scenarios so you know what it'll cost before you head to the Post Office. For an exact weight tier, use our USPS postage calculator.
| 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 |
These are USPS postage and extra-service fees. If you need someone to print and mail the document too, see our online letter printing and mailing service for the available options and prices. Printing and mailing through a service costs more than buying postage for a letter you have prepared yourself.
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.
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%) |
How Much Is a Book or Roll of Stamps in 2026?
Buying in bulk doesn't get you any discounts, but it might save you a trip to the Post Office. At $0.82 per stamp, a book of 20 costs $16.40, and a coil of 100 costs $82.00.
| 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 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.
Mailing Cost FAQs
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.
Sources
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