It happened again. You dug through that kitchen junk drawer, found a half-crinkled sheet of flags, and wondered if they’re still worth anything. Or maybe you're standing at the kiosk at the grocery store, staring at the screen, and feeling a little bit of sticker shock. Honestly, we all remember when a stamp was like 40 cents, but those days are long gone.
The current price for a us stamp is $0.78 for a standard First-Class Mail Forever stamp.
That price has been holding steady since July 13, 2025. If you're checking this in early 2026, here’s some rare good news: the United States Postal Service (USPS) decided to skip the usual January price hike for letters. Postmaster General David Steiner basically said they wanted to keep things affordable for a bit while they deal with their massive "Delivering for America" modernization plan.
But don't get too comfortable. While letters are staying put for now, shipping is a whole different story.
What it costs to mail things right now
Postage isn't just one flat rate anymore. It's a whole ecosystem. If you’re sending a graduation card or a wedding invite, you’re looking at that 78-cent mark. But if you’ve got a "lumpy" envelope—maybe you put a stiff piece of cardboard in there or a keychain—the price jumps because it can't go through the sorting machines.
Here is the breakdown of what you're paying at the counter today:
- First-Class Forever Stamp: $0.78
- Postcards (Domestic): $0.61
- International Letters (1 oz): $1.70
- Additional Ounce for Letters: $0.29
- Metered Letters (1 oz): $0.74
It’s kind of wild to think that just five years ago, in early 2021, that same Forever stamp was only 55 cents. We've seen a nearly 42% increase in a very short window. Why? Inflation is the easy answer, but the USPS is also trying to dig itself out of a multi-billion dollar hole. They’re buying new electric trucks and fixing up sorting facilities that look like they’re stuck in 1974.
The January 18, 2026 shipping shift
So, if stamps didn't go up today, what did? Today—January 18, 2026—is the exact day the new shipping rates kicked in. If you sell things on eBay or just like sending care packages to your niece in college, your wallet is going to feel this.
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Priority Mail just got about 6.6% more expensive on average. Ground Advantage, which is what most of us use for standard packages, went up by a hefty 7.8%. If you're standing in line at the post office today, a Small Flat Rate Box will now set you back $12.65. Last week, it was cheaper.
It’s a bit of a headache. The Postal Service is essentially splitting the bill: they're keeping the "Market Dominant" stuff (stamps) stable to keep the public happy, while raising "Competitive" products (packages) to match what FedEx and UPS are doing.
Why Forever stamps are still the best deal
The "Forever" concept is probably the smartest thing the USPS ever did. If you bought a book of stamps back in 2018 for $10, those stamps are still perfectly valid today, even though the price of a book has climbed to $15.60.
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You don't need "1-cent" or "2-cent" stamps to make up the difference. You just peel and stick.
There’s a small subculture of people who "hoard" stamps right before a price hike. If you’re mailing a hundred wedding invitations, that 5-cent difference per stamp adds up to a free lunch pretty quickly. Since the USPS has hinted that we might see another increase toward mid-2026, stocking up now at $0.78 isn't a bad move.
Real talk: Is the service getting better?
That's the million-dollar question. The USPS says these price hikes are necessary for "service excellence." In reality, they recently changed how postmarks work. Some mail might actually take a day longer to get processed because they’re moving operations to larger regional hubs.
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It’s a trade-off. We pay more, they modernize, and hopefully, the post office is still around in another 250 years.
Actionable steps for your next trip to the Post Office
- Check your stash: Look for the word "Forever" on your old stamps. If it’s there, it is worth exactly $0.78 today, regardless of what you paid for it.
- Use the kiosk: If the line is out the door, the self-service kiosks are usually updated with the newest rates immediately.
- Print at home: For packages, use services like Pirate Ship or Stamps.com. You’ll pay "Commercial" rates, which are significantly cheaper than the "Retail" price you get at the physical counter. For example, a Priority Mail envelope is $11.95 at the window but only $10.30 if you print the label yourself.
- Weight matters: Anything over 1 ounce in a letter needs extra postage ($0.29). If you’re unsure, use a kitchen scale. Guessing usually ends with your mail being returned to sender two weeks later.
Wait until at least July 2026 before you expect another change to the letter rates. For now, 78 cents is the magic number.