If you’ve ever found a forgotten book of stamps in a drawer, you might have wondered: do postage stamps expire? The good news is that in the United States, postage stamps generally don’t have an expiration date. However, there are some important details to understand about how older stamps can be used and when additional postage may be required.
One of the most common types of stamps today is the Forever Stamp. These stamps were introduced by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in 2007 as a convenient way to avoid the hassle of constantly buying new denominations when postage rates increase.
You can use them at any time to mail a standard First-Class letter, no matter the current rate. For example, if you bought Forever Stamps when the cost was $0.41 and today’s rate is $0.82, you can still use that old stamp without paying extra.
This makes Forever Stamps not only convenient but also a smart way to lock in current postage prices before future increases.
You can use old stamps, including those that aren’t labeled as “Forever.” USPS stamps do not lose their validity over time. If you have older stamps with a printed value—say $0.29 or $0.50—you can still use them to send mail.
The key is that the total postage on your envelope must match or exceed the current rate. So, if today’s First-Class letter rate is $0.82 and you have a $0.50 stamp, you can simply add a $0.32 stamp (or combination of smaller denominations) to make up the difference.
Many people keep a variety of small-denomination stamps (like 1-cent or 5-cent stamps) on hand to “top up” older stamps when rates rise. This way, no stamp goes to waste—even those purchased decades ago.
A lot of people wonder if stamps expire, usually assuming that postage works like coupons or gift cards with a set timeframe. But USPS stamps, unlike promotional items, do not have an expiration date.
The confusion often comes from a few situations that seem like stamps have expired:
As long as the stamp is undamaged and the total postage meets current rates, you can use it—whether it’s 5 years or 50 years old.
If you’ve collected older stamps or recently uncovered some hidden in a drawer, here are a few simple tips to make the most of them:
U.S. postage stamps, including Forever Stamps, never expire. Whether you’re mailing a birthday card or paying bills, you can confidently use stamps you purchased years ago. Just make sure the total value matches the current postage rate, and your mail will be good to go.
If you regularly send mail, buying Forever Stamps in advance can be a smart way to protect yourself against future postage price increases. And if you find older stamps tucked away, don’t toss them—they’re still valid and valuable.
If you mail for work, you don’t need to stock stamps at all. Print the exact postage you need, when you need it. Start mailing smarter with Stamps.com.
Yes. Our reports show you you activity and total spend by carrier, mail class, shipping service -- so you always know how much you send. You can customize your reports by date and, if you are on our multi-location plan, you can also view activity and spend per location and user.
No. Our negotiated carrier discounts ensure you pay less for First Class Mail® stamps and get up 88% off shipping services from USPS, UPS, and other top carriers. These are discounts you will not find at the Post Office as they are reserved for high volume enterprises. Check stamps.com/carriers for latest on carriers and rates.
Our rate advisor feature helps you calculate exact postage or shipping rate for anything you send. All you need is your item's weight and dimensions -- we do all the math for you and recommend cheapest, fastest, and best rates across all carriers.
Delivery is made by the country's postal service in 3 - 5 business days, depending on the destination.
Generally, it takes Priority Mail International six to ten business days. USPS hands off shipments at the border of the destination country before the local postal service completes the delivery.
While price varies depending on weight and destination, rates for this service begin at $17 dollars.
USPS Priority Mail generally delivers in 2-3 business days. First-Class Mail, while more economical, typically takes 1-5 business days for delivery.
NetStamps are USPS-approved blank labels on which you can print your own stamps. Simply buy postage on Stamps.com, use any printer to print on a NetStamps sheet or roll, and stick the NetStamp to an envelope, postcard, or other First Class Mail.
Nonmachinable envelopes might be non-rectangular, rigid, unevenly thick, or have non-paper closures, meaning they cannot be processed efficiently by USPS's automated sorting equipment, and require special handling, resulting in a surcharge in addition to the standard postage.
Regular, Legal, and Padded
Packages up to 15.999 ounces are priced in 4-ounce increments, while heavier packages are charged by the pound, rounded up. The further the distance, the higher the cost. Additional fees apply to oversized packages. Easily calculate discounted rates anytime at Stamps.com.
USPS Priority Mail typically takes one to three business days, depending on destination, to deliver. You can easily check for a delivery time estimate on USPS’s Priority Mail Delivery Map.
Educational materials like books, music, or videos that never include any products or advertising.
With USPS, Stamps.com customers have access to Commercial Base, Commercial Plus, Cubic Pricing, and Negotiated Service Agreements. Savings include:
With UPS, Stamps.com customers get up to 73% off UPS 2nd Day Air® and up to 77% off UPS® Ground Daily Rates.* Plus, many common surcharges are waived, including the residential surcharge for UPS Ground shipments.
*UPS rates are limited to shipping from the continental U.S. only. These rates and discounts exclude shipment origins from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. These rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.
First-Class Mail International®
Flat Rate Envelopes are ideal for documents or small, dense items weighing 4 lbs or less, as they offer a single price based on the destination country. For items between 4 lbs and 70 lbs, or those that don't fit into the Flat Rate Envelopes, you'll need to ship by weight using your own packaging. It’s more affordable to use Flat Rate boxes if your item is under 20 lbs.
