If you’ve noticed your mailing costs climbing in recent years, you’re not alone. The price of USPS postage stamps has increased regularly, and understanding when these changes happen can help you plan ahead and manage your mailing budget effectively.
Key takeaways
Bottom Line: USPS raises stamp prices twice a year (January and July). The current cost is 78 cents as of July 2025—up from just 55 cents in 2020.
The Smart Move: Don’t let rising stamp prices eat into your budget. Stamps.com offers commercial rates, accurate postage calculation, and on-demand printing—so you save money and time on every piece you mail.
USPS typically raises postage rates twice annually as part of its Delivering for America 10-year plan. This pattern has become more frequent in recent years, with stamp prices adjusting in both January and July to address operational costs and inflation pressures.
When does the price of postage stamps go up? Based on current USPS practices, you can expect potential increases in:
These increases represent a significant shift from historical patterns. Between the 1970s and 2000, rates increased just three to four times per decade. Now, we’re seeing rate adjustments approximately twice per year.
As of July 13, 2025, the current USPS stamp price for a First-Class Mail Forever stamp is 78 cents. This represents a 5-cent increase from the previous price of 73 cents and marks the seventh rate increase since January 2021.
Yes, postage stamp prices are expected to continue rising. USPS has outlined plans for twice-yearly increases through at least 2027, with proposed adjustments scheduled for:
Each increase needs approval from two groups: the Postal Service’s Board and the Postal Regulatory Commission. In practice, most increases get approved as requested.
The Forever Stamp has seen significant price growth in recent years. Here’s a snapshot of the USPS Forever Stamps price increase trajectory:
That’s a 42% increase over just five years. If current trends continue, experts project that the cost of first class stamps could reach $1.19 by 2030.
Looking at USPS postage rates history reveals an accelerating pattern of increases. The Forever Stamp was introduced in 2007 at just 41 cents. Over nearly two decades, the price has nearly doubled.
U.S. stamps still cost less than stamps in most other countries. A 2024 study by the USPS Office of Inspector General found that the United States had lower stamp prices than 26 out of 30 comparable countries. Between 2018 and 2023, while U.S. stamp prices increased by 26%, the average increase across comparable countries was 55%.
The most recent postage stamp price change occurred on July 13, 2025, when First-Class stamps increased from 73 cents to 78 cents. This USPS stamp rate increase 2025 represented a 7.4% jump in mailing services, tying the record as one of the highest stamp increases ever implemented.
What does this mean for a book of stamps? Based on the current price of 78 cents, a standard book of stamps (20 stamps) now costs $15.60. That’s up from $14.60 before the July increase. For frequent mailers, these costs add up quickly. Learn more about the cost of a stamp book and how to save.
Beyond First-Class stamps, other postal products also saw increases:
When will the price of stamps go up again? Based on USPS’s filed plans with the Postal Regulatory Commission, the next stamp increase is expected in January 2026, with another anticipated in July 2026.
Several factors drive the ongoing cost of stamps increase:
While you can’t control when the price of postage stamps goes up, you can take proactive steps to minimize the impact on your budget:
Forever Stamps maintain their value regardless of future price increases. Buying stamps before the next stamp increase can lock in current rates for future use.
This is where Stamps.com transforms the mailing experience. Rather than standing in line at the post office to buy stamps at full retail prices, Stamps.com offers:
NetStamps through Stamps.com allow you to print official USPS postage directly from your computer or device. This means:
With NetStamps, you’re always prepared for postage stamp price change events. Your account automatically updates with current rates, and you benefit from commercial pricing that saves money even as retail rates increase.
Stamps.com helps you streamline operations by:
When does the price of postage stamps go up? The answer is increasingly frequent. But with the right tools, you can stay ahead of these increases and save money in the process.
The cost of mailing a letter continues to rise, but Stamps.com helps businesses of all sizes save money on postage. Stamps.com gives you three key benefits: accurate postage, discounted rates, and easy printing. Together, these turn your rising postage costs into predictable, manageable expenses.
Rather than worrying about the next USPS stamp price increase date or how much stamps will cost, focus on what you can control. A Stamps.com solution puts you in charge of your mailing operations with:
Understanding USPS stamp price chart trends helps you prepare for what’s ahead. While specific amounts for future increases aren’t confirmed until filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission, you can expect:
The secret? Use a system that updates prices automatically and helps you save money.
When does the price of postage stamps go up? Regularly. But you don’t have to feel the full impact of every increase. Stamps.com offers a smarter way to handle your mailing needs, combining convenience, accuracy, and significant cost savings.
With NetStamps and Stamps.com’s comprehensive platform, you’ll always have access to current rates, discounted pricing, and the tools you need to mail efficiently. Whether you’re sending a single letter or hundreds of pieces per day, Stamps.com helps you save time and money while staying ahead of postage increases.
Start a risk-free 30-day trial of Stamps.com today and discover how easy it is to print your own postage, access discounted rates, and take control of your mailing operations—no matter when the next price increase arrives.
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.
