The Ultimate 2025 Guide: How Much Is A Stamp Now? (7 Crucial Price Changes You Need To Know)

The cost of a First-Class Mail Forever Stamp is currently $0.78 (78 cents) for a standard 1-ounce letter, effective as of the most recent United States Postal Service (USPS) rate change. This is the definitive, up-to-date price you will pay at the Post Office for a single stamp, reflecting the increase that took effect in July 2025. This rate is crucial for anyone sending personal correspondence, paying bills, or engaging in direct mail marketing, as it represents the baseline cost for nearly all standard-sized mail in the United States.

Understanding the current postage rate is more important than ever, especially in late 2025, as the USPS continues to implement regular price adjustments to offset rising operational costs and inflation. While the $0.78 Forever Stamp is the headline number, the cost of sending other types of mail—from postcards to large envelopes—has also shifted significantly. To budget accurately and avoid mail returns, you need a complete breakdown of the new postal landscape.

The Definitive USPS Postage Rate Table for 2025

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) implemented its latest price adjustments in July 2025, affecting nearly all categories of mail. This table provides a clear, current snapshot of the most frequently used First-Class Mail rates for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. These rates are essential for everyday mailing needs, from sending a simple birthday card to a legal document.

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• First-Class Mail Forever Stamp (1 oz. Letter): $0.78
• Metered Mail (1 oz. Letter): $0.74 (The discounted rate for postage purchased online or through a postage meter.)
• Each Additional Ounce (Letter/Flat): $0.29
• Domestic Postcard Stamp: $0.61
• First-Class Mail Flat/Large Envelope (1 oz.): $1.63
• International Letter (1 oz.): $1.70
• Certified Mail Fee (in addition to postage): $5.30

The new $0.78 price for a Forever Stamp reflects a five-cent increase from the previous rate of $0.73. This move, which was approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), is part of a broader strategy to ensure the financial stability of the Postal Service. For consumers, this means a roughly 6.8% jump in the cost of mailing a standard letter.

Why the Price of a Stamp Keeps Rising

The question of "how much the stamp" is often followed by "why does it keep going up?" The reality is that the United States Postal Service operates as an independent agency and does not receive taxpayer funding for its operational budget. Therefore, it must rely on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund itself. The price increases are driven by several core economic and operational factors:

• Inflation: Like all businesses, the USPS is subject to rising costs for fuel, transportation, and labor. Regular price adjustments are necessary to simply keep pace with the general rate of inflation across the U.S. economy.
• Declining Mail Volume: The rise of digital communication—email, text, and electronic bill pay—means fewer people are sending physical mail. With fewer letters, the cost of maintaining the vast postal infrastructure must be distributed among a smaller volume of mail, necessitating higher individual stamp prices.
• Infrastructure and Fleet Modernization: The USPS is in the process of a multi-year, multi-billion dollar plan to modernize its processing equipment and replace its aging delivery vehicle fleet. These capital expenditures are significant and are partially funded by increased rates.
• Statutory Mandates: The USPS has specific legal mandates, including the requirement to pre-fund retiree health benefits, which place a unique financial burden on the agency, often cited as a key reason for the need for rate increases.

The Strategic Value of the Forever Stamp

The single best piece of advice for dealing with rising postage costs is to always buy Forever Stamps. The name is literal: a Forever Stamp is always valid for the mailing of a 1-ounce First-Class letter, regardless of how high the postage rate climbs in the future.

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For example, if you purchased a roll of Forever Stamps when the price was $0.55, those stamps are still worth the current $0.78 rate today, giving you an immediate, built-in discount on future mailings. This is why many financially savvy consumers view the purchase of Forever Stamps as a small, risk-free investment against postal inflation.

Key Facts About Forever Stamps:

• They Never Expire: They retain their value indefinitely for the standard 1-ounce letter rate.
• They Are Not Denominated: Unlike older stamps that had a printed value (e.g., "32 cents"), Forever Stamps simply say "Forever," making them future-proof.
• Using Old Stamps: If you have old, denominated stamps (e.g., a 60-cent stamp), you must add "make-up" postage to meet the current $0.78 rate. In this case, you would need an additional 18 cents in postage. The USPS sells small-denomination stamps specifically for this purpose.

Smart Strategies to Save Money on Postage

While the question "how much the stamp" is a fixed number at the Post Office, there are several ways to legally reduce your mailing costs, especially if you send mail in any kind of volume. These strategies leverage discounts and alternative purchasing channels.

1. Utilize the Metered Mail Discount

The most significant and easiest discount to access is the Metered Mail rate. As noted in the rate table, a 1-ounce letter costs $0.78 with a Forever Stamp, but only $0.74 when printed through an approved online vendor like Stamps.com or a postage meter. This 4-cent saving per letter adds up quickly for small businesses, home offices, or anyone who regularly mails bulk correspondence. This system also allows for easy calculation of additional postage for heavier letters.

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2. Buy Discounted Vintage Postage

A thriving market exists for "discounted postage," which consists of older, valid, denominated stamps sold by stamp dealers at a fraction of their face value. For instance, you might buy $100 worth of old stamps for $85, effectively getting a 15% discount. You must then combine these stamps on your envelope to meet the current $0.78 rate. While this requires more effort (and more stamps on the envelope), it is a legitimate way to save money on postage.

3. Explore Retail and Membership Discounts

While the USPS sets the price, certain retailers may offer slight discounts on stamp booklets as a membership perk. For example, some warehouse clubs like Costco occasionally sell stamp coils or booklets at a marginal discount to their members. Similarly, while Amazon sells stamps, they are often sold by third-party vendors and may be priced slightly higher or lower than the face value, so careful comparison is advised. Always ensure you are buying from a reputable source to avoid counterfeit stamps.

4. Know the Non-Machinable Surcharge

Be aware of the rules for standard mail. If your letter is square, lumpy, rigid, or has clasps/string, it is considered "non-machinable" and requires a surcharge. This surcharge is an extra fee on top of the standard postage. To avoid this, stick to standard rectangular envelopes that are uniformly thick and flexible.