The current retail stamped one-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate is $0.82, effective July 12, 2026. Future postage increases are not certain until USPS and the Postal Regulatory Commission process produces a final effective schedule. Forecasts such as “90 cents to more than $1 in 2027” should not be presented as established rates.
Current USPS letter rates
| Qualifying retail mailpiece | Postage effective July 12, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Stamped First-Class Mail letter, up to 1 oz | $0.82 |
| Letter, up to 2 oz | $1.11 |
| Letter, up to 3 oz | $1.40 |
| Letter, up to 3.5 oz | $1.69 |
| Additional-ounce increment | $0.29 |
| Nonmachinable surcharge when applicable | $0.49 |
These amounts come from USPS Notice 123They apply only when the finished mailpiece qualifies for the stated category. Flats, postcards, packages, international mail and extra services use different prices and rules.
How a postage increase becomes official
A proposed price change is not yet the rate customers must pay. USPS announces or files proposed prices, the regulatory process runs, and USPS publishes the final price list and effective date. For a current mailing decision, use the final Notice 123 schedule and the date shown there rather than a forecast, an old news article or a proposal alone.
What the change means for ordinary mailers
A higher base letter rate raises the cost of each qualifying stamped one-ounce letter. The effect scales with mailing volume: multiply the current per-piece postage by the number of prepared pieces, then add any extra-ounce, nonmachinable or service charges that actually apply. A household mailing ten ordinary letters and a business mailing hundreds of rigid invitations do not have the same cost structure.
Before a large mailing, assemble a finished sample with every insert, then weigh and measure it. This prevents a calculation based on an empty envelope from understating the required postage.
Do older Forever stamps still work?
Genuine unused Forever stamps remain valid for the current one-ounce First-Class Mail letter value even if they were purchased before the latest increase. That protects their postal value, but it does not create a guaranteed investment return. Buying more than you will realistically use introduces storage, loss, damage and counterfeit-purchase risks.
How to plan without guessing future rates
- Use the current effective schedule for mail being sent now.
- Treat future dates and amounts as unconfirmed until a final schedule exists.
- Recheck weight, shape, destination and service for every mailing type.
- Compare the total checkout cost of stamps with their postal value; a retailer’s price is not the USPS rate.
- Revisit the official table immediately before a large or time-sensitive mailing.
For current categories beyond ordinary letters, use the USPS postage rates guide
Sources and update note
Use the linked primary record for the exact issue, rule or current condition. Prices, availability and platform features can change and should be checked at the time of use.