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In May 2022 U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said people should expect the price of stamps to increase at “an uncomfortable rate” to help the USPS get back on track financially. Specifically, he said to expect postage price hikes every January and July.
For those of you keeping track at home, the Forever Stamp cost just $0.50 back in 2019, and when the USPS does their latest (July 2023) price hike, each stamp will cost $0.66. That represents an increase of 32% over the last four years.
For now, here are the current U.S. postage stamp costs. Here’s what you need to know:
A Forever Stamp will increase from $0.63 to $0.66.
The Forever Stamp is what it sounds like — a single stamp that doesn’t expire. As long as your mail weighs under one ounce, then one Forever Stamp will be valid postage even if the price of the stamp increases. And it’s been increasing — at a clip of two price hikes a year.
The last stamp price increase was in January 2023, when it rose from $0.60 to $0.63.
TIP: The price increases a couple times a year, so stock up before July 2023 to lock in the current Forever Stamps price.
Postcards will have the biggest price increase (6.25%) in July 2023.
On average, the planned price increases for postal products range from 3.45% to 6.25%. Here’s how it breaks down:
Letters (1 oz)
- Current Price: $0.63
- July 2023 Price: $0.66 (4.76% increase)
Letters (metered 1 oz)
- Current Price: $0.60
- July 2023 Price: $0.63 (5% increase)
Domestic Postcards
- Current Price: $0.48
- July 2023 Price: $0.51 (6.25% increase)
International Postcards
- Current Price: $1.45
- July 2023 Price: $1.50 (3.45% increase)
International Letter (1 oz)
- Current Price: $1.45
- July 2023 Price: $1.50 (3.45% increase)
The USPS says the average time it takes to deliver mail nationwide is 2.4 days.
Beat the price increases with deals on stamps.
Although price increases aren’t good news, regular deals on stamps more than cancel them out. You just have to know where to buy stamps. Here are some deals you can get:
- Get a 100-pack of Forever Stamps at Tanga for $49.99, making each stamp just $0.50.
- Sam’s Club and Costco both sell coils of 100 for $62.75. Although it averages out to be $0.63 per stamp (no discount), it’s a good way to stock up on the current price before the increase. At Costco there’s a 10-item limit per member, and you can’t use their Executive Membership 2% rewards as a discount.
