Postal Stamp Prices Are Expected to Rise $0.05 in July (Stock Up Now)

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 did their last price hike on Jan. 21, 2024, each stamp went up to $0.68. That represents an increase of 36% over those five years.

Here we are with one price hike (on Jan. 21) already in the books for the year. We expect the next price increase of $0.05 to take place in July.

For now, here are the current U.S. postage stamp costs. Here’s what you need to know:

A Forever Stamp increased from $0.66 to $0.68 on Jan. 21.

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 Jan. 21, 2024, when it rose from $0.66 to $0.68.

With less than six months left until the next price increase, now is the time to stock up on Forever Stamps.

Postcards saw the higest price increase at 3.77%.

On average, the latest price increases for postal products ranged from 1.56% to 3.22%. Here’s the breakdown as of Jan. 21, 2024:

Letters (1 oz)

• Current Price: $0.68 (2.94% increase)

• July 2023 Price: $0.66

Letters (metered 1 oz)

• Current Price: $0.64 (1.56% increase)

• July 2023 Price: $0.63

Domestic Postcards

• Current Price: $0.53 (3.77% increase)

• July 2023 Price: $0.51

International Postcards

• Current Price: $1.55 (3.22% increase)

• July 2023 Price: $1.50

International Letter (1 oz)

• Current Price: $1.55 (3.22% increase)

• July 2023 Price: $1.50

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.

• Sam’s Club and Costco both sell coils of 100 for $65.75. Although it averages out to be $0.66 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.