when are postage stamps going up
Quick answer
Postage stamp prices in the U.S. are going up again on Sunday, July 12, 2026. The price of a First‑Class Mail Forever stamp will rise from 78 cents to 82 cents (a 4‑cent jump), with similar increases across other common mailing services.
What’s changing on July 12, 2026?
The USPS filed its rate-change notice in April 2026, and if approved (as expected), these new prices take effect mid‑July 2026:
| Product | Current price | New price (from July 12, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| First‑Class Mail Forever stamp (1 oz letter) | 78¢ | 82¢ |
| Metered 1‑oz letter | 74¢ | 78¢ |
| Domestic postcard | 61¢ | 65¢ |
| International postcard (1 oz) | $1.70 | $1.75 |
| International letter (1 oz) | $1.70 | $1.75 |
| Each additional ounce for single‑piece letters | 29¢ | 29¢ (unchanged) |
Why now? The bigger picture
- The USPS has been running a twice‑a‑year increase schedule (typically January and July) through 2027 to help cover costs and inflation.
- In practice, some scheduled hikes have been paused when conditions allow—for example, there was no increase in January 2026.
- This July 2026 change follows the July 2025 hike that took Forever stamps from 73¢ to 78¢.
So while the exact timing can shift slightly (some years skip a January hike), the general cadence has been mid‑year increases , with 2026’s next step landing on July 12.
How to save before the hike
If you regularly mail letters or cards, acting before July 12 lets you lock in the lower rate:
- Buy Forever stamps now : They’re valid forever at the rate you paid, even after prices rise.
- Stock up on postcard stamps if you send greetings or marketing mail.
- Prepay and print postage (e.g., via USPS Click‑N‑Ship or approved third‑party services) before the effective date if you run a small business or send volume mail.
What people are asking in forums and news
Recent coverage and discussions tend to focus on three practical points:
- “Do I need to rush?” If you only mail occasionally, a few cents may not matter. If you mail dozens/hundreds of letters, pre‑buying makes financial sense.
- “Will prices keep rising?” Under the current plan, yes—multiple small increases are expected through 2027, though specific amounts and exact months can change year to year.
- “Are Forever stamps really ‘forever’?” Yes: a Forever stamp purchased at 78¢ still covers a 1‑oz First‑Class letter even after the price moves to 82¢.
TL;DR
- Next increase: July 12, 2026
- Forever stamp: 78¢ → 82¢
- Other common items: small increases (postcards, metered mail, international)
- Best move if you mail a lot: buy Forever stamps before July 12 to lock in the lower rate.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.