US Trends

when are stamps going up in price

Stamp prices are going up again in both the US and the UK, with the next big changes landing in mid‑July 2026 for USPS and early April 2026 for Royal Mail.

Quick Scoop: When Are Stamps Going Up in Price?

đź“… Key Dates at a Glance

  • United States (USPS, Forever stamps)
    • Next increase: July 12, 2026.
* First‑Class Mail **Forever stamp** : from **$0.78 to $0.82**.

* Other items like domestic and international postcards also rise a few cents on the same date.
  • United Kingdom (Royal Mail)
    • Next increase: April 7, 2026.
* Standard **First‑Class stamp** : from **£1.70 to £1.80**.

* Standard **Second‑Class stamp** : from **87p to 91p**.

So if you’re planning to stock up, doing it before these dates is the best way to dodge the hikes.

What Exactly Is Changing?

Below is a simple overview of the upcoming changes for the US and UK:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Country / Service</th>
      <th>Old price</th>
      <th>New price</th>
      <th>Effective date</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>US – First-Class Mail Forever stamp[web:5][web:6]</td>
      <td>$0.78</td>
      <td>$0.82</td>
      <td>July 12, 2026</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>US – Metered 1 oz letters[web:5][web:6]</td>
      <td>$0.74</td>
      <td>$0.78</td>
      <td>July 12, 2026</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>US – Domestic postcards[web:5][web:6]</td>
      <td>$0.61</td>
      <td>$0.65</td>
      <td>July 12, 2026</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>US – International postcard / 1 oz letter[web:5]</td>
      <td>$1.70</td>
      <td>$1.75</td>
      <td>July 12, 2026</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>UK – First-Class standard letter[web:9][web:11]</td>
      <td>ÂŁ1.70</td>
      <td>ÂŁ1.80</td>
      <td>April 7, 2026</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>UK – Second-Class standard letter[web:9][web:11]</td>
      <td>ÂŁ0.87</td>
      <td>ÂŁ0.91</td>
      <td>April 7, 2026</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

USPS has said that overall mailing services prices will go up about 4.8% in July 2026, while Royal Mail has framed its increases as part of efforts to cope with rising costs and operational pressures.

Why Are Stamp Prices Going Up (Again)?

In the US (USPS)

USPS has been following a multi‑year plan called “Delivering for America” , which relies on regular price hikes to try to fix long‑standing financial issues.

  • Since 2019 , the price of a First‑Class stamp has climbed from $0.50 to the upper‑70‑cent range, through a string of increases.
  • They’ve mapped out multiple rises through 2027 , often targeting January and July as the main change months, though January 2026 was skipped for stamps.
  • A USPS April 2026 notice specifically recommends the July 12 increases, including the 4‑cent rise on Forever stamps.

A representative trend: in July 2025 the Forever stamp was expected to rise from $0.73 to $0.78 , another 5‑cent jump that continued a pattern of biannual increases.

In the UK (Royal Mail)

Royal Mail has also been nudging prices upward:

  • First‑Class standard letter stamps went from ÂŁ1.35 to ÂŁ1.65 in October 2024 (a big jump), and then up to ÂŁ1.70 in April 2025.
  • The upcoming April 7, 2026 rise to ÂŁ1.80 pushes the price to nearly triple what it was a decade earlier.

Royal Mail cites inflation, falling letter volumes, and service costs as drivers for these repeat increases.

How Often Have Stamps Been Going Up Lately?

From a “trend” perspective, this has become almost a ritual:

  • USPS
    • Multiple increases every year from 2021 onward , often in January and July.
* A planned set of **five stamp price rises** through **2027** was outlined in a 2024 report.

* However, **January 2026** is a brief pause: USPS confirmed that **Mailing Services prices, including First‑Class stamps, would not rise in January 2026** , focusing instead on parcel and shipping rate changes.
  • Royal Mail
    • Several hikes between 2024–2026 , with notable jumps in October 2024 and April 2025 before the April 2026 bump.

So the broader pattern is clear: stamps are on a slow, steady escalator in both systems.

Practical Tips: How to Beat the Price Hike

If you’re mainly asking “when are stamps going up in price?” because you want to save some money, here are some concrete moves:

  1. Buy Forever stamps before the hike (US)
    • Forever stamps keep their mailing value even after prices rise, so buying at $0.78 now lets you avoid the $0.82 rate starting July 12, 2026.
 * Consumer advocates are already recommending stocking up before mid‑July.
  1. Stock up on current‑price books or sheets (UK)
    • In the UK, buying First‑Class stamps at ÂŁ1.70 before April 7, 2026 lets you use them after the price hits ÂŁ1.80.
  1. Use digital and bulk options
    • In both countries, online postage tools and franking/metered solutions can be a bit cheaper than standard stamps, and they will adjust with new rates but sometimes carry discounts.
  1. Mail smarter
    • Double‑check weight and size to avoid needing extra postage.
    • For occasional senders, consider batching mail so you use fewer trips and fewer heavy envelopes.

Forum‑Style Angle: What People Are Saying

“Feels like every time I go to buy stamps they’re more expensive. I just bought a roll of Forever stamps because I heard they’re going up again in July… guess that’s the new normal.”

“Royal Mail first class is almost triple what it used to be. I only send physical cards for really special occasions now.”

This topic shows up frequently in consumer forums and money‑saving communities, often paired with advice to buy early and rely more on digital communication where possible.

TL;DR

  • US (USPS): Stamps are going up July 12, 2026 – Forever stamp from $0.78 to $0.82.
  • UK (Royal Mail): Stamps are going up April 7, 2026 – First‑Class standard stamp from ÂŁ1.70 to ÂŁ1.80.
  • Both postal services have been hiking prices regularly for several years, mainly due to financial and operational pressures.
  • If you want to save, buying before those dates (especially Forever stamps in the US) is the easiest win.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.