TidyFactPractical calculators, checked factsUSPS postage calculator: how many Forever stamps, Certified Mail cost and price change dates
A Forever stamp costs $0.82. That is the price of a 1-ounce stamped letter since July 12, 2026, and the October 4, 2026 price list did not change it. Each extra ounce on a letter costs $0.29, a square or rigid letter adds $0.49, and Certified Mail with a green-card return receipt adds $10.20. Enter the weight to see the postage and how many stamps to use.
Last fact-checked: , by a separate, independent AI agent (Claude) against the official sources
- Letter, stamped, not over 1 oz$0.82
Stamps to use
- Forever stamps only1 ($0.82)
- Exact postage1 Forever
Retail prices from USPS Notice 123, in effect since October 4, 2026. Letter and stamp prices have not changed since July 12, 2026.
The calculation runs in your browser. Your data is not uploaded.
Example
A 2 oz letter is $1.11: 1 Forever stamp + 1 additional-ounce stamp, or 2 Forever stamps ($0.53 overpaid).
Common mistake
A square envelope is nonmachinable: a 1 oz square card needs $1.31, not $0.82.
Next step
For packages (Priority Mail, Ground Advantage), use the USPS Postage Price Calculator at postcalc.usps.com.
Key figures and sources13 itemsForever stamp (1-ounce stamped letter): $0.82
| Item | Value | Valid | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forever stamp (1-ounce stamped letter) | $0.82May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Each additional ounce, letter | $0.29May be out of date | from July 13, 2025 | Source 2 | Checked |
| Nonmachinable surcharge (letters) | $0.49May be out of date | from July 13, 2025 | Source 2 | Checked |
| Postcard | $0.65May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Large envelope (flat), 1 ounce | $1.69May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Certified Mail fee | $5.55May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Certified Mail Restricted Delivery | $14.35May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Return Receipt, hard copy (green card) | $4.65May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Return Receipt, electronic | $2.91May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Global Forever stamp (international 1-ounce letter) | $1.75May be out of date | from July 12, 2026 | Source 1 | Checked |
| Time-limited price change, Oct 4, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027 | Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select only; stamps and letters not affectedMay be out of date | October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027 | Source 7 | Checked |
| 2026 holiday send-by date, First-Class Mail (lower 48) | Thursday, December 17, 2026 for expected delivery before December 25May be out of date | until December 25, 2026 | Source 11 | Checked |
| 2027 stamp prices | On October 27, 2026, the Postal Explorer price change page lists only the time-limited change from October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027. It lists no 2027 letter or stamp prices.May be out of date | Source 6 | Checked |
Machine-readable version (JSON) You may reuse these figures with a link to this page (CC BY 4.0).
USPS postage prices for letters, large envelopes and postcards
Retail First-Class Mail prices, by “weight not over”.[1] A 1.2-ounce letter pays the 2-ounce price. Letters over 3.5 ounces pay large envelope prices. Metered prices are for postage printed by a postage meter.
| Weight not over | Letter (stamps / metered) | Large envelope |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | $0.82 / $0.78 | $1.69 |
| 2 oz | $1.11 / $1.07 | $1.98 |
| 3 oz | $1.40 / $1.36 | $2.27 |
| 4 oz | — | $2.56 |
| 5 oz | — | $2.85 |
| 6 oz | — | $3.14 |
| 7 oz | — | $3.43 |
| 8 oz | — | $3.72 |
| 9 oz | — | $4.02 |
| 10 oz | — | $4.32 |
| 11 oz | — | $4.62 |
| 12 oz | — | $4.93 |
| 13 oz | — | $5.24 |
- Postcard: $0.65.[1] Size: 5 to 6 inches long, 3-1/2 to 4-1/4 inches high, 0.007 to 0.016 inch thick.
- Nonmachinable letter: add $0.49.[1] Examples from the DMM: the length divided by the height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (most square envelopes), the envelope has a clasp, string or button, the contents make it uneven, or it is too rigid to bend.[4] A 1-ounce square card costs $1.31.[10]
- Large envelope: Up to 15 inches long, 12 inches high and 3/4 inch thick; more than 11-1/2 inches long, 6-1/8 inches high or 1/4 inch thick. Large envelope-sized pieces that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick pay parcel prices.[1]
- International: a Global Forever stamp is worth the 1-ounce First-Class Mail International letter price, $1.75 to every country.[1][3] Postcards to other countries also cost $1.75.
How many Forever stamps do I need?
A Forever stamp is always worth the current 1-ounce stamped letter price, $0.82.[3] If you only have Forever stamps, divide the postage by $0.82 and round up. You overpay the difference.
| Letter weight | Forever stamps only | Exact postage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz · $0.82 | 1 (exact) | 1 Forever |
| 2 oz · $1.11 | 2 ($0.53 over) | 1 Forever + 1 additional-ounce ($0.29) |
| 3 oz · $1.40 | 2 ($0.24 over) | 1 Forever + 2 additional-ounce ($0.29) |
| 3.5 oz · $1.69 | 3 ($0.77 over) | 1 Forever + 3 additional-ounce ($0.29) |
USPS also sells additional-ounce stamps ($0.29), nonmachinable surcharge stamps ($0.49), 2-ounce and 3-ounce stamps, and postcard stamps. Each is worth the current price for the category printed on it. The “Exact postage” column uses Forever and additional-ounce stamps only.[3]
Certified Mail and return receipt cost
These fees are per item and come on top of postage.[1] Certified Mail is available for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail. A return receipt is sold only together with another extra service, such as Certified Mail.[5]
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified Mail | $5.55 |
| Certified Mail Restricted Delivery | $14.35 |
| Return Receipt (hard copy PS Form 3811, green card) | $4.65 |
| Return Receipt (electronic) | $2.91 |
- 1-ounce letter + Certified Mail + green card: $11.02.
- 1-ounce letter + Certified Mail + electronic return receipt: $9.28.
- 1-ounce letter + Certified Mail Restricted Delivery + green card: $19.82.
Tool assumption: USPS lists Certified Mail Restricted Delivery at $14.35.[1] The price list and the DMM do not say whether this includes the $5.55 Certified Mail fee.[5] This tool uses $14.35 in place of $5.55. Ask at the Post Office to confirm the total.
If you pay with stamps, the DMM says to put enough postage on the envelope to pay the Certified Mail fee, the postage and any other extra service fees.[5]
USPS price changes since 2023
Each row is a USPS price list (Notice 123).[2][1] USPS raised the Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents on July 12, 2026.[9][12] The price lists in October, January and April changed other products; letter prices stayed the same. Those rows are gray.
| Effective | Forever stamp | Certified Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2026 | $0.82 | $5.55 |
| Jul 12, 2026 | $0.82 | $5.55 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | $0.78 | $5.30 |
| Jan 18, 2026 | $0.78 | $5.30 |
| Oct 5, 2025 | $0.78 | $5.30 |
| Jul 13, 2025 | $0.78 | $5.30 |
| Jan 19, 2025 | $0.73 | $4.85 |
| Oct 6, 2024 | $0.73 | $4.85 |
| Jul 14, 2024 | $0.73 | $4.85 |
| Jan 21, 2024 | $0.68 | $4.40 |
| Jul 9, 2023 | $0.66 | $4.35 |
| Jan 22, 2023 | $0.63 | $4.15 |
Time-limited price changes in 2026
- Time-Limited 2026 Price Change (holiday peak season): from October 4, 2026 until 12 a.m. CT on Jan. 17, 2027. Products: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, Parcel Select. USPS: “No other products or services would be affected.”[7]
- Transportation-Related, Time-Limited Price Change (8 percent): from April 26, 2026 until midnight Central Time on Jan. 17, 2027. Products: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, Parcel Select. USPS: “No other products or services would be affected, including First-Class Stamps.”[8]
The Postal Explorer price change page lists the holiday change as “Starting October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027”.[6] Stamps, letters, postcards and Certified Mail are not part of either change.
2027 stamp prices: on October 27, 2026, the Postal Explorer price change page lists only the time-limited change above. It lists no 2027 letter or stamp prices.[6] This page shows no forecast.
2026 holiday mailing dates
USPS recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 25, 2026.[11] These are recommendations, not guarantees: actual delivery depends on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance time and other conditions.
Lower 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and territories
| Service | Lower 48 | AK, HI, PR, territories |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thu, Dec 17 | See note |
| First-Class Mail | Thu, Dec 17 | Thu, Dec 17 |
| Priority Mail | Fri, Dec 18 | Fri, Dec 18 |
| Priority Mail Express | Sat, Dec 19 | Sat, Dec 19 |
Note: USPS Ground Advantage packages between the contiguous United States and Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Freely Associated States have a 10-day or more service expectation. USPS gives no single date; check the USPS service commitments tool.
Military and diplomatic (APO/FPO/DPO)
| Service | Send by |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Wed, Nov 4 |
| First-Class Mail, Priority Mail | Wed, Dec 9 |
| Priority Mail Express Military | Wed, Dec 16 |
Same dates for AE ZIPs 090–099, ZIPs 340 and ZIPs 962–966. Priority Mail Express Military is not available to AE ZIP 093, and is available only at selected military and diplomatic Post Offices.
International
| Service | Send by |
|---|---|
| First-Class Package International Service | Wed, Dec 9 |
| Priority Mail International | Wed, Dec 9 |
| Priority Mail Express International | Wed, Dec 16 |
USPS lists the same dates for every region: Africa, Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Mexico, Middle East. The USPS table has no date for First-Class Mail International (letters and cards).
How the tool calculates
- Weight rounds up to the next step in Notice 123. Example: a 3.2-ounce letter pays the 3.5-ounce price, $1.69.
- A letter over 3.5 ounces pays the large envelope price. Example: 3.6 ounces costs $2.56.
- Large envelopes go up to 13 ounces. Heavier pieces are not priced here.
- The nonmachinable surcharge applies to letters only.
- “Forever stamps only” is the postage divided by $0.82, rounded up. The total including fees uses the same rule.
- “Exact postage” uses Forever, additional-ounce and nonmachinable surcharge stamps only. It is the combination with the fewest of these stamps: at least 1 Forever stamp plus additional-ounce stamps, and one nonmachinable surcharge stamp when the surcharge applies. It does not use 2-ounce or 3-ounce stamps.[3] Some prices have no exact combination.
- Certified Mail Restricted Delivery: the tool uses $14.35 in place of the $5.55 Certified Mail fee. This is a tool assumption.
What this tool does not cover
- Packages. Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and USPS Ground Advantage are priced by weight and zone. Use the USPS Postage Price Calculator.
- Rigid or lumpy large envelopes. These pay parcel prices.[1]
- International weights over 1 ounce. The page gives the 1-ounce price only. Heavier international letters depend on the country price group.
- Commercial and bulk mail. Presort, USPS Marketing Mail and online label discounts are not included.
- Other extra services. Insurance, Registered Mail, Signature Confirmation, Adult Signature and Certificate of Mailing are not included.
- Extra services on postcards. The tool does not add Certified Mail or a return receipt to a postcard.
- 2027 prices. Not on the Postal Explorer price change page on October 27, 2026.[6]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Forever stamp in 2026?
$0.82. A Forever stamp is always worth the current price of a 1-ounce stamped First-Class Mail letter. USPS raised it from $0.78 to $0.82 on July 12, 2026. The October 4, 2026 price list did not change it.
How many stamps do I need for a 2-ounce letter?
The postage is $1.11. With Forever stamps only, use 2 stamps ($1.64; you overpay $0.53). Or use 1 Forever stamp and 1 additional-ounce stamp ($0.29), which is exactly $1.11.
How much does Certified Mail cost in 2026?
The Certified Mail fee is $5.55, plus postage. A return receipt costs $4.65 for the green card (PS Form 3811) or $2.91 electronic. For a 1-ounce letter, Certified Mail with a green card costs $11.02 in total. USPS lists Certified Mail Restricted Delivery at $14.35. The price list does not say whether this includes the $5.55 Certified Mail fee. This tool assumes $14.35 replaces $5.55. Ask at the Post Office to confirm.
Did stamp prices go up on October 4, 2026?
No. The time-limited price change from October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027 affects Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select only. USPS says no other products or services are affected. Letter and stamp prices have been the same since July 12, 2026.
When should I mail holiday cards in 2026?
USPS recommends sending First-Class Mail by Thursday, December 17, 2026 for expected delivery before December 25 in the lower 48 states. For APO/FPO/DPO addresses, the First-Class Mail date is Wednesday, December 9.
Sources
- Notice 123 – Price List (Effective October 04, 2026) (USPS Postal Explorer, checked 2026-10-27)
- Price and SKU File Archive (price files from January 22, 2023 to July 12, 2026) (USPS Postal Explorer, checked 2026-10-27)
- DMM 604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds (1.10 Additional Standards for Forever Stamps) (USPS Postal Explorer, checked 2026-10-27)
- DMM 100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels: 101 Physical Standards (1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria) (USPS Postal Explorer, checked 2026-10-27)
- DMM 503 Extra Services (Certified Mail, Return Receipt) (USPS Postal Explorer, checked 2026-10-27)
- Time-Limited 2026 Price Change: Starting October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027 (USPS Postal Explorer, checked 2026-10-27)
- U.S. Postal Service Announces Temporary Price Change for 2026 Holiday Shipping Season (Aug. 25, 2026) (USPS Newsroom, checked 2026-10-27)
- U.S. Postal Service Announces Transportation-Related, Time-Limited Price Change (March 25, 2026) (USPS Newsroom, checked 2026-10-27)
- U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July (April 9, 2026) (USPS Newsroom, checked 2026-10-27)
- Mailing & Shipping Prices: Cost of First-Class Stamps (USPS, checked 2026-10-27)
- 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines: Cutoff Dates for December 25 (USPS, checked 2026-10-27)
- Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863 (USPS Historian, checked 2026-10-27)
- Postal Service Recommends 2026 Holiday Mailing and Shipping Dates (Sept. 22, 2026) (USPS Newsroom, checked 2026-10-27)
How we made this page
AI helped make this page. We first read the official sources. Then we wrote the calculation rules and the text. After that, a separate, independent AI agent (Claude) checked the page against the sources (2026-10-27). No person reviewed this page.
Prices: Notice 123 effective October 04, 2026, First-Class Mail “Retail—Single Piece” table: Letters (Stamped) 1 oz $0.82, 2 oz $1.11, 3 oz $1.40, 3.5 oz $1.69; Letters (Metered) $0.78 to $1.65; Large Envelopes (Flats) 1 oz $1.69 to 13 oz $5.24; Postcards $0.65. We compared the October 4, 2026 Notice 123 PDF with the July 12, 2026 PDF page by page: the letter, flat, postcard, Certified Mail and Return Receipt prices are the same. The October file changed package prices only.
Forever stamp: DMM 604.1.10 says “The postage value of each forever stamp is the current First-Class Mail single-piece 1-ounce letter price.” DMM 604 also lists additional-ounce, nonmachinable-surcharge, 2-ounce, 3-ounce and postcard stamps that are worth the current price for the category printed on them, and says a Global Forever stamp is worth the current First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter price ($1.75 in Notice 123).
Weight: Notice 123 prices are by “Weight Not Over (oz.)”, so the tool rounds up to the next step: 1.2 oz pays the 2 oz price. Notice 123 says: “For weights over 3.5 ounces, see Large Envelopes prices.” The tool then uses the large envelope price. The large envelope table ends at 13 oz; above that the tool gives no First-Class Mail price.
Nonmachinable surcharge: Notice 123 says letters that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in DMM 101.1.2 pay a $0.49 surcharge. DMM 101.1.2 lists, for example, an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5, clasps, strings or buttons, contents that make the thickness uneven, and a piece that is too rigid. The usps.com prices page lists “Square, Oversized, or Unusual Envelopes From $1.31” ($0.82 + $0.49). The tool adds the surcharge to letters only.
Certified Mail: Notice 123, “Per item, in addition to postage and other fees”: Certified Mail $5.55; Certified Mail Restricted Delivery $14.35. Notice 123 and DMM 503.3.2.2 (“paying the applicable fee”) do not say whether $14.35 includes the $5.55 Certified Mail fee. Tool assumption: $14.35 replaces $5.55 when you choose Restricted Delivery. Return Receipt, “(In conjunction with another extra service)”: hard copy PS Form 3811 $4.65, electronic $2.91. DMM 503 lists Certified Mail for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, and says a Certified Mail sender must “Affix to the envelope enough postage to pay for the Certified Mail fee, the class of mail used, and any additional extra service fees”. The tool does not add extra services to postcards.
Stamp count: the tool divides the postage by $0.82 and rounds up. USPS does not give change for extra stamps; the difference is overpaid postage. The exact combination uses Forever, $0.29 additional-ounce and $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge stamps only. DMM 604 Exhibit 1.1 also lists stamps worth the “FCM 2-ounce stamped letter price” and the “FCM 3-ounce stamped letter price”; the tool does not use them. Metered postage is printed by a meter, so the tool shows no stamp count for metered letters.
Price history: each row is a Notice 123 price file in the Postal Explorer Price and SKU File Archive (January 22, 2023 to July 12, 2026) plus the current Notice 123 (October 4, 2026). The 1-ounce letter prices match the USPS Historian table “Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863” (63, 66, 68, 73, 78 and 82 cents). USPS announced the July 12, 2026 change on April 9, 2026: Forever stamp “from 78 cents to 82 cents”, additional ounce “will remain at 29 cents”.
Time-limited price changes: the Postal Explorer price change page lists “Time-Limited 2026 Price Change, Starting October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027”. The August 25, 2026 USPS release says it affects Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, “No other products or services would be affected”, from 12 a.m. CT on Oct. 4 until 12 a.m. CT on Jan. 17, 2027. The March 25, 2026 release describes a separate 8 percent change on the same four products from April 26 until midnight Central Time on Jan. 17, 2027, and says it does not affect First-Class Stamps.
2027 prices: on October 27, 2026, the Postal Explorer price change page lists only the “Time-Limited 2026 Price Change, Starting October 4, 2026 through January 17, 2027”. It lists no 2027 letter or stamp prices. The tool shows no forecast.
Holiday dates: the USPS 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines page, read on October 27, 2026. These are recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 25; USPS footnote: “Actual delivery date may vary and is based on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance time, and other conditions.” The September 22, 2026 USPS release “Postal Service Recommends 2026 Holiday Mailing and Shipping Dates” gives the same lower-48 dates (Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail Dec. 17, Priority Mail Dec. 18, Priority Mail Express Dec. 19). The holiday page lists no international date for First-Class Mail International (letters and cards).
Checks (node web/src/tools/us-postage/test.mjs): 1 oz letter $0.82; 3.2 oz letter $1.69; 3.6 oz letter priced as a large envelope, $2.56; square 1 oz letter $1.31; 1 oz letter with Certified Mail and a hard copy return receipt $11.02 (0.82 + 5.55 + 4.65); with an electronic return receipt $9.28; with Certified Mail Restricted Delivery and a hard copy return receipt $19.82 (tool assumption: $14.35 replaces $5.55). A 2 oz letter needs 2 Forever stamps ($0.53 overpaid) or 1 Forever stamp and 1 additional-ounce stamp.
Last updated: 2026-10-27
Cite this page
TidyFact. (2026, October 27). USPS postage calculator: stamps, Certified Mail and price changes. https://tidyfact.com/en-us/postage-calculator/