Key takeaways

• The USPS has raised the price of a Forever stamp by 7.4% to 78 cents.

• The cost to send out a postcard is now 61 cents from 56 cents for domestic, and $1.70 from $1.65 for international.

The USPS has raised postage prices 20 times since 2000 and seven times in the last four years.

Summertime stamp price increase

Those planning on sending out letters to their loved ones during summer vacations will be met with more expensive postage prices, as the cost to send out a domestic postcard has jumped from 56 cents to 61 cents and the cost of sending out an international postcard has increased from $1.65 to $1.70.¹

As USPS celebrates 250 years of service delivering stamps, the agency has also bumped up prices for a Forever stamp from 73 cents to 78 cents.^2,3 This 7.4% increase is the third hike since the beginning of 2024.⁴ The USPS has also increased prices for additional products, including letters (69 cents to 74 cents), 1-ounce letters (73 cents to 78 cents), and 1-ounce international letters ($1.65 to $170).⁵

These price adjustments are meant to help the USPS maintain financial stability, a key goal of its Delivering for America plan that was announced in 2021.⁶ As part of the initiative, the USPS is investing $40 billion over the span of the decade to improve operational efficiency and infrastructure, which includes modernizing delivery vehicles, upgrading technological systems, and updating its network.⁷

The price of postage

During the entirety of the 20th century, the price of a first-class stamp for 1 ounce of mail increased 17 times; but in just a few decades of the 21st century the cost has gone up by at least that many times already.^8,9 In fact, the rate of a stamp has increased 20 times since 2000 and seven times in the last four years alone.¹⁰

Last September, the USPS announced plans for bi-annual price hikes in 2026 and 2027, scheduled for January and July.¹¹

Figure 1: Postage in cents, per ounce 

Sources: United States Postal Office, February 2025¹², USA Today, July 2025¹³

Costco is honoring the 73 cent price of Forever stamps for its members until July 28.¹⁴ Those getting married or planning to send out mail can stock up on stamps from the wholesaler to save on costs. With couples spending an average of around $31,300 on their weddings, a slice of that budget is spent on mailing out invitations, which can cost at least $312, not including postage.¹⁵