A First-Class Forever stamp costs 78 cents as of July 2025, and that covers a standard one-ounce letter to anywhere in the United States. USPS postage rates climb from there based on mail class, weight, size, envelope shape, and — for packages — distance. Here’s what everything costs right now and what pushes a price higher than you’d expect.
First-Class Letters and Postcards
The Forever stamp is 78 cents and covers one ounce of letter mail.1United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail It never expires, so a stamp bought at 68 or 73 cents still pays for a one-ounce letter at today’s rate. Buying in bulk is a reasonable hedge against the next increase.
Every additional ounce beyond the first adds 29 cents.2United States Postal Service. U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July A three-ounce letter runs $1.36: the 78-cent base plus two 29-cent add-ons. Postcards are 61 cents. Large envelopes, which USPS calls flats, start at $1.63 for the first ounce.1United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail
To qualify for letter pricing, an envelope has to be rectangular and fit inside specific dimensions: 3½ to 6⅛ inches tall, 5 to 11½ inches long, and no more than ¼ inch thick.3United States Postal Service. Sizes for Letters Go over any of those, and the piece jumps to the flat or parcel rate.
What Pushes the Price Up
Two things surprise people at the counter: a surcharge for envelopes machines can’t process, and zone pricing on packages.
Non-Machinable Surcharge
USPS sorts most mail by machine. Rigid, square, unusually thick envelopes, or ones closed with clasps or string, get pulled aside for manual handling and cost an extra 49 cents on top of the regular letter rate.4United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – Price List Square greeting cards are the classic case. Use a rectangular envelope or plan for the surcharge.
Zones
First-Class letters cost the same anywhere in the country. Packages are different. Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, and other package services use zone pricing, calculated from origin ZIP to destination ZIP and labeled Local and 1 through 9.5United States Postal Service. Zone Charts Higher zone, higher price. The exception is Flat Rate, which charges one price regardless of zone.
Package Services and Starting Prices
Ground Advantage is the cheapest way to send a package. Retail prices start at $7.30, delivery runs two to five business days, tracking and $100 of insurance are included, and the weight cap is 70 pounds.6United States Postal Service. Ground Advantage It replaced Parcel Select, First-Class Package Service, and Retail Ground, and it’s the default for anything non-urgent.
Priority Mail delivers in one to three business days and starts at $10.20 at a Post Office, with tracking and $100 of insurance built in and the same 70-pound limit.7United States Postal Service. Priority Mail
Priority Mail Express is the fastest option, with guaranteed one- or two-day delivery by 3 p.m. and $100 of insurance included.8United States Postal Service. Priority Mail Express Retail starts at $33.00.9United States Postal Service. Priority Mail Express Shipping If USPS misses the guaranteed window, you can request a full postage refund. Service runs seven days a week, including holidays at many locations.
Media Mail starts at $4.47 for books, sound and video recordings, printed music, manuscripts, and similar educational materials.10United States Postal Service. Mail and Shipping Services Delivery usually takes a week or more, and the content restrictions are strict. USPS can open packages to check. Send something ineligible at Media Mail rates and the package can be returned or the recipient billed for the difference.
Priority Mail Flat Rate
Flat Rate is Priority Mail’s best deal for heavy or dense contents. Fit it in a USPS-supplied envelope or box and the price is fixed no matter the weight (up to 70 pounds) or distance.11United States Postal Service. Flat Rate – Quick Reference Retail counter prices:
- Flat Rate Envelope: $11.95
- Legal Flat Rate Envelope: $12.25
- Padded Flat Rate Envelope: $12.95
- Small Flat Rate Box: $12.65
- Medium Flat Rate Box: $22.95
- Large Flat Rate Box: $31.50
Buying online through Click-N-Ship or an integrated platform unlocks commercial pricing, which runs roughly 9 to 15 percent lower on most Flat Rate items. A Flat Rate Envelope drops to $10.30 and a Medium Flat Rate Box falls to $19.60.7United States Postal Service. Priority Mail
International Postage
A Global Forever stamp costs $1.70 and covers a one-ounce letter or postcard to any country where USPS delivers.12United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail International Like the domestic Forever stamp, it stays valid after future rate hikes.
Heavier letters, oversized envelopes, and packages are priced by the destination country’s price group. USPS sorts countries into groups based on geography and delivery infrastructure, so Canada costs less than Southeast Asia for the same package.12United States Postal Service. First-Class Mail International
Add-Ons: Insurance and Certified Mail
Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Ground Advantage all include $100 of insurance in the base price.13United States Postal Service. Shipping Insurance and Delivery Services Extra coverage starts at $2.70 and scales with declared value up to a $5,000 maximum. Payouts are based on actual value, not declared value, so overstating doesn’t help.
Certified Mail gives you proof of mailing and delivery, useful for legal notices, contract cancellations, and anything else where you might need to show the recipient got it. The service adds $5.30 to regular First-Class postage. A return receipt with the recipient’s signature costs extra on top of that. Certified Mail is domestic only and works with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail.
How to Price and Buy Postage
For a one-ounce letter, a Forever stamp is all you need. For anything else, weigh the item, measure length, height, and thickness, and note the destination ZIP. The USPS Retail Postage Price Calculator at postcalc.usps.com returns prices across every available service and speed.14United States Postal Service. Retail Postage Price Calculator
Post Office counters handle everything from single stamps to international shipments. Self-service kiosks in many lobbies let you weigh, label, and pay without a line. Click-N-Ship at usps.com prints labels at home and unlocks commercial pricing. No printer? The Label Broker service sends a QR code to your phone, and a Post Office counter or kiosk prints the label for free.15United States Postal Service. Label Broker and Label Delivery Service