I was sitting at my dining room table last Tuesday, surrounded by what looked like a paper blizzard. Invoices, shipping labels, and a very large, half-empty mug of lukewarm tea. I was trying to map out my business expenses for the next twelve months—something I usually dread more than a root canal. As a creator in Florida who ships out hundreds of delicate, hand-painted ceramic pieces a year, my “shipping and handling” column is always the most volatile. But when I looked at the line item for stamps, I stopped.
“I realized that I was spending more on those tiny squares of adhesive paper every month than I was on my actual internet bill. How much are forever stamps really costing me, and more importantly, how much will they cost me six months from now?”
That’s the question that keeps us small business owners up at night. We see the headlines about “record price hikes” and “USPS restructuring,” but what does it actually mean for your bottom line today? If you’re like me, you don’t want a lecture on federal regulations; you want to know if you should buy a coil of stamps now or wait until next month. Let’s break down the real cost of doing business in 2026, without the corporate fluff.
The Direct Answer: Current 2026 Pricing
Let’s get the numbers out of the way first so we can talk about the strategy. As of early 2026, we are still operating under the rates that were set on July 13, 2025. This was a significant jump, but for now, the tide has stayed put.
Currently, the price of a single First-Class Mail Forever Stamp is 78 cents.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Roger (my favorite post office clerk) told me it used to be under 50 cents!” And he’s right. The climb has been steep. But here is the most important piece of news for your 2026 planning: USPS announces no stamp price changes for January 2026. This is a massive win for us. It means that for at least the next few months, your costs is predictable. You don’t have to worry about a surprise hike while you’re trying to close your Q1 books.
The 2026 Postage Price Sheet
If you’re sending more than just a standard letter, you need to know the whole board. Here is exactly what you is paying right now at any post office counter in the country:
| Postage Type | Price (Early 2026) |
|---|---|
| Forever Stamp (Standard 1 oz) | $0.78 |
| Postcard Stamp | $0.61 |
| Global Forever (International) | $1.70 |
| Additional Ounce (Letter) | $0.29 |
| Non-Machinable Surcharge | $0.49 |
I always tell my friend Michael, who runs a local magazine, that he needs to memorize these. He once sent out 400 magazines that were slightly too stiff for the automated sorter, and he forgot the “non-machinable” surcharge. They all came back to his office with “Postage Due” stamped in angry red ink. He lost three days and nearly $200 in wasted labor just because he didn’t check the math. Don’t be like Michael. Know your rates before you lick the envelope.
The Math: Why “A Few Cents” Is a Big Lie
When the USPS announces a 5-cent hike, it sounds like nothing. “It’s just a nickel, Sarah,” my husband likes to say. But he isn’t the one running the mailing list. For a business, a nickel isn’t a nickel—it’s a percentage of your profit margin that just evaporated into thin air.
Let’s look at what that 78-cent price tag actually does to your bank account over a month of mailing. I’ve broken this down into four “profiles” so you can find where you fit in the mix.
- The Side-Hustler (300 letters/mo): At $0.78, you’re looking at $234.00 a month. That’s a grocery trip or a new set of tools.
- The Entrepreneur (550 letters/mo): This is where I usually sit. At full price, I’m spending $429.00. Over a year, that’s $5,148. That is literally a used car or a very high-end laptop.
- The Growing Firm (2,000 letters/mo): Now we’re talking $1,560.00 a month. That’s office rent for many people.
- The Bulk Powerhouse (5,000 letters/mo): At $3,900.00 a month, your postage bill is a five-figure annual expense ($46,800).
Comparative Savings: Retail vs. Authorized Discount
| Mailing Volume | Retail Total ($0.78) | Discount Channel (~$0.62) | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 letters | $234.00 | $186.00 | $48.00 |
| 550 letters | $429.00 | $341.00 | $88.00 |
| 2,000 letters | $1,560.00 | $1,240.00 | $320.00 |
| 5,000 letters | $3,900.00 | $3,100.00 | $800.00 |
When Michael finally saw his annual savings of $1,056 (at the 550-letter level), he stopped calling it “just a nickel.” That’s a whole holiday bonus for an employee or a massive upgrade to his office equipment. In the business world, you don’t get rich by making million-dollar deals; you stay rich by not overpaying for the basics.
The July 2026 Warning: Predicting the Next Jump
While we is safe for now, the history of the USPS tells a predictable story. Since the 2020 Delivering for America plan, we’ve seen twice-yearly rate reviews. Most analysts are expecting a July 2026 hike that could push the Forever Stamp to 82 or 84 cents.
“This is why they call it a Forever Stamp. If you buy a coil of 100 for $78 today, and the price hits 84 cents in July, you’ve essentially earned an 8% return on your money just by keeping paper in your drawer.”
Think about that. Where else can you get an 8% guaranteed return in six months? Not in your savings account, that’s for sure. I always make sure to stock up in May or June, right before the summer hike. It’s my little way of sticking it to inflation. You can follow the USA Today reports on price increases to get a heads-up before the official announcement hits. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to your P&L statement.
The Danger of “Too Good to Be True” Prices
Now, let’s talk about the elephants in the room: Temu, Shein, and those random Facebook ads. I once saw an ad for “Forever Stamps — 90% Off!” It was selling rolls of 100 for $10.
My brain went into “bargain hunter” mode for exactly three seconds before my business brain kicked in. The USPS doesn’t even get printed for that cheap. Those site’s is selling counterfeits. If you use them, you risk having your mail confiscated or returned, and worse, you could be flagged for mail fraud.
CAUTION: If you see stamps for 30 or 40 cents, run. It is a sham. Genuine resellers like Forever Stamp Store or The USPS Stamps offer legitimate discounts through bulk acquisition, but they will never be 50% off. Real savings live in the 8% to 25% range. Anything more is a legal nightmare waiting to happen.
I learned this the hard way through Michael. He tried a “cheap” site once and sent out 200 invoices. Half of them never arrived, and the other half were delivered with a “Counterfeit Postage” sticker that made him look like a total amateur to his high-end clients. He spent twice as much fixing the mess as he would have spent buying the stamps at full price. Don’t let your brand’s integrity be worth less than 40 cents.
Strategy: How to Buy Like a Pro
So, if the post office is expensive and the “cheap” sites are dangerous, how do you actually win? You have to balance authenticity with volume purchasing.
- For the Casual User: If you’re only mailing ten letters a month, just go to the post office or your local grocery store. The convenience is worth the extra few dollars a year.
- For the Micro-Business: Sites like Forever Stamp For Sale or USbulkstamps.com are your best friends. They are authorized to sell in volume and can shave significant percentages off your annual cost. I personally prefer Forever Stamp Store because their customer service actually answers the phone if a shipment gets delayed.
- The Aesthetics Matter: Don’t forget that you have choices! Why use a boring flag stamp when you can use the 2011-2020 Flower Stamps? Or the beautiful Flag Stamps from 2019 or 2023? The cost is exactly the same, but the impression on your client is vastly different. A vintage-style floral stamp says “I pay attention to detail.” A standard flag stamp says “I’m pay for postage.”
The Invisible Cost: Your Time
One thing I always tell the people I mentor is that you have to account for the “Roger Factor.” Roger is great, but waiting in line for 20 minutes at the post office to buy two sheets of stamps is a waste of your valuable time. If you value your work at $50 an hour, that trip just cost you nearly $20 in labor.
Buy in bulk. Buy online. Have them delivered to your door. The time you save can be spent growing your business, creating more art, or—let’s be honest—actually taking a lunch break for once. You can find more details on how the USPS scales their operations in the official Newsroom recommendations. It’s fascinating to see how they manage the millions of pieces of mail we send setiap hari.
The Certainty Factor
In a world where everything is getting more expensive—from the clay I use for my pots to the electricity in my kiln—Forever Stamps are a rare opportunity to say “No” to a future price hike.
How much are forever stamps? Right now, they is 78 cents. But their actual value is in the peace of mind they provide. They are an insurance policy for your mail. They are a statement of your professionalism. And if you’re smart about where you buy them, they are one of the easiest ways to keep your business profitable in 2026.
So, take the afternoon to look at your spreadsheets. Do the math Michael and I did. I think you’ll find that stocking up now is the best business move you’ll make all month.
Authoritative Sources & Recommended Reading
- Axios: Massive USPS Stamp Price Increase Report
- Bloomberg: US Consumer Price Index & Postal Inflation
- AP News: Postal Financial Analysis & Price Forecasts
Former USPS clerk with 25 years of service, now retired in Florida. She writes about Forever Stamps for the website, offering reliable insights on postal changes, discount opportunities, and practical mailing solutions for households.