CURRENT USPS RATE · 1 OZ FIRST-CLASS LETTER
$0.82 stamped · $0.78 metered
Metered postage saves 4¢ per letter. Effective July 12, 2026.
RATES
First-Class Mail rates by format#
These are retail postage prices for qualifying postcards and 1 oz letters and flats. Metered letters cost less than stamped letters; a 1 oz flat costs more than either. Weight and physical requirements determine which price applies.
| Format | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Letter, 1 oz — Forever stamp | $0.82 | Qualifying machinable retail letter |
| Letter, 1 oz — metered | $0.78 | Meter or approved online-postage price |
| Postcard — stamped | $0.65 | Cards meeting USPS postcard requirements |
| Large envelope / flat, 1 oz | $1.69 | Large envelopes meeting USPS flat requirements |
Letter prices here require machinable letters. Postcard price requires USPS card-price eligibility (DMM 101.6.2); oversized cards need a different eligible category. Flat price requires USPS flat eligibility (DMM 101.2.0). Confirm the category before choosing a price. Source: USPS Notice 123, final July 2026 price files: FCM & EDDM - Retail.csv (July 8 file; July 12 effective schedule). Reviewed September 8, 2026. | ||
A standard Forever stamp keeps its value for a qualifying 1 oz domestic First-Class letter. One bought for $0.78 still covers the current base postage; extra weight or nonmachinable characteristics can require additional postage.
How the Forever stamp reached $0.82#
First-Class Mail rates have now risen three Julys in a row: the Forever stamp went from $0.68 to $0.73 in 2024, to $0.78 in 2025, and to $0.82 now.
WEIGHT
First-Class letter rates by weight: what does each ounce add?#
Each additional ounce adds $0.29, up to the letter maximum of 3.5 oz.
Weigh the finished piece after printing, inserting and sealing, because the envelope and its contents count together. First-Class letter-size pieces over 3.5 oz pay flat-size prices; check the applicable physical requirements as well as the weight.
Complete letter postage by weight and condition
| Finished weight | Letter condition | Stamped total | Metered total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 0 through 1 oz | Machinable | $0.82 | $0.78 |
| Over 0 through 1 oz | Nonmachinable | $1.31 | $1.27 |
| Over 1 through 2 oz | Machinable | $1.11 | $1.07 |
| Over 1 through 2 oz | Nonmachinable | $1.60 | $1.56 |
| Over 2 through 3 oz | Machinable | $1.40 | $1.36 |
| Over 2 through 3 oz | Nonmachinable | $1.89 | $1.85 |
| Over 3 through 3.5 oz | Machinable | $1.69 | $1.65 |
| Over 3 through 3.5 oz | Nonmachinable | $2.18 | $2.14 |
Ordinary eligible letters only, through 3.5 oz. Nonmachinable totals include one letter surcharge; do not add it again. If machinability is unknown, these are conditional prices: confirm machinable or nonmachinable status before choosing one. Special reply-mail arrangements, international and commercial/presort rates are excluded. Letter-size pieces over 3.5 oz use flat prices only if they meet flat eligibility; weight alone is insufficient. Rules: USPS DMM 101.1.1–1.2 and 133.1.1–1.2, 1.7. Source: USPS Notice 123, final July 2026 price files: FCM & EDDM - Retail.csv (July 8 file; July 12 effective schedule). Reviewed September 8, 2026. | |||
Watch the nonmachinable surcharge
Square envelopes, excessive rigidity, clasps, strings and buttons are among the triggers for the $0.49 nonmachinable letter surcharge. A flexible #10 envelope can still trigger it through uneven contents, address orientation or other characteristics. Check the finished piece against USPS criteria.
METERED
Why metered letters cost less than stamps#
A metered 1 oz letter costs $0.78 — four cents less than a Forever stamp.
USPS offers the metered letter price through postage meters and approved online postage systems. Use the metered column for your finished letter’s weight, up to 3.5 oz.
Metered postage is different from First-Class Presort. For a qualifying business mailing, compare the preparation requirements and total costs in our Commercial First-Class Mail rates guide.
At 250 qualifying 1 oz letters a month, the postage difference is $10; at 1,000 letters, it is $40. Compare that saving with any meter rental or online postage account fees before choosing a postage service.
Metered postage is the discount hiding in plain sight: same delivery, same envelope, four cents less on every letter.
Two things metered pricing does not change: delivery speed and add-on fees. If a letter needs proof — Certified Mail, Return Receipt — those fees stack on top of whichever postage rate you use. The certified mail cost guide prices those combinations.
FORMATS
How much are postcards and large envelopes (flats)?#
A stamped postcard is $0.65, and flats run $1.69 to $5.24 depending on weight.
Postcards have separate size and thickness requirements for the card price. Large envelopes must meet the flat size, flexibility and uniform-thickness rules to use flat postage. Check the First-Class size and weight guide before choosing the rate for your finished piece.
Complete large-envelope (flat) postage
| Finished weight | Postage total |
|---|---|
| Over 0 through 1 oz | $1.69 |
| Over 1 through 2 oz | $1.98 |
| Over 2 through 3 oz | $2.27 |
| Over 3 through 4 oz | $2.56 |
| Over 4 through 5 oz | $2.85 |
| Over 5 through 6 oz | $3.14 |
| Over 6 through 7 oz | $3.43 |
| Over 7 through 8 oz | $3.72 |
| Over 8 through 9 oz | $4.02 |
| Over 9 through 10 oz | $4.32 |
| Over 10 through 11 oz | $4.62 |
| Over 11 through 12 oz | $4.93 |
| Over 12 through 13 oz | $5.24 |
All 13 weight bands for eligible domestic retail flats. Prices require flexible, rectangular, uniformly thick flats meeting USPS standards; dimensions and weight alone do not establish eligibility. Rigid or uneven pieces may require parcel pricing. Letter-size pieces over 3.5 oz use these prices only when flat-eligible. The letter nonmachinable surcharge does not apply to flats. Do not extrapolate a constant increment. Above 13 oz, use another eligible service; international and commercial prices are outside this table. Rules: USPS DMM 101.1.1c, 2.1, 2.3–2.4, 6.3.2; 133.1.1–1.2. Source: USPS Notice 123, final July 2026 price files: FCM & EDDM - Retail.csv (July 8 file; July 12 effective schedule). Reviewed September 8, 2026. | |
Full rate table: USPS Notice 123 retail prices. Physical requirements: DMM 101 physical standards.
Letter prices apply up to 3.5 oz. First-Class letter-size pieces over that weight pay flat-size prices, and the First-Class limit for letters and flats is 13 oz. A larger envelope must also qualify for flat pricing; size and weight alone are not enough. If the piece falls outside these limits, ask USPS which service fits it. See the USPS rates reference for current mailing prices.
CHOOSING
How to choose the right First-Class rate#
- Identify whether your piece qualifies for postcard, letter or flat pricing. Check dimensions, thickness and the other physical requirements in the linked size guide.
- Weigh the finished piece — printed, inserted, sealed.
- Use the rate in effect on the day USPS accepts the mail, not the day you print postage.
- The nonmachinable totals above already include the letter surcharge; do not add it again. Proof services like Certified Mail charge separate fees on top of postage.
For a printed-and-mailed letter, use the mail cost calculator to estimate printing, envelope, postage and service costs from your PDF page count.
ONLINE
Sending First-Class letters online#
If the real cost of your mail is the trip — printing, stuffing, stamping, and standing in line — the rate table isn't the whole answer.
Postmarkr sends standard First-Class letters online: upload a PDF, add recipients, and see the full price before checkout — from $2.05 per letter, covering printing, the envelope, First-Class postage, and handling. No subscription, no minimums. Use the USPS rates on this page when you're doing the mailing yourself; use the all-in price when you'd rather not.
CONCLUSION
Use a standard machinable envelope whenever you can
For a qualifying 1 oz letter, postage is $0.82 stamped or $0.78 metered. Letter-size pieces with nonmachinable characteristics may need the additional $0.49 surcharge; check the finished envelope and contents against USPS requirements.
Before mailing anything unusual, weigh and measure the finished piece and check the applicable physical standards. These rate tables use the July 12, 2026 schedule. Check USPS Notice 123 for the current price before buying postage.