CURRENT USPS RATE · Stamped First-Class letter up to 1 oz
$0.82 One Forever stamp
Covers a flexible, rectangular letter within the fifty states and D.C. Heavier, larger, or rigid mail costs more. Effective July 12, 2026.
One Forever stamp covers a standard letter#
How much does it cost to mail a letter? $0.82 for a standard letter within the United States. That is the price of one Forever stamp, which covers a letter up to 1 oz, and it has been the USPS First-Class Mail rate for a stamped letter since July 12, 2026. A Forever stamp is always worth the current 1 oz letter rate, so a stamp you bought years ago still covers today's letter.
The base rate applies to a machinable letter weighing no more than 1 oz. Use the tables to find the postage for your envelope, then check the size and shape requirements below.
What your letter costs: common mailpieces, priced#
These examples use stamped retail prices for delivery within the fifty states and Washington, D.C. Letter rows assume machinable envelopes unless marked otherwise; large-envelope rows assume flexible, uniformly thick mailpieces that meet USPS flat-size requirements.
What common letters cost to mail in 2026
Mailpiece | Why USPS prices it this way | Stamped price |
|---|---|---|
One or two pages in a #10 envelope | Standard letter, 1 oz | $0.82 |
Greeting card in a rectangular envelope | Standard letter, 1 oz | $0.82 |
Square greeting card | Nonmachinable shape, 1 oz | $1.31 |
Multi-page letter over 1 oz through 2 oz | Letter, second ounce | $1.11 |
Thicker letter over 2 oz through 3 oz | Letter, third ounce | $1.40 |
Heaviest letter allowed, 3.5 oz | Letter at its weight ceiling | $1.69 |
Unfolded pages in a 9 x 12 envelope, 1 oz | Large envelope (flat) | $1.69 |
Same envelope at 2 oz | Large envelope, second ounce | $1.98 |
Standard postcard | Postcard rate | $0.65 |
1 oz letter sent Certified Mail | Postage plus the Certified Mail fee | $6.37 |
How many stamps do you need?#
For a machinable letter over 1 oz through 2 oz, one Forever stamp plus one $0.29 additional-ounce stamp pays the exact $1.11 postage. Two Forever stamps pay $1.64—53¢ more than you need. Anything over 1 oz, up to 2 oz, pays the 2 oz price: a letter at 1.1 oz or 1.5 oz costs the same $1.11 as one at 2 oz.
A 3 oz letter costs $1.40. One Forever stamp plus two additional-ounce stamps pays it exactly; two Forever stamps cover it with 24¢ to spare. A 3.5 oz letter, the heaviest USPS accepts at letter prices, costs $1.69; two Forever stamps fall 5¢ short, so it takes three.
If you only have Forever stamps, use the counts below. They cover the postage, but some combinations overpay. Letter rows assume machinable envelopes; additional charges may apply to unusual shapes or contents.
Forever stamps needed by weight and format
Weight and format | Postage due | Forever stamps needed |
|---|---|---|
Letter up to 1 oz | $0.82 | 1 |
Letter over 1 oz through 2 oz | $1.11 | 2 |
Letter over 2 oz through 3 oz | $1.40 | 2 |
Letter over 3 oz through 3.5 oz | $1.69 | 3 |
Large envelope up to 1 oz | $1.69 | 3 |
Large envelope over 1 oz through 2 oz | $1.98 | 3 |
Large envelope over 2 oz through 3 oz | $2.27 | 3 |
Over 3.5 oz, a flexible letter-size envelope pays large-envelope prices: $2.56 at 4 oz and $2.85 at 5 oz. Four Forever stamps cover either. The First-Class Mail rates guide lists every weight up to the 13 oz limit.
Stamps, metered postage, or sending it online#
A stamp is a straightforward option for occasional letters. Metered postage prices a machinable 1 oz letter at $0.78, but meter or software charges can affect the total cost. Compare the full service cost, not postage alone.
Sending the letter online changes what you are paying for. With Postmarkr you upload a PDF or write the letter in the app, enter the address, and the letter is printed, folded, stuffed, and mailed as First-Class Mail starting at $2.05 for a one-page black-and-white letter or $2.52 for a one-page color letter. That total covers printing, the envelope, First-Class postage and the processing fee, and it comes with USPS address verification and mail-stream status with USPS scan updates when available. There is no subscription and no minimum. It costs more than a stamp because it replaces the printer, the envelope, and the trip. The mail cost calculator prices your page count and monthly volume.
For a one-off birthday card, buy a stamp. If you have no stamps, envelopes or printer at hand, or you send routine business letters in batches, compare the time and supplies you would spend with the full price to send them online. The guide to the four ways to send a letter compares the trade-offs in more depth.
What makes a letter cost more than one stamp#
Weight. Weigh the sealed envelope with all its contents. Letter prices apply through 3.5 oz; a letter-size piece above that weight pays flat-size prices. The mailpiece must still meet the applicable physical standards.
Size. Letter dimensions cannot exceed 6 1/8 inches high, 11 1/2 inches long, or 1/4 inch thick. An envelope larger than letter size qualifies for large-envelope postage, starting at $1.69, if it meets USPS size, flexibility, and thickness requirements. Rigid or unevenly filled large envelopes pay parcel prices. Folding ordinary pages into a #10 envelope can keep them within letter dimensions.
Shape and rigidity. USPS adds a $0.49 nonmachinable surcharge to a letter-size piece with a square or unusually proportioned envelope, rigid contents, clasps, or uneven thickness. A square 1 oz card costs $1.31, which two Forever stamps cover. The surcharge does not make every unusual envelope eligible for mailing. Check the USPS physical standards or have a postal clerk assess the piece.
Destination. Every price on this page is domestic. A 1 oz letter to any other country costs $1.75, the price of one Global Forever stamp; above 1 oz the price varies by country. Check the USPS international mail page before you seal the envelope.
Certified Mail and Return Receipt#
Certified Mail provides a mailing receipt and electronic verification of delivery or attempted delivery. It has a $5.55 fee on top of postage, which puts a 1 oz stamped certified letter at $6.37. Return Receipt, the delivery record with a signature that comes back to you, adds $2.91 electronically or $4.65 for the green card. The Certified Mail cost guide walks through every combination.
Before you mail#
Address the envelope. Return address in the top-left corner, delivery address in the bottom center, stamps in the top-right corner. The envelope addressing guide shows where each line belongs.
Check the current price. USPS adjusts prices periodically; the USPS rates page tracks the current First-Class figures, and the First-Class Mail rates guide explains each format's price in full.
If you’re unsure about an unusual envelope, have USPS weigh and price it before mailing. For a piece you can measure and classify, use the USPS postage price calculator to check the total.