Skip to main content

2026 USPS postage reference

USPS postage rates for letters, postcards & flats

A 1 oz First-Class Mail stamp is $0.82. Domestic mailing prices effective .

Stamp rate verified . Independent; not affiliated with USPS.

Current USPS postage rate chart

USPS postage and service fees. Postmarkr printing and mailing prices are separate.

ServiceCurrent price
First-Class Letter (1 oz)1 oz stamped retail letterEffective $0.82
Metered letter (1 oz)Postage meter or PC Postage; standard machinable letterEffective $0.78
Large envelope / flat (1 oz)Flexible First-Class large envelope; up to 1 ozEffective $1.69
First-Class PostcardQualifying retail single-piece postcardEffective $0.65
EDDM (retail)Qualifying EDDM Retail mailpieceEffective $0.260 per piece
Certified Mail (add-on)Add-on fee; base postage is separateEffective +$5.55
Source: USPS Notice 123; mailing price schedule effective July 12, 2026 (opens in new tab)

Need printing and mailing included? Postmarkr prints and mails a one-page black-and-white letter for $2.05 all-in. Use the mail cost calculator or send a letter online.

Detailed price list

USPS rates by mail type and weight

Choose a table for weight limits, postage adjustments and mailing-service fees.

First-Class letter and postcard rates

Compare stamped and metered postage, then check additional-ounce and nonmachinable charges.

Letter and postcard eligibility

One Forever stamp covers a standard machinable 1 oz letter. Heavier letters need additional postage, and the postcard price applies only to pieces that meet USPS postcard size and thickness rules.

First-Class letters by weight

WeightStampedMetered
1 oz$0.82$0.78
2 oz$1.11$1.07
3 oz$1.40$1.36
3.5 oz (max)$1.69$1.65

Postcard and presorted letter rates

ServiceRate
Postcard$0.65
Presorted Automation 5-Digit (1 oz)Commercial$0.621

Additional postage for letters

ServiceRate
Additional ounce (letter)Use the letter weight table; maximum letter weight is 3.5 oz$0.29
Nonmachinable letter surchargeAdded to postage for letters with nonmachinable characteristics$0.49

A square or rigid letter may need the nonmachinable surcharge. Check the USPS letter size and shape rules before choosing a rate.

See First-Class Mail rates and weight rules

Source: USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab). Mailing price schedule effective .

Large-envelope postage rates: 1–13 oz

First-Class flats by weight, with the full large-envelope price table.

Does your envelope qualify?

These prices apply to qualifying flexible large envelopes. Rigid, nonrectangular or unevenly thick mailpieces do not qualify for flat prices. Use the row for the total weight, including the envelope. Check the USPS large-envelope size rules and flexibility and thickness standards (DMM 101.2).

Weight up toRate
1 oz$1.69
2 oz$1.98
3 oz$2.27
4 oz$2.56
5 oz$2.85
6 oz$3.14
7 oz$3.43
8 oz$3.72
9 oz$4.02
10 oz$4.32
11 oz$4.62
12 oz$4.93
13 oz$5.24

See flat prices in the First-Class rates guide

Check the filled envelope against the First-Class size and weight requirements before using a flat price.

Source: USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab). Mailing price schedule effective .

EDDM postage rates

Every Door Direct Mail retail and BMEU prices, permit requirements, and volume rules.

Choosing an EDDM option

EDDM reaches every address on selected postal routes. Retail and Business Mail Entry Unit options have different permit and volume rules, and USPS does not publish one standard EDDM delivery window.

ServiceRate
EDDM Retail (per piece)No permit required, 200–5,000 pieces/day/ZIP$0.260
EDDM BMEU (per piece)Commercial DDU entry, up to 4 oz; requires permit. Other entry points and weights vary$0.259

See EDDM postage, printing and preparation costs

Source: USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab). Mailing price schedule effective .

Certified Mail and extra-service fees

Certified Mail, Return Receipt, Certificate of Mailing and Registered Mail fees.

Certified Mail total with postage

Certified Mail costs $5.55 in addition to eligible base postage. A 1 oz stamped letter with Certified Mail totals $6.37; Return Receipt and other services cost extra.

ServiceRate
Certified Mail (add-on fee)$5.55
Certified Mail + Restricted DeliveryCombined fee$14.35
Return Receipt (hard copy, PS 3811)$4.65
Return Receipt (electronic)$2.91
Certificate of Mailing (PS 3817)$2.45
Registered Mail (declared value $0)$20.90

See Certified Mail costs and worked totals

Source: USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab). Mailing price schedule effective .

Service comparison

USPS delivery times

Compare published or typical USPS service windows. These are estimates unless a row explicitly identifies a money-back guarantee.

Each delivery window links to the supporting USPS service or standards page.
Mail ClassDelivery Window
First-Class Mail1–5 days
EDDM

Not guaranteed · Timing varies by local entry and route processing

USPS source (opens in new tab)

No standard USPS window published
Certified Mail

Not guaranteed · Certified Mail adds proof, not a faster delivery class

USPS source (opens in new tab)

Follows the eligible base service

Rates over time

USPS stamp and postcard price history, 2020–2026

Use the exact-date table for quoting or analysis. USPS can change rates more than once in a calendar year, so the date is part of every checkpoint.

Fact-backed First-Class 1 oz stamped-letter and domestic-postcard checkpoints from USPS Notice 123 archives.
Effective date1 oz stamped letterDomestic postcard
(opens in new tab)$0.55$0.35
(opens in new tab)$0.55$0.36
(opens in new tab)$0.60$0.44
(opens in new tab)$0.66$0.53
(opens in new tab)$0.73$0.56
(opens in new tab)$0.73$0.56
(opens in new tab)$0.78$0.61
(opens in new tab)$0.82$0.65
View price-trend charts

Percentage labels show cumulative change since 2020.

First-Class Letter (1 oz, stamped)

First-Class Postcard

Sources, downloads and methodology

Download the same fact-backed records used on this page. The CSV and JSON files share stable identifiers, effective dates, verification dates, applicability, and source links. Current rates also identify the source section. Verification dates belong to individual records and may differ from the dataset revision date.

How the rate dates work

This reference covers domestic letters, postcards, large envelopes, EDDM and selected mailing-service fees in the USPS price schedule effective . Each download record includes its own effective date and source.

How Postmarkr keeps this accurate

Every rate on this page is pulled from a verified fact library maintained by Postmarkr. Each fact is traced to an official USPS source — primarily USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab), the Domestic Mail Manual, and official USPS service pages.

Every fact records its effective date, last verification date, and the exact source location (down to the section and line number). Automated CI checks flag any rate fact that hasn't been re-verified within 60 days of a USPS rate cycle change.

USPS typically updates rates in January and July each year. We re-verify all rates within weeks of each change. If you spot an error, please let us know.

Citation and dataset details

How to cite this dataset

Download rate-history SVG
Title
USPS Postage Rates for Letters, Postcards & Flats
Publisher
Postmarkr
Canonical URL
https://postmarkr.com/usps-rates
Dataset revised
Primary source
USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab)

Optional citation

Postmarkr, “USPS Postage Rates for Letters, Postcards & Flats,” dataset revised 2026-09-04, https://postmarkr.com/usps-rates.

You may quote or analyze the data. Verify time-sensitive decisions against USPS Notice 123. If you publish or quote this dataset, please cite the canonical page so readers can verify the current version.

Revision log

  • — Added CSV and JSON distributions, Dataset metadata, and a downloadable chart generated from the Postmarkr fact library.
  • — Added the July 13, 2025 exact-date history checkpoint and its USPS Notice 123 archive source.
  • — Corrected rate examples and refreshed current USPS source verification metadata.
  • — Focused the reference on domestic mailing. Added large-envelope weights and letter adjustments; aligned downloads with the displayed rates.

USPS rate guides and cost breakdowns

Open a detailed guide when you need eligibility rules, worked totals, or deeper cost analysis.

First-Class Mail

First-Class Mail rates by weight

See letter, postcard, and flat prices with the rules that determine which rate applies.

Read the guide: First-Class Mail rates by weight

First-Class Presort

Commercial First-Class rates and costs

Compare Presort eligibility, preparation requirements, applicable fees, and complete mailing costs.

Read the guide: Commercial First-Class rates and costs

Certified Mail

Certified Mail fees and worked totals

Separate base postage from Certified Mail, return receipt, and signature add-ons.

Read the guide: Certified Mail fees and worked totals

Every Door Direct Mail

EDDM postage and all-in cost

Compare postage with printing and preparation costs for a realistic campaign estimate.

Read the guide: EDDM postage and all-in cost

USPS Marketing Mail

Bulk Mail postage rates and minimums

Compare letter prices, eligibility minimums, and the costs that belong in a provider quote.

Read the guide: Bulk Mail postage rates and minimums

Ready to send your letter?

Upload a PDF, add the address, and Postmarkr prints and mails your letter through USPS. A one-page black-and-white letter totals $2.05, with no subscription.