Accuracy Project

This page highlights the latest U.S. postage stamp rate increases. Below you'll find details on increases to U.S. mailing rates that are coming, or have recently been implemented.

Near the bottom of this page you'll also find a list of historic postage rates for domestic letters in the United States (1863-2012).

New postage rates became effective January 22, 2012:

* Letters (1 ounce) - An increase of 1-cent to 45 cents.

* First-Class letter additional ounces (for letters over 1 ounce) remain unchanged at 20 cents.

* Postcards - An increase of 3-cents to 32 cents.

* Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 ounce) - An increase of 5-cents to 85 cents.

* Letters to other international destinations - An increase of 7-cents to $1.05.

Good news for business mailers: Effective January 22, 2012, the second ounce for First-Class Mail Presort is free. This gives high-volume commercial mailers expanded opportunities to advertise new services and products to their customers as part of bill and statement First-Class Mail automation, Presort mailings weighing between one and two ounces.

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Visit our more comprehensive list of current U.S. postage rates and U.S. Postal Service state abbreviations.

Visit our comprehensive list of U.S. Postal Service mail holidays - UPS holidays - FedEx holidays.

Prices for mailing services will now be adjusted annually. The USPS anticipates notifying the public of all future price changes 90 days before any increase takes effect.

November 15, 2007, the Postal Service Governors announced that future prices will be adjusted using new regulations issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Oct. 29. Consistent with the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, future price increases will be capped at the rate of inflation for mailing services.*

The Governors had the option of filing one last rate case under the regulations used since 1971, but voted to proceed with the new pricing regulations. "We thank the Postal Regulatory Commission for completing the new rules eight months ahead of the statutory deadline," said Postmaster General John E. Potter. "This delivers one of the main goals of the new law for business mailers -- a predictable price schedule."

The new pricing regulations give the Postal Service added flexibility for shipping services.** "We intend to use this new flexibility to grow our competitive business," said Potter, "offering volume discounts and contract pricing." "There are still many details to be worked out, but we look forward to partnering with the PRC and our customers to maximize the advantages of the new pricing rules," Potter said.

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which established two separate product categories -- Market-Dominant products and Competitive products -- prescribes a new process for setting prices. Increases for Market-Dominant products are capped at the Consumer Price Index, by class. For Competitive products, the new law creates far greater pricing flexibility for the U.S. Postal Service. Previously, pricing changes would have to go through a lengthy hearing process with the Postal Rate Commission before going into effect.


* Mailing services include First-Class Mail, Standard Mail and Periodicals.

** Shipping services include bulk parcels and expedited package services such as Priority Mail and Express Mail.

The "forever" First-Class mail stamp is good for any future single-piece First-Class letter mailing, no matter how high postage prices might rise in the future, and is intended to eliminate the inconvenience of having to buy new stamps every time the rates increase. While the public can use it as a hedge against future postage rate increases, that doesn't mean the price of the innovative Forever Stamp won't increase in the future. As First-Class stamps continue to increase, so will the price of the Forever Stamp. However, Forever Stamps that you may have purchased at a lower rate will still be valid as First-Class postage without adding any additional postage.

Since the Postal Service went to an annual schedule of postage rate increases in 2008, use of the Forever Stamp will continue to help ease the inconvenience of the new stamp prices every year.

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