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.

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.

The 2009 U.S. postage rate increase for a one ounce First-Class stamp increased from 42 cents to 44 cents on May 11, 2009.

* First-Class letters that exceed one or more of the USPS dimension classifications for standard letters are subject to additional surcharges.

NOTE: U.S.P.S. rates for mailing services are now adjusted annually each May, while prices for Shipping Services were adjusted January 18, 2009. The January Shipping Services pricing change was the first time price increases for shipping and mailing services occurred separately.

NOTE: The 2008 U.S. postage rate increase went into effect May 12th, 2008.

NOTE: The 2007 U.S. postage rate increase went into effect May 14th, 2007.

The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) approved an increase in the price of a First-Class stamp to 41 cents, authorized the issuance of the innovative Forever Stamp (which is discussed in greater detail above) and approved shape-based pricing. Those changes went into effect May 14, 2007. They did delay implementation of new prices for periodicals and requested reconsideration for some other mail classes. New postage rates for magazines and newspapers was delayed until 12:01 a.m. on July 15, 2007.

New shape-based pricing
The new shape-based classification system brought significant and rather intricate changes to sending many First-Class mailings. Postage rates are now based not only on weight, but also on the shape of First-Class Mail and parcels.

Example: Previously the cost of mailing a two ounce First-Class large Manila envelope, a two ounce First-Class letter, and a small two ounce First-Class box was usually identical. This is no longer the case.

* NOTE: First-Class letters that exceed one or more of the USPS dimension classifications for standard letters are subject to additional surcharges.

February 26, 2007, the independent Postal Regulatory Commission announced that they recommended a 2-cent increase in the cost of mailing a First-Class letter. Their recommendation to increase postage to 41 cents was actually a penny less than the U.S.P.S. had requested. The commission also urged the Post Office to introduce its proposed "forever" stamp valid for First-Class postage even when rates rise. The commission recommended increasing the rate for mailing a postcard to 26 cents. This increase was also one cent less than the Post Office had sought. While the first ounce of First-Class mail would rise to 41 cents, each additional ounce would drop to 17 cents under the proposal. This new amount for each additional ounce is also less than the U.S. Postal Service was seeking. The postal rate increase matter then went back to the Board of Governors of the Postal Service for a decision on whether to accept the recommendation or ask the commission to reconsider.

The cost of a U.S. First-Class stamp went from 37 cents to 39 cents in January of 2006. The U.S.P.S. Governors cited increasing fuel and healthcare costs as a couple of the reasons for the filing with the Postal Rate Commission for price adjustments in 2007. The USPS claims the changes will cost the average U.S. household less than $6.00 annually.

Although there was no set timetable for U.S. postage rate increases in the past, in 2007, the USPS announced plans to move to a regular schedule for postage rate increases capped at the rate of inflation (See the related story above, under the heading "Plan for future postage rate increases announced in November 2007").

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