Search thousands of topics on CostHelper

BROWSE ALL TOPICS >> babies & children  cars  consumer electronics health & personal care home & garden personal finance  pets  schools small business sports weddings
CostHelper > Personal Finance  > Taxes & Financial Planning > Stamp

Stamp Cost


How Much Does a Stamp Cost?

 
low costPostcard: 35 centsaverage cost"Forever" Stamp: 55 centshigh costPriority Mail: Starting at $7.35

The United States Postal Service increased its rates[1] for first class postage increased many of its rates on Jan. 27, 2019. The price of a first class "Forever" stamp increased to 55 cents from 50 cents.

Typical costs:

  • The cost to mail a first class letter increased to 55 cents for up to one ounce, but the price of each additional ounce decreased to 15 cents.
  • The price to send a postcard within the United States remained at 35 cents. The charge for Certified Mail is $3.50; a return receipt is $2.80 for a printed copy and $1.60 for an emailed version; and Money Orders[2] are $1.25 for up to $500 and $1.70 for $500.01 -$1,000.
  • Sending a letter Express Mail starts at $25.50 at the post office and goes up depending on weight and distance mailed.
  • Sending a letter or package Priority Mail starts at $7.35 and goes up based on weight and distance; a flat rate Priority small package costs $7.90, a medium flat rate package is $14.35 and a large flat rate Priority package costs $19.95.
  • Postcards and letters to all international destinations start at $1.15 for the first ounce. Priority Mail International letters start at $25.85 sending a flat rate envelope to Canada at the post office; and Express Mail International starts at $44.00. For letters and packages, international rates vary by the type of package (flat envelope, DVD box, etc.), weight, destination country, and speed of delivery. Rate details are listed at the USPS Price List[3] .
Related articles: Wiring Money, Stamp Collecting, Text Messaging, Cell Phone Plan, Auto Transport, Wedding Invitations

Additional costs:
  • Buying stamps from the USPS.gov website may result in a $1.30 handling fee.
Discounts:
  • A Forever Stamp[4] purchased at current rates will always be valid first class postage for mailing a standard envelope weighing less than 1 ounce.
Shopping for a stamp:
  • Stamps can be purchased at USPS.com[5] or at at a local post office branch[6] .
post Post   Comments (11)  
CostHelper News


7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013


7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013

‣ All CostHelper Blog Posts


What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Cost of packages and curtesy of the Postal workers
Amount: $88.69
Posted by: Christena Scott in Las Cruces NM, NM.Posted: April 16th, 2020 01:04PM
I go to the Messilla Park post office in Las Cruces NM. I have the best experience there then the other post offices in Las Cruces. I don’t have to take a number and wait, the floor is clearly marked what’s 6 feet is, and the people who mail your packages, always gives you the different prices so I always save money. Everybody take a deep breath! Now try to imagine a private owned Postal Service and consider what it looks like.1-No control on prices! -No delivery to rural America Side note 75% of our vegetable come from farms in rural America how will they survive without the mail. Your child or grandchild is serving overseas won’t get a Christmas gift. Call you Representatives in Washington to keep our Post Iffices OR keep gripping and deal with a private postal system the President is trying to have!
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Postal stamps prices
Amount: $0.65
Posted by: Linda mckinney in Ft.worth,texas, TX.Posted: September 15th, 2018 01:09PM
This store is charging .65 cents for one postal stamps post office .50 cents and this store to me is a over charged. I ask him you can sell postal stamps to what you want and he said yes. The grocery store.49/.50 cents why is it he can charge what he want.i have receipts,where I pay.50/.49 cents.i know it's been reported. Sound like that's crookness. At least look into this.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Postal stamps prices
Amount: $0.65
Posted by: Linda mckinney in Ft.worth,texas, TX.Posted: September 15th, 2018 12:09PM
This store is charging .65 cents for one postal stamps
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
overcharging
Amount: $26.00
Posted by: crystal milbrath in oroville, CA.Posted: September 1st, 2017 01:09PM
Can a store in California legally charge you $26 for a book of stamps
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Charging extra for stamps
Amount: $3.50
Posted by: Juan Becerra in NY, NY.Posted: December 11th, 2012 09:12AM
just bought 5 stamps at the magazine store inside of 520 madison Ave, NY NY 10022 and was charged $3.50.. Is that legal?
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
charging more than face value of stamps
Amount: $25.00
Posted by: MS MARIE in ft worth, TX.Posted: November 13th, 2012 04:11PM
I went to Rio supermarket @ interstate 35 S and Berry st in Ft Worth Tx on 11-13-2012 I asked for 2 bookks of stamps and 2 single stamps, I was told the price would be 25.50 ,I didn't buy them I went to Walmart and purchased 2 books of stamps for 18.00,,,now was that legal
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
charging more than stamp face value
Amount: $1.00
Posted by: EW in Brookings, OR.Posted: March 2nd, 2010 08:03AM
It is not illegal to charge more than the face value of a stamp. Many stamp machines do this and many hotel consignment shops do this. It is called "paying for convenience". Alternate option is go to thepost office.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Making Profit from Stamps
Amount: $1.00
Posted by: MikeH in Hampton, VA.Posted: January 19th, 2010 11:01AM
A person can charge in excess of the face value of the stamp. There is nothing illegal in doing this. However, the post office has many stores to whom they consign stamps. These stores do not charge more than the face value of the stamps. Go to www.usps.com for locations near you.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Mrs. Corbett
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Sorry to here about your experience in Somewhere, KS.Posted: May 24th, 2009 02:05PM
This Stop and Shop should NOT of charged you extra for a stamp. He did this so he could make a profit from his customers and that is NOT right. I would have refused the purchase from him and since he refused to give you a receipt that was proof that he new he was doing something wrong to make a few extra $$. I hope to here in the future that you won't return business to this "CROOK"
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
Charged too much for a postal stamp
Amount: $1.30
Posted by: Edith Corbett in Jacksonville, FL.Posted: June 3rd, 2008 07:06PM
I purchased two stamps from Stop and Shop convenient store on 3625 Townsend Blvd. in Jacksonville, Fl 32277 on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. The clerk charged me more than the stamp cost. When I asked for a receiot, he refuses to give me one. He told me to come back hours later to get one. Can a person be charged extra for a stamp to make a profit? Please get back with me A.S.A. P. Thanks, Mrs. Corbett
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam
STAMPS COST !!!!!!
Amount: $41.00
Posted by: THOMAS TILDEN in FREIDENSBURG, PA.Posted: May 7th, 2008 05:05AM
THE COST OF A STAMP CONTINUES TO RISE!!! IS FORCING ME TOP STOP SENDING AS MANY CARDS AND LETTERS TO PEOPLE!!!!!ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE PLESANT TO ALL OF US THAT USE THE POST OFFICE!!!!HOWEVER THE COST CONTINUES TO GO UP ON FIRST CLASS STAMPS!! WHEN WILL THE GOVERNMENT LEARN HIGHER COST WILL MEAN LOWER PROFIT!!! SOMEDAY THE POST OFFICE WILL GO UNDER BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENTS GREED !!!!!
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam


 

Comment On Your Experience With a Stamp
 
Subject:  *
Amount Spent:  *
Comments: 
Purchased:  Year: 
City:  * State:  *
 
Information about you:
Email:  * Email addresses are not displayed.
Name:  This is the name we'll display with your post.
me on this computer
*=required field.
 



External Resources:
  1.  about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2018/pr18_086.htm
  2.  www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm
  3.  pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm
  4.  store.usps.com/store/results/forever-50-cents/stamps/_/N-6aqmmmZ9y93lv
  5.  store.usps.com/store/home
  6.  tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorAction_input
More Personal Finance Topics
Check Out All Costs for Personal Finance How Much Do Tax Returns Cost? How Much Does Closing a Home Cost? How Much Does a Traffic Ticket Attorney Cost?

Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com

 
Today's Featured Cost Articles

About CostHelper
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit
Paid: 147.00
Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
-nervouschomper
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost
Spanish Medical Interpreter
Paid: 150.00
I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
-Gregory Richardson
Interpreter Cost
Dat
Paid: 495.00
This is how much I am paying... [more]
-Calista Christian
Dental Admission Test Cost
Shingrix
Paid: 48.00
... [more]
-Not that BB
Shingles Vaccine Cost
Skin prick allergy test
Paid: 573.00
Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]
-D’s mom
Allergy Testing Cost
Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat
Paid: 0.00
13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more]
-Terrimarie
Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost