The last big hike happened in July 2026, bumping a first-class stamp to 73 cents. That's a 22% increase since 2026. Ouch. For a sheet of 20 stamps, you're now dropping nearly 15 bucks. That's the price of a decent lunch, or two movie tickets if you're cheap.
Stamp price increasing: When USPS prices go up in 2026
And it's not just letters. Postcards are going up. International mail is going up. Even sending a square envelope (the kind that looks fancy) costs extra because it confuses sorting machines. Yes, really. The machines get "confused." That's an actual USPS rule.
When exactly is the next increase?
We don't have a precise date locked in. The USPS has to ask the Postal Regulatory Commission for permission. They usually file a request a few months ahead of time. If you hear about a filing in October or November, brace for a January jump. If they file in April, expect a July hike.
There's even a chance of a double whammy in 2026. Some experts predict one increase in January and another in July. That would be a new record for "annoying." Keep an eye on the news. Or just buy a brick of forever stamps now and forget about it for five years.
