U.S. POST OFFICE TO HIKE POSTAL RATES IN JANUARY:

The U.S. Postal Service will raise the price of a first-class “forever” stamp from 60 cents to 63 cents on January 22, 2023, a 5% increase. A first-class stamp covers the cost to mail a 1-ounce letter. An additional ounce will remain 24 cents.

In addition to raising the price of forever stamps, the U.S. Postal Service will implement other postage increases as well, effective January 22.

Metered letters will rise to 60 cents from 57 cents. Domestic postcards will rise to 48 cents from 44 cents. Outbound international letters will rise to $1.45 from $1.40. The temporary increase in package delivery rates that started on October 2, 2022 will end January 22, 2023.

How much do forever stamps cost?

Until January 22, forever stamps cost 60 cents apiece. But the “forever” in their name means that even after the price rise in January, a single forever stamp you paid 60 cents for before January 22 will still send a 1-ounce letter to any U.S. address. You will not have to add additional postage to make up for the price increase. You can still use an original forever stamp purchased 15 years ago for 41 cents to mail a first-class letter today without additional postage.

Forever stamps, introduced in 2007, are always equivalent to the current price of a first-class stamp. Since 2011, virtually all first-class stamps sold are forever stamps.

You can even use forever stamps for outbound international letters. You’ll have to add additional stamps to get to the correct amount of postage for international mail, however. For international letters, a forever stamp has the monetary value of the price of a first-class stamp on the day it is used.

Timeline: What did a first-class postage stamp cost?