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Price of a First-Class Stamp, 1863 to 2026

A first-class stamp cost 3 cents in 1932 and reaches 82 cents in July 2026, with one rare price cut, from 49 to 47 cents, in 2016.

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What the data shows

  • First-class stamp: $0.06 in 1863, $0.82 in 2026 (14× higher). Its low point was $0.02 in 1885.

About this chart

USPS announced on April 9, 2026 a 4-cent increase in the Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents, effective July 12, 2026, which is the 2026 value shown. The chart plots the first-ounce domestic letter rate in force on December 31 of each year, so a mid-year change appears in that year's value. Prices are nominal and not adjusted for inflation. The 2026 point reflects the announced rate, so confirm it took effect.

Most of the history is flat. The rate was 6 cents per ounce in 1863, fell to 2 cents in 1885, and a one-cent rise to 3 cents in 1932 was the last increase before 4 cents in 1958 and 5 cents in 1963. It reached 10 cents in 1974, 20 cents on November 1, 1981, 25 cents in 1988 and 32 cents in 1995. The one modern cut came on April 10, 2016, from 49 to 47 cents.

The data

Source: Wikipedia, History of United States postage rates (table of domestic first-class rates, cited to USPS Postal History and USPS rate notices); 2026 rise cross-checked against USPS press release of 9 April 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Price of the first-ounce domestic letter rate in force on 31 December of each year (rate changes mid-year are carried to the following year-ends). The 1863 rate was 6 cents per ounce (3 cents per half ounce); 1883 and earlier rates were quoted per half ounce. 2026 reflects the 82-cent Forever stamp price scheduled for 12 July 2026 per USPS; confirm it took effect.

Price of a First-Class Stamp, US first-ounce letter rate in force at year-end, 1863-2026, 1863–2026
DateFirst-class stamp
1863$0.06
1864$0.06
1865$0.06
1866$0.06
1867$0.06
1868$0.06
1869$0.06
1870$0.06
1871$0.06
1872$0.06
1873$0.06
1874$0.06
1875$0.06
1876$0.06
1877$0.06
1878$0.06
1879$0.06
1880$0.06
1881$0.06
1882$0.06
1883$0.04
1884$0.04
1885$0.02
1886$0.02
1887$0.02
1888$0.02
1889$0.02
1890$0.02
1891$0.02
1892$0.02
1893$0.02
1894$0.02
1895$0.02
1896$0.02
1897$0.02
1898$0.02
1899$0.02
1900$0.02
1901$0.02
1902$0.02
1903$0.02
1904$0.02
1905$0.02
1906$0.02
1907$0.02
1908$0.02
1909$0.02
1910$0.02
1911$0.02
1912$0.02
1913$0.02
1914$0.02
1915$0.02
1916$0.02
1917$0.03
1918$0.03
1919$0.02
1920$0.02
1921$0.02
1922$0.02
1923$0.02
1924$0.02
1925$0.02
1926$0.02
1927$0.02
1928$0.02
1929$0.02
1930$0.02
1931$0.02
1932$0.03
1933$0.03
1934$0.03
1935$0.03
1936$0.03
1937$0.03
1938$0.03
1939$0.03
1940$0.03
1941$0.03
1942$0.03
1943$0.03
1944$0.03
1945$0.03
1946$0.03
1947$0.03
1948$0.03
1949$0.03
1950$0.03
1951$0.03
1952$0.03
1953$0.03
1954$0.03
1955$0.03
1956$0.03
1957$0.03
1958$0.04
1959$0.04
1960$0.04
1961$0.04
1962$0.04
1963$0.05
1964$0.05
1965$0.05
1966$0.05
1967$0.05
1968$0.06
1969$0.06
1970$0.06
1971$0.08
1972$0.08
1973$0.08
1974$0.10
1975$0.13
1976$0.13
1977$0.13
1978$0.15
1979$0.15
1980$0.15
1981$0.20
1982$0.20
1983$0.20
1984$0.20
1985$0.22
1986$0.22
1987$0.22
1988$0.25
1989$0.25
1990$0.25
1991$0.29
1992$0.29
1993$0.29
1994$0.29
1995$0.32
1996$0.32
1997$0.32
1998$0.32
1999$0.33
2000$0.33
2001$0.34
2002$0.37
2003$0.37
2004$0.37
2005$0.37
2006$0.39
2007$0.41
2008$0.42
2009$0.44
2010$0.44
2011$0.44
2012$0.45
2013$0.46
2014$0.49
2015$0.49
2016$0.47
2017$0.49
2018$0.50
2019$0.55
2020$0.55
2021$0.58
2022$0.60
2023$0.66
2024$0.73
2025$0.78
2026$0.82

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Frequently asked questions

How much is a first-class stamp?

USPS announced an increase from 78 cents to 82 cents for the Forever stamp, effective July 12, 2026. This chart shows the first-ounce domestic letter rate in force at each year-end.

How fast has the price of a stamp risen recently?

From 55 cents in 2020 to 82 cents in July 2026, with increases in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The only decrease in modern times was 49 to 47 cents in April 2016.

Where does this data come from?

Wikipedia, History of United States postage rates (table of domestic first-class rates, cited to USPS Postal History and USPS rate notices); 2026 rise cross-checked against USPS press release of 9 April 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Price of the first-ounce domestic letter rate in force on 31 December of each year (rate changes mid-year are carried to the following year-ends). The 1863 rate was 6 cents per ounce (3 cents per half ounce); 1883 and earlier rates were quoted per half ounce. 2026 reflects the 82-cent Forever stamp price scheduled for 12 July 2026 per USPS; confirm it took effect. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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