The United States Postal Service announced the stamp price for early 2026, as Postmaster General David Steiner confirmed no price increase for market dominant products in January 2026. But the price of a stamp could increase later in the year.
A recommendation by Postmaster General David Steiner not to raise prices in January 2026 for Market Dominant products, which includes First-Class Mail, was accepted by the governors of the United States Postal Service. The price of a stamp to mail a 1-ounce single-piece First-Class letter will not increase in early 2026.
The USPS cost of a First-Class Stamp is $0.78 for letter stamps that are standard-sized, rectangular envelopes, and from $1.27 for square, oversized, or unusual envelopes.
The Postal Service’s operational strategies are designed to maintain cost efficiency, boost service reliability and overall productivity, according to USPS.
“We continually strive to balance our pricing approach both to meet the revenue needs of the Postal Service and to deliver affordable offerings that reflect market conditions,” Steiner said. “We have therefore decided at this time to forgo a price change for First-Class Mail postage and other Market Dominant services until mid-year 2026.”
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
The Postal Service continues to work toward delivering on the tenets of our strategic 10-year plan, Delivering for America, and executing the public service mission — to provide a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress intended and the law requires.
The U.S. Postal Service said it also remains committed to continued cost-saving measures and keeping products and services affordable. USPS said it continues to take a very considered approach to pricing and noted that only a handful of countries around the world offer a lower price for a domestic single-piece letter.
