When Will The Price Of Stamps Go Up

So, you're wondering when the price of stamps will go up again. Of course you are. It's a question that hits us right in the wallet, every time we actually have to mail something. And let's be real— you probably have a stack of forever stamps somewhere, hoarding them like tiny, sticky treasures.

Let's cut to the chase. The United States Postal Service (USPS) loves to hike prices. They do it like clockwork, usually once or twice a year. The next big jump is likely coming in January 2025, if the usual pattern holds. But honestly, they could surprise us with a summer spike, too. Nothing is sacred.

Why does the price keep going up?

It's not just because they want to annoy you. Although, that might be a side effect. The USPS is a weird beast— a government service that has to act like a business. They don't get taxpayer money for operations. They have to fund themselves with stamp sales and package deliveries.

Inflation hits them hard. Gas for trucks, paper for letters, health insurance for postal workers— it all costs more. And here's the kicker: people are mailing way fewer letters. The volume of first-class mail has been dropping for years. So to cover their costs, they raise the price on the letters that do get sent. Simple, frustrating math.

The quirky truth about forever stamps

You bought a forever stamp for 55 cents in 2020? Congratulations. That same stamp is valid today, even if the price has shot up to 73 cents. The USPS loves this trick— it makes them money now, because you prepay for a service they might deliver years later. It's like a very slow, very boring lottery where you always win (or lose, depending on how you see inflation).

Here's a funny fact: the USPS once issued a stamp featuring a dinosaurs on a rollercoaster. It was adorable. And that stamp is still legal postage. So if you have one buried in a drawer, you can mail a letter using a T-Rex! Take that, inflation.

How much are we talking?

The last big hike happened in July 2024, bumping a first-class stamp to 73 cents. That's a 22% increase since 2021. 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 2023

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 2025. 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.

Fun quirks to giggle about

Did you know the USPS made a stamp for Harry Potter that glows in the dark? It does. And it's worth exactly one stamp's worth of postage. If you mail a letter with it, some lucky carrier gets to see a tiny, glowing Hogwarts crest. Magic is real, and it costs 73 cents.

Bespoke’s Morning Lineup – 4/11/24 – Stamp Inflation | Bespoke

Another weird thing: the price of a stamp has gone up faster than the price of a gallon of milk in the last decade. Milk is up about 30%. Stamps? Over 50%. So next time you're at the grocery store, remember: mailing a birthday card now costs more than a half-gallon of whole milk. Priorities, people.

What you can do about it

Honestly? Not much. You can stockpile forever stamps, but that just delays the pain. You can switch to email, but then you miss out on the joy of hand-written notes. You can write your congressperson, but they're busy fighting about other stuff.

Or you can embrace the chaos. Treat every stamp as a tiny investment. When the price goes up, your old stamps become more valuable. You're basically a stamp-whispering hedge fund manager. Tell that to your friends at dinner— it's a fun fact, and they'll think you're weirdly clever.

So, when will the price go up? Soon. Probably in 2025. Definitely before you're ready. But hey, at least you'll have a good story about dinosaurs and glowing wizards to tell while you lick that envelope. Happy mailing!