How Much Is a Forever Stamp Worth?

Are you concerned about the rising cost of postage?

The United States Postal Service offers a range of fast and efficient postal services. But although these services are generally affordable, there have been price hikes in recent years.

So, if you send mail regularly, the new pricing system may start to eat a hole in your budget. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the rates so that you don’t get a nasty surprise. Or make use of one great option that can reduce your overall postage fees in the long run.

So, let’s find out, how much is a Forever Stamp worth.

About Forever Stamps

This type of postage was introduced by the USPS in 2007. It is intended to be attached to either first-class or regular letters. The postage is now used to cover the cost of sending most types of mail that weigh up to an ounce. 

It comes with a wide range of designs, and new designs are regularly released. This makes it popular among collectors as well as general consumers. The first-ever design featured a stylized image of the Liberty Bell.

The fixed rate 

The name Forever comes from the fact that this postage stamp never loses its value. So, even if the postal rate goes up after you purchase the postage, the stamp you bought can still be used. Therefore, it is worth buying in bulk, especially if you know that postal rates are about to go up. 

Forever stamps are sold in rolls, sheets, and booklets containing twenty pieces. They can be purchased from post office branches and the United States Postal Service website. You can also purchase sheets and rolls from grocery store chains like Costco. 

Increased rates

The original price of this postage when it was introduced in 2007 was 41 cents. However, postage prices are roughly tied to inflation, and as a result, they go up over time. These rates tend to track inflation, and a postage increase is announced in most years. 

On July 10 of last year, the rate rose from 58 cents to 60 cents. But while the extra two cents may not seem like a lot, it can have a big impact on certain people. Small businesses that offer e-commerce are likely to have felt the pinch a little. On January 22 of this year, the rate increased once again to the current Forever Stamp rate of 63 cents. 

The good news?

Still, the upcoming price increase is slightly lower than the current rate of inflation. This was set in order to make sure that mail rates remain affordable and competitive. In fact, over the last decade, the USPS has lost billions of dollars due to the loss of business. Moreover, the mail volume has dropped by around 28%, and the increase in rates is intended to help address the loss. 

The rates for other types of shipping services have also increased in recent years. For example, the price of a Priority Mail medium flat-rate box rose from $15.50 to $16.10. Then the small flat-rate box rose from $8.45 to $9.45. So, if you typically send one hundred boxes per month, this rate increase could have a significant impact. 

How Many Stamps You Need to Use?

You usually only need to attach a single Forever stamp to a regular-sized letter. This is the equivalent of First-Class postage. You will need to attach additional postage if you are sending an oversized letter. 

The postage fee for every additional ounce currently stands at 24 cents. This means that attaching an additional Forever Stamp might mean you end up paying. So, it is best to purchase a range of different types of postage and attach the one that covers the exact fee.

Top tip…

Carefully weighing your letters and parcels is the best way to make sure you avoid overpaying. You’ll need to take the overall dimensions of the mail into account as well as the weight. You can find precise charts to help you work out the postage on the United States Postal Service website.

Alternatively, you can take your mail to your local post office branch and let them weigh your mail for you. The exact cost will be calculated, and you will be sold the correct amount of postage. This helps to make sure you never pay a cent more than you need to. 

About Global Forever Stamps 

This is linked to the United States Postal Service’s First-Class Mail International postal service. It is intended to send a one-ounce letter-sized piece of mail anywhere in the world. Using this saves you the hassle of having to purchase separate postage and work out the cost.

And once again…

Even if the cost of postage rises in the future, your Global Forever Stamp will still be valid. This allows you to purchase a sheet or two in advance and send postcards and letters to anyone in the world. The type of stamp is circular and bears the words Global Forever written around the edge. 

However, this cannot be used for sending mail from countries outside of the United States. In addition, it cannot be used to cover the surcharge incurred with non-machinable letters. So, you need to make sure that your letters conform to the standard length and width specifications. 

If you are sending a letter to Canada, you can use this postage to cover letters that weigh up to two ounces. For any other country, you will need to pay for Additional Ounce Postage. This option is available for letters that weigh up to 3.5 ounces.

Now that you understand how much is a Forever Stamp worth…

Got Another USPS Postage Question?

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For example, you may need to confirm, Does USPS Notarize Documents, Does USPS Deliver At Night, and Does USPS Deliver On Sunday? Or perhaps you’re wondering, Can I Drop a Package in a USPS Mailbox or How To Cancel A USPS Mail Hold?

Want to compare USPS with other mail services?

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We’ve got you covered! Find out fast, What Does Available for Pickup Mean USPS, What Does Shipping Label Created USPS Awaiting Item Mean, What is USPS Informed Delivery, and, for goodness sake, What Does Missent Mean USPS The Ultimate Guide!

Simply search our website with your postal questions.

Ok, back to…

Final Thoughts

You can purchase a range of different types of stamps from your local post office branch. You can also head on over to the USPS website. This makes it easy to purchase your postal products in advance, so you always have them close to hand.

Forever Stamps are particularly popular and come in a range of different designs. The current cost for domestic postage is 63 cents. You can also order pages of stamps as well as versions that are suitable for international mail.