Buy a Forever stamp today and it will still cover a letter a decade from now. That holds no matter how many price increases happen in between, and that single guarantee is the entire idea behind the name.
So what is a Forever stamp exactly? USPS introduced the concept in 2007 to solve a specific annoyance. Stamps with a printed cent value became useless on their own the moment prices rose.
Here is what a Forever stamp actually covers. This also explains what it does not cover and why it works the way it does.
What is a forever stamp guaranteed to cover
A Forever stamp always pays for one ounce of First-Class Mail. That holds regardless of when you bought it or when you use it, so if the price rises after you buy a book, your existing stamps still work at full value.
USPS backs that guarantee permanently, with no expiration date attached. Our guide to whether stamps expire confirms Forever stamps are the one type that genuinely never loses value.
What a Forever stamp does not cover
A Forever stamp only covers a standard 1 ounce First-Class letter. Anything heavier needs an additional ounce stamp added on top, currently 29 cents each.
Postcards need their own separate postcard stamp, not a Forever stamp. The two products are priced and sold differently. International mail needs the international rate instead, currently $1.75 per letter or postcard.
Our current stamp pricing guide lists every rate side by side.
Why USPS created the Forever stamp
Before 2007, a stamp with 37 cents printed on it worked fine at that rate. Once the rate rose to 39 cents, that same stamp became only partial payment. Senders had to track exact values and combine odd stamps to make up the difference.
The Forever stamp removed that math entirely. USPS ties the price to whatever First-Class Mail costs at the moment of use, not the moment of purchase. The design simply says “Forever” instead of printing a cent amount.
Does a Forever stamp lose value if prices go down?
No, and this has never actually happened in practice. USPS postage prices have only moved upward since the Forever stamp launched. The guarantee has only ever worked in the buyer’s favor.
Even in theory, a Forever stamp would still cover one ounce of First-Class Mail regardless of price direction. Our full history of stamp price increases shows just how consistently prices have climbed since 2007.
Are all current stamps Forever stamps?
Nearly all standard First-Class postage sold today is Forever postage, including plain designs and commemorative artwork. Specialty postage for postcards, extra ounces, and international mail is priced separately and is not Forever postage.
Older stamps with a specific cent value printed on them still exist in some drawers. They still work, but they do not carry Forever protection. Those need combining with additional postage once the rate has moved past their printed value.
Buying and using Forever stamps
Forever stamps are sold everywhere regular stamps are sold, in books of 20, sheets, or rolls of 100. Our guide to where to buy stamps covers every legitimate retail and online option.
Buying ahead of an announced price increase is one of the few guaranteed ways to beat inflation on a small purchase. A book bought today at 82 cents per stamp still mails a letter at full value later. That holds true even after the next increase takes effect.
Frequently asked questions
What is a forever stamp?
What is a forever stamp, in short? A First-Class Mail stamp that always covers one ounce of postage, regardless of future price increases. USPS introduced the concept in 2007.
Do forever stamps expire?
No. A Forever stamp never expires and never loses value. That holds no matter how many years pass or how many price increases happen.
Can I use a forever stamp on a postcard?
Not in the standard way. Postcards use a separate, lower priced postcard stamp. A Forever stamp technically overpays if used alone on a postcard.
Does a forever stamp cover international mail?
No. International letters and postcards need the separate international rate, currently $1.75, not a domestic Forever stamp.
What happens to my forever stamps after a price increase?
Nothing changes. They still cover one ounce of First-Class Mail at full value, exactly as they did before the increase.
Are commemorative stamps also forever stamps?
Yes, in most cases. A commemorative design costs the same as a plain Forever stamp and carries the same permanent value guarantee.
The bottom line
A Forever stamp locks in one ounce of First-Class postage permanently, no matter what USPS charges later. That makes it the safest way to buy stamps ahead of a price increase.
Just remember its limits: postcards, extra weight, and international mail all need separate postage on top. For current prices across every stamp type, see our stamp pricing guide.
