Forever Stamps

The United States Postal Service has issued a number of enticing forever stamps in recent years, and I’ve begun accumulating stamps faster than I use them. Sound familiar? If so, why not use them for extra postage items—even if you end up spending a little more than is required.

The current value of a forever stamp is 55¢. If you have a postal scale at home to weigh the envelopes you want to post, this handy guide will show you how many forever stamps to use for envelopes of different sizes and weights. (Mail within the U.S. only)

Standard Envelopes (≤11.5″ long, ≤6.125″ high, ≤0.25″ thick)
  • 0 to 1 ounce: 1 forever stamp
  • 1 to 4 ounces: 2 forever stamps
  • 4 to 8 ounces: 3 forever stamps
Large Envelopes (11.5-15″ L, 6.125-12″ H, or 0.25-0.75″ T)
  • 0 to 1 ounce: 2 forever stamps
  • 1 to 4 ounces: 3 forever stamps
  • 4 to 7 ounces: 4 forever stamps
  • 7 to 9 ounces: 5 forever stamps
  • 9 to 12 ounces: 6 forever stamps
  • 12 to 15 ounces: 7 forever stamps

If you are mailing a standard envelope that has one or more of the characteristics in DMM 101.1.2, add an ounce to the measured weight to cover the non-machinable surcharge.

If you are mailing a large envelope that is rigid, is non-rectangular, or is not uniformly thick, then take your envelope to the post office to mail because you will have to pay parcel prices.