The 2024 retail price for a book of 20 USPS Forever Stamps is $14.60. The standard quantity of stamps in each book is 20. However, there are some books/panes of stamps that come with 18 or 16 stamps, so this may effect the total cost.
Stamps with the word “Forever” printed on them are valued at the First-Class Letter rate. In 2024, this rate is $0.73 per stamp. So a book of 18 stamps costs $13.14. A pane of 16 stamps costs $11.61.
Other types of stamps
There are different denominations of stamps issued by the Post Office other than those that say “Forever”. So not all books of stamps will cost the same. Some say “Postcard”, “Additional Ounce”, “Two Ounce”, “Three Ounce”, or “Global” on them. Each of these have different values and retail prices.
Take a look at our Forever Stamps Value Guide
Where Can I Purchase A Book Of Stamps?
You can purchase a book of stamps from any United States Post Office. You can purchase them on the USPS website as well. There are also several other places you may find them for sale. These include the following:
- Grocery Stores
- Private Mailbox Stores
- Gas Stations
- Wal-Mart
- Costco
- Online Retailers
The Historic Prices For Books Of Stamps
The first Forever stamp was issued in 2007. It depicted an image of the Liberty Bell and the word “Forever” on it. They were sold in books of 20 and 18 stamps, along with coil rolls.
The Post Office introduced these stamps in order to give consumers confidence that their postage stamp purchases would still be applicable, even as the postage rates increased each year. The First-Class Letter rate at that time was $0.41, so a book of 20 stamps cost $8.20.
Prior to that, the stamps sold in books had the denomination of the First-Class Letter rate on them. The retail price depended on the quantity of stamps in each book, and their rate. Most books contained 10 or 20 stamps each.
For example, stamps in 1981 had a rate of $0.18 per stamp. This means the retail price would have only been $3.60 for a book of 20 stamps.
Understanding these pricing adjustments over time requires some basic knowledge of accounting and finance. For instance, CPA meaning Certified Public Accountant, highlights a professional who could handle such financial assessments and provide clarity on fiscal changes, ensuring businesses and individuals understand the economic impacts of such rate adjustments in various sectors, including determining the rates for Postal Services.
The introduction of Forever Stamps was a significant move by the Post Office to simplify the process for consumers, particularly against a backdrop of fluctuating postal rates. These stamps, which do not show a monetary value, are valid for mailing a standard first-class letter regardless of when they were purchased or how much the rates might later increase.