Postcard stamps and ordinary Forever stamps are not the same postage category. As of August 31, 2026, a Postcard stamp is worth the current 65-cent domestic postcard rate, while an ordinary Forever stamp is worth the current 82-cent one-ounce stamped-letter rate. Either can remain valid after prices change, but each tracks its own mail category.
Postcard Stamps vs. Forever Stamps
| Feature | Postcard stamp | Ordinary Forever stamp |
|---|---|---|
| Value on Aug. 31, 2026 | 65 cents | 82 cents |
| Primary use | Eligible domestic First-Class Mail postcard | Eligible one-ounce domestic First-Class Mail letter |
| Typical marking | POSTCARD | FOREVER |
| Value after a rate change | Tracks the current postcard rate | Tracks the current one-ounce stamped-letter rate |
| Maximum retail postcard size | 6 in. long × 4.25 in. high × 0.016 in. thick | Not the deciding factor; an ordinary Forever stamp can overpay postcard postage |
Can You Use a Forever Stamp on a Postcard?
Yes. One ordinary Forever stamp currently covers more than the 65-cent postcard price, so it can be used on an eligible domestic postcard but overpays by 17 cents. USPS does not refund routine excess postage. Use a Postcard stamp when you want the closer category value.
Can You Use a Postcard Stamp on a Letter?
A Postcard stamp can contribute its current value, but by itself it does not cover the 82-cent one-ounce stamped-letter price. At current rates, an eligible one-ounce letter needs at least 17 cents in additional postage. More may be required for extra weight, nonmachinable characteristics, or a different mailpiece category.
Which Pieces Qualify for the Retail Postcard Price?
An eligible domestic postcard must be rectangular, at least 5 inches long by 3.5 inches high by 0.007 inch thick, and no more than 6 inches long by 4.25 inches high by 0.016 inch thick. A piece outside those boundaries may be priced as a letter or another mailpiece type even if the sender calls it a postcard.
How to Choose the Correct Stamp
- Measure the finished card, including any coating or attached material.
- Confirm that it is rectangular, uniformly thick, and within retail postcard dimensions.
- Use a Postcard stamp for the exact postcard category or an ordinary Forever stamp if overpayment is acceptable.
- If the piece is oversized, folded, rigid, unusually shaped, or enclosed in an envelope, calculate it under the applicable letter or parcel rules.
Browse Postcard-rate stamps, see when a Forever stamp works on a postcard, or use the postage calculator and decision guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Postcard stamps Forever stamps?
They are nondenominated stamps whose value follows the postcard rate, but they are not the same as the ordinary Forever stamp that follows the one-ounce stamped-letter rate.
Do Postcard stamps expire?
A genuine unused Postcard stamp remains valid for the current domestic postcard rate even after that rate increases.
Why is a Forever stamp more expensive than a Postcard stamp?
The stamps correspond to different First-Class Mail categories. An ordinary Forever stamp covers a qualifying one-ounce letter, while a Postcard stamp covers a smaller, thinner qualifying card.
Rates and rules checked August 31, 2026: USPS Notice 123 price list and Postal Explorer postcard size standards. Rates can change.
Compare Forever, postcard, additional-ounce, semipostal, and other postage formats in Types of Forever Stamps: A Practical Guide.