A genuine, unused ordinary Forever stamp from any year is worth 82 cents in U.S. postage as of September 2, 2026. The year tells you what the one-ounce rate was when the stamp was bought or issued; it does not freeze the stamp at that old rate. Collector value is a separate question that cannot be answered from the year alone.
Forever stamp value by year: 2007–2026
The “price during year” column is the domestic First-Class Mail one-ounce letter rate. An arrow means the rate changed during that calendar year. The final column shows how much more postal value the stamp now supplies compared with its price during that period; it is not investment return or resale profit.
| Year | Price during year | Current postage value | Increase in postal value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 41¢ from April 12 | 82¢ | +41¢ |
| 2008 | 41¢ → 42¢ on May 12 | 82¢ | +41¢ / +40¢ |
| 2009 | 42¢ → 44¢ on May 11 | 82¢ | +40¢ / +38¢ |
| 2010 | 44¢ | 82¢ | +38¢ |
| 2011 | 44¢ | 82¢ | +38¢ |
| 2012 | 44¢ → 45¢ on January 22 | 82¢ | +38¢ / +37¢ |
| 2013 | 45¢ → 46¢ on January 27 | 82¢ | +37¢ / +36¢ |
| 2014 | 46¢ → 49¢ on January 26 | 82¢ | +36¢ / +33¢ |
| 2015 | 49¢ | 82¢ | +33¢ |
| 2016 | 49¢ → 47¢ on April 10 | 82¢ | +33¢ / +35¢ |
| 2017 | 47¢ → 49¢ on January 22 | 82¢ | +35¢ / +33¢ |
| 2018 | 49¢ → 50¢ on January 21 | 82¢ | +33¢ / +32¢ |
| 2019 | 50¢ → 55¢ on January 27 | 82¢ | +32¢ / +27¢ |
| 2020 | 55¢ | 82¢ | +27¢ |
| 2021 | 55¢ → 58¢ on August 29 | 82¢ | +27¢ / +24¢ |
| 2022 | 58¢ → 60¢ on July 10 | 82¢ | +24¢ / +22¢ |
| 2023 | 60¢ → 63¢ on January 22 → 66¢ on July 9 | 82¢ | +22¢ / +19¢ / +16¢ |
| 2024 | 66¢ → 68¢ on January 21 → 73¢ on July 14 | 82¢ | +16¢ / +14¢ / +9¢ |
| 2025 | 73¢ → 78¢ on July 13 | 82¢ | +9¢ / +4¢ |
| 2026 | 78¢ → 82¢ on July 12 | 82¢ | +4¢ / no difference |
Quick answers for 2013–2023 stamps
| Stamp year | Worth now as ordinary postage | Historical rate during that year |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 45¢, then 46¢ |
| 2014 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 46¢, then 49¢ |
| 2015 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 49¢ |
| 2016 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 49¢, then 47¢ |
| 2017 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 47¢, then 49¢ |
| 2018 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 49¢, then 50¢ |
| 2019 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 50¢, then 55¢ |
| 2020 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 55¢ |
| 2021 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 55¢, then 58¢ |
| 2022 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 58¢, then 60¢ |
| 2023 Forever stamp | 82¢ each | 60¢, then 63¢, then 66¢ |
Three different meanings of “worth”
| Value type | What it means | Evidence needed |
|---|---|---|
| Current postage value | What one genuine, unused ordinary Forever stamp contributes to eligible U.S. mail | Current USPS one-ounce letter rate: 82¢ |
| Historical purchase price | The one-ounce rate when the stamp was bought | Purchase date and USPS effective-date table |
| Collector or resale value | What a particular issue, format and condition actually sells for | Exact design or Scott number, format, quantity, condition and dated completed sales |
A year alone is enough for the historical rate, but not for a collector appraisal. USPS issued many different Forever designs in most years. A common loose stamp, an intact pane, a plate-number strip, an error and a first-day cover can have different markets even when all date from the same year.
How to estimate collector value without mixing it with postage
- Identify the issue: record the official name, issue date and Scott number if known.
- Identify the format: single, booklet, pane, coil, plate-number strip, press sheet or cover.
- Record condition: unused or canceled, gum condition, bends, tears, staining, selvage and packaging.
- Match the quantity: compare one stamp with one stamp, not a single with a full sheet.
- Use completed transactions: compare recent sold records with the same issue, format and condition; asking prices are not proof of value.
- Normalize the sale: separate shipping, fees, mixed lots and certificates before calculating a per-item figure.
If those details or completed-sale evidence are missing, the defensible answer is the 82-cent postage value—not a guessed collectible premium.
Important category limits
- This table covers ordinary domestic one-ounce Forever stamps.
- Global Forever, Postcard, Additional Ounce, Nonmachinable and semipostal stamps follow different categories or rules.
- Fixed-denomination stamps are worth the number printed on them as postage, unless combined with additional valid postage.
- Used, canceled, altered, damaged or counterfeit stamps do not receive the unused-postage value stated here.
Method and sources
Historical rates and effective dates come from the USPS Historian’s Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863. The USPS stamp history defines a Forever stamp as always valid for the first ounce at the current rate. The current 82-cent value took effect July 12, 2026, as documented by the USPS 2026 price notice and the current Postal Explorer price list.
Data treatment: calendar years with multiple rates show every rate in effect during that year. “Increase in postal value” is 82 cents minus the historical purchase rate. No collector price is supplied without issue-specific completed-sale evidence.
Last verified September 2, 2026. Recheck after the next USPS price change.