You can print valid postage at home, but you cannot print your own physical Forever stamps. USPS Click-N-Ship and authorized PC Postage systems create paid electronic postage indicia for a specific mailpiece. A Forever stamp is a separate physical postage product whose value automatically follows the current 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate.
Printable postage vs. Forever stamps
| Feature | Printable postage | Physical Forever stamp |
|---|---|---|
| How it is created | Purchased through USPS or an authorized postage system, then printed | Printed and issued as a physical stamp by USPS |
| Postage amount | Calculated for the selected mailpiece, class and service | Tracks the current 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate |
| Date | May include a mailing date and related deposit rules | No mailing date; unused stamps can be saved |
| Reuse | One paid indicium is used once | One unused stamp is used once |
| Typical use | Addressed letters, flats and shipping labels | Letters, cards and additional postage combinations |
Can I print postage for a letter at home?
Yes. The current USPS Click-N-Ship instructions include First-Class Mail letters and flats among supported products. USPS notes that letter and flat postage must use its 6-by-4-inch print option. Availability and interface details can change, so confirm the service shown in your account before paying.
Is printed postage a Forever stamp?
No. Printable postage is an electronic proof of payment, often called an indicium. It represents the amount and service purchased for the mailpiece. It does not become a reusable Forever stamp merely because the purchased amount equals the current letter rate.
Can I copy or scan a Forever stamp and print it?
No. A photo, scan or photocopy of a stamp is not valid postage. Only postage produced through an authorized system may be printed and used. Each paid indicium or physical stamp is valid for one use.
Does printable postage expire?
It depends on the product and the date shown. USPS rules require many First-Class Mail and shipping indicia to carry a mailing date, and the mailpiece must be deposited according to that date or corrected under the applicable rules. This is different from an unused physical Forever stamp, which does not lose its 1-ounce letter-rate value when rates rise.
What about preprinted postage envelopes?
An envelope or card sold with an official postage imprint is prepaid stationery, not a home-printed Forever stamp. Read the imprint: a Forever-marked product follows the applicable Forever value, while a fixed-denomination imprint represents only its printed amount and may require added postage after a rate change.
Which option should I use?
- Choose physical Forever stamps when you want simple inventory that can be stored and used on future standard letters.
- Choose printable postage when you want an address, postage amount and optional tracking or service information generated together.
- Recalculate postage for heavy, rigid, square, oversized or international mail rather than assuming one Forever stamp or a letter-rate print is enough.
Official references
See the current USPS Click-N-Ship instructions for home printing and the Domestic Mail Manual section 604 for PC Postage, indicia and mailing-date requirements.
For the physical alternative, browse our Forever stamp listings.
Compare Forever, postcard, additional-ounce, semipostal, and other postage formats in Types of Forever Stamps: A Practical Guide.