Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863

Effective Date

Postage in Cents, per ½ Ounce

July 1, 1863

3

October 1, 1883

2

Effective Date

Postage in Cents, per Ounce[1]

July 1, 1885

2

November 2, 1917

3

July 1, 1919

2

July 6, 1932

3

August 1, 1958

4

January 7, 1963

5

January 7, 1968

6

May 16, 1971

8

March 2, 1974

10

December 31, 1975

13

May 29, 1978

15

March 22, 1981

18

November 1, 1981

20

February 17, 1985

22

April 3, 1988

25

February 3, 1991

29

January 1, 1995

32

January 10, 1999

33

January 7, 2001

34

June 30, 2002

37

January 8, 2006

39

May 14, 2007

41

May 12, 2008

42

May 11, 2009

44

January 22, 2012

45

January 27, 2013

46

January 26, 2014

49

April 10, 2016

47

January 22, 2017

49

January 21, 2018

50

January 27, 2019

55

August 29, 2021

58

July 10, 2022

60

January 22, 2023

63

July 9, 2023

66

January 21, 2024

68

1 Beginning September 14, 1975, additional ounces were charged a lower rate; the prices listed in this table are for the first ounce. Since July 15, 1979, a surcharge has been added for non-standard envelope sizes.

HISTORIAN
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
FEBRUARY 2024