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The system for mail delivery in the United States has developed with the nation. Rates were based on the distance between sender and receiver in the nation's early years. In the middle of the 19th century, rates stabilized at one price regardless of distance. Rates were relatively unchanged until 1968 when the price was increased every few years by a small amount. Comparing the increases with a price index, the cost of a first class stamp has been steady. The seal of the Post Office Department showed a man on a running horse, even as railroads and, later, motorized trucks and airplanes moved mail. In 1971, the Post Office became the United States Postal Service, with rates set by the Postal Regulatory Commission, with some oversight by Congress. Air mail became standard in 1975. In the 21st century, prices were segmented to match the sorting machinery used; non standard letters required slightly higher postage.

Initial United States postage rates were set by Congress as part of the Postal Service Act signed into law by President George Washington on February 20, 1792. The postal rate varied according to "distance zone", the distance a letter was to be carried from the post office where it entered the mail to its final destination. Rates were adopted in 1847 for mail to or from the Pacific Coast and in 1848 for mail sent from one place in the west to another place in the west. There were double and triple rates as a letter's size increased. Ship fees were also added (i. e., mail to Hawaii). The ship fee, including the ship rate on letters for delivery at the port of entry, were on a per letter basis, rather than weight. The United States issued its first postage stamps in 1847. Before that time, the letters' rates, dates, and origins were written by hand or sometimes in combination with a handstamp device.

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 established the postage rates, which have been set by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

+United States domestic first class & postcard rates, 1863–present (USD) Date Introduced Letters Packages Additional Postcard rateInternational rate (letters) Comments July 1, 1863 .06 .06 .06 .06 .02 per half ounce in drop boxes October 1, 1883 .04 .04 .04 .04 November 2, 1917 .03 .03 .03 .02 Wartime Emergency Rate July 1, 1919 .02 .02 .02 .01 Dropped back by CongressApril 15, 1925.02.02.02.01 (stamped cards).02 (postcards) July 1, 1928 .02 .02 .02 .01 July 6, 1932 .03 .03 .03 .01 January 1, 1952 .03 .03 .03 .02 August 1, 1958 .04 .04 .04 .03 January 7, 1963 .05 .05 .05 .04 January 7, 1968 .06 .06 .06 .05 May 16, 1971 .08 .08 .08 .06 March 2, 1974 .10 .10 .10 .08 September 14, 1975 .10 .10 .09 .07 Last surface mail rate December 31, 1975 .13 .13 .11 .09 All domestic first class & postcards by airmail May 29, 1978 .15 .15 .13 .10 A Stamp Used March 22, 1981 .18 .18 .17 .12 B Stamp Used November 1, 1981 .20 .20 .17 .13 C Stamp Used February 17, 1985 .22 .22 .17 .14 D Stamp Used April 3, 1988 .25 .25 .20 .15 E Stamp Used February 3, 1991 .29 .29 .23 .19 F Stamp Used (also 4 cent F makeup rate stamp) January 1, 1995 .32 .32 .23 .20 G Stamp Used (also 3 cent G makeup rate stamp) January 10, 1999 .33 .33 .22 .20 H Stamp Used (also 1 cent H makeup rate stamp) January 7, 2001 .34 .34 .21 .20 Nondenominated Stamps Used July 1, 2001 .34 .34 .23 .21 Nondenominated Stamps Used June 30, 2002 .37 .37 .23 .23 Flag and Antique Toy Stamps Used January 8, 2006 .39 .39 .24 .24 Lady Liberty Flag Stamp Used May 14, 2007 .41 1.13 .17 .26 .69 (Can & Mex).90 (rest of world) Price change announced February 10, 2009 April 17, 2011 .44 1.71 (3 oz) .20 (letters).17 (packages) .29.80 (Can & Mex).98 (rest of world) January 22, 2012 .45 1.95 (3 oz) .20 (letters).17 (packages) .32.85 (Can & Mex)1.05 (rest of world) May 31, 2015 .49 2.54 (3 oz) .22 (letters).20 (packages) .351.20 2.54 (3 oz) .21 (letters).20 (packages) .34 1.15 2.67 (3 oz).21 (letters).18 (packages).341.153.50 (4 oz).351.15.55.15 (letters).351.20January 24, 2021.55.20.361.20Price change announced October 9, 2020August 29, 2021.58.20.401.30USPS notice post dated September 16, 2021.60.24 (letters).441.40Price change announced April 6, 2022January 22, 2023.634.75 5.25 (zone based).24 (letters).481.45Price change announced October 7, 2022; new non machinable surcharge: 40 centsJuly 9, 2023.66.24 (letters).511.50Price change announced April 10, 2023January 24, 2024.68.24 (letters).531.55Price change announced October 6, 2023July 14, 2024.73.28 (letters).561.65Price change announced April 9, 2024

Plotting the data in the previous table yields the adjacent graph. The dark area shows the actual price of the stamp, while the light area shows the price adjusted for inflation in 2019 U. S. cents. This plot shows that, despite the nominal rise in the cost of a first class stamp, the adjusted cost of a stamp has stayed relatively stable. Since at least the early 1980s, the price of a stamp has closely followed the consumer price index. The large jumps in the early 1900s are because a change by a single penny was significant compared to the cost of the stamp. For example, the price increase from $0.02 to $0.03 on July 6, 1932, was a 50% increase in cost.

The United States Postal Service proposed a price increase for Forever stamps in July 2024, raising the cost from 68 to 73 cents. This follows an increase in January 2024 and marks the sixth increase since January 2021. Despite these ongoing price hikes, the United States maintains relatively inexpensive postage compared to other developed countries. A 2024 study by the USPS Inspector General found that the U. S. had a lower stamp price than 26 out of 30 comparable countries. Additionally, the overall increase in stamp prices from June 2018 to June 2023 (26%) was significantly lower than the average increase of 55% experienced by those same countries. A major factor driving the price hikes for first class mail in the United States is a decline in mail volume. Since 2007, the number of mailed items has decreased by 68%. This decline is attributed to the rise of digital communication methods, such as email and social media, which have significantly reduced reliance on traditional mail services. The USPS attempts to offset these financial losses through price adjustments to first class mail, including Forever stamps.