A Forever stamp costs 78 cents today and rises to 82 cents on July 12. You can buy them at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, most grocery stores, and online โ often without ever visiting a post office. This guide tells you exactly where to go, what each location carries, and when it’s actually worth stocking up.
Tap any button to search the map for the specific type of location nearest you. Each search is tuned to surface a different buying option โ pharmacy chains, the post office, big-box stores, or online pickup options.
No authorized retailer in the United States is permitted to sell stamps above or below the official USPS face value. That means a book of 20 Forever stamps costs exactly $15.60 whether you buy it at the post office, CVS, or Walmart. There’s no price shopping between stores โ they all charge the same. The only exceptions are Costco and Sam’s Club, which have occasionally sold rolls of 100 stamps to members at a very slight discount (around $77.75 for a $78 roll). What does vary between stores is selection, hours, and convenience. The post office has every stamp type; CVS and Walgreens carry only standard Forever stamp books; specialty designs are post-office-only. What this means in practice: just go wherever is most convenient.
The most common questions people have before buying stamps โ answered directly, without the runaround.
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Where is the easiest place to buy stamps near me right now? CVS or Walgreens โ most are open until 10 p.m. or later, no waiting in line, ask any cashier ยท Walmart Money Center or customer service desk also reliable ยท Most grocery stores sell them at checkoutFor a standard book of 20 Forever stamps with no fuss, CVS and Walgreens are the practical winners for most people โ there are over 9,000 CVS and 8,500+ Walgreens locations across the U.S., they open early and close late, and stamps are simply sitting behind the register. Ask the cashier and you’re done in under a minute. At Walmart, go to the Money Services Center or Customer Service desk โ not the checkout register โ and ask there. At grocery stores (Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Meijer, and others), the customer service desk or checkout lane are the right spots. If you need specialty stamps, commemorative designs, or international postage, the post office is the only place that stocks everything.
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How much does a Forever stamp cost, and what’s changing? Currently 78 cents per stamp ยท A book of 20 costs $15.60 ยท Rising to 82 cents ($16.40/book) on July 12, per USPS filing ยท Forever stamps bought now at 78 cents are valid forever at full value โ no expirationUSPS filed in April to raise the Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents, pending Postal Regulatory Commission review with a July 12 target date. If approved โ and increases of this type historically are โ that’s a $4 difference on a roll of 100 stamps. The Forever stamp concept means any stamp you buy today is worth the full postage rate indefinitely, regardless of future price increases. A 37-cent stamp from 2002 is still valid postage if you use it today โ you just need to add additional stamps to make up the current rate. Buying a roll of 100 at 78 cents before July 12 locks in the lower rate forever on those specific stamps. If you mail regularly, that’s a practical decision. If you only mail a few letters a year, it’s not worth the upfront cash for the $4 savings.
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Does CVS sell stamps? Yes โ books of 20 Forever stamps at the checkout counter, same price as the post office ยท Most CVS locations open at 6โ8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. ยท Ask the cashier directly โ they’re usually behind the register, not on a shelfCVS sells standard Forever stamp books at the checkout counter or pharmacy register at thousands of locations nationwide. The price matches USPS face value exactly โ there’s no markup. CVS does not typically sell single stamps, international postage, or specialty designs โ only standard Forever stamp books. If you need something specific, call ahead. The real reason CVS is useful for stamps is the hours โ many locations are open until 10 p.m. or midnight, and 24-hour CVS stores exist in some markets, which makes them the right call when you realize at 9 p.m. that you need a stamp tomorrow morning and the post office opens at 8:30 a.m.
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Does Walmart sell stamps? Yes โ books of 20 Forever stamps at the Money Services Center or Customer Service desk ยท Also available on walmart.com for delivery or pickup ยท Not sold at checkout registers ยท Same face-value price as post officeWalmart carries Forever stamp books at nearly all Supercenter locations through their Money Services desk or Customer Service counter โ not at checkout lanes, which is where people get confused and leave empty-handed. If you don’t see stamps near the register, walk to the back of the store toward customer service and ask there. Walmart Supercenters are typically open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, giving you access to stamps on evenings and Sundays when post offices are closed. You can also order stamps through Walmart.com and choose in-store pickup or home delivery. Walmart does not typically carry specialty or commemorative stamps โ only standard Forever stamp books.
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Does Target sell stamps? Some Target stores do, many don’t โ call your specific store before making the trip ยท Ask at the guest services desk if they do ยท Not a reliable nationwide option the way CVS and Walgreens areTarget is the wild card on this list. Some locations sell Forever stamp books at the guest services desk or certain checkout lanes; others don’t carry them at all, and there’s no consistent pattern that predicts which stores have them. The only way to know is to call your specific Target location before going. If Target is already on your errand list, it’s worth a quick call โ if they have them, great. But if buying stamps is the main reason you’re going, CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart are far more reliable options.
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Can I buy stamps online without going to a store? Yes โ store.usps.com ships stamps with free delivery, no minimum order ยท Amazon also sells USPS stamps at face value ยท Costco and Sam’s Club sell rolls of 100 online to members at a slight discountThe USPS online store at store.usps.com offers free shipping on stamp orders with no minimum โ you can order a single book of 20 and it arrives by mail within a few days. This is particularly useful if driving or traveling to a store is inconvenient. Amazon sells USPS Forever stamps at face value through Amazon-fulfilled listings โ shipped Prime, usually arriving within 1โ2 days. Costco’s website sells rolls of 100 stamps to members at a slight discount (around $77.75 versus $78 face value), making it the best option if you mail frequently and want to stock up without a store visit. One warning: avoid sellers on eBay or third-party marketplaces offering stamps “below face value” โ counterfeit stamps do circulate, and a postal inspector can confiscate them even if you bought them unknowingly. Stick to USPS, Amazon, Costco, and major retailers.
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Can I buy a single stamp instead of a whole book? Yes โ at any USPS post office counter, ask the clerk for a single stamp ยท Most retail stores (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) only sell complete books of 20 ยท USPS self-service kiosks also sell single stampsIf you only need one stamp, your most reliable option is walking to the counter at any post office and asking a clerk for a single Forever stamp. You’ll pay 78 cents (or 82 cents after July 12) โ no minimum purchase required. USPS Automated Postal Centers (APCs), the self-service kiosks found in many post office lobbies, also sell single stamps and accept credit cards. They’re sometimes accessible outside regular post office hours through the lobby door near the PO boxes. Most pharmacies and retailers only stock books of 20, so they can’t help you with a single stamp purchase. Some convenience stores keep individual stamps behind the counter โ it’s worth asking, though this varies by location.
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What’s the difference between a Forever stamp and other stamps? A Forever stamp covers one standard 1-oz domestic letter at whatever the current rate is โ always, no matter when you bought it ยท Other stamp types: postcard (61 cents), additional ounce (29 cents), international (currently $1.65) ยท Old stamps with specific denominations still work โ you just combine them to reach the current rateForever stamps are the gold standard for most household mailers because they hedge against future price increases โ buy a book today and every stamp in it is worth full postage indefinitely. The only time you need something different is when what you’re mailing isn’t a standard letter: a postcard requires a postcard stamp (currently 61 cents, cheaper than a Forever), a letter over one ounce needs an additional-ounce stamp (29 cents per extra ounce, and this rate is not changing with the July increase), and anything going outside the U.S. needs an international stamp ($1.65 for a standard letter to most countries). Old stamps with printed denominations โ say, a 55-cent or 68-cent stamp โ are still valid postage. Combine them with additional stamps to reach the current 78-cent rate. A postal clerk can help you figure out the right combination.
All locations sell stamps at the official USPS face value unless noted. The differences are selection, hours, and convenience โ not price.
| Where | Hours | Singles? | Specialty Designs? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Post Office Best Selection | Weekdays + Sat a.m. ยท Closed Sun | โ Yes | โ Yes | Only place for commemorative, international, and specialty stamps ยท Kiosk often accessible after hours |
| CVS Pharmacy | 6 a.m.โ10 p.m. most locations ยท Some 24-hr | โ Books only | โ No | Ask cashier โ stamps are behind the register ยท Very reliable nationwide |
| Walgreens | 8 a.m.โ10 p.m. most ยท Many 24-hr | โ Books only | โ No | Checkout counter or pharmacy ยท Walgreens rewards earns points on purchases |
| Walmart | 6 a.m.โ11 p.m. daily (Supercenters) | โ Books only | โ No | Money Services desk or Customer Service โ not checkout ยท Also at walmart.com |
| Target | 7 a.m.โ10 p.m. most | โ Books only | โ No | Not all locations carry stamps โ call first ยท Guest services desk if available |
| Grocery Stores (Kroger, Safeway, Publix, etc.) | Store hours vary | โ Books only | โ Rarely | Ask at customer service desk or checkout ยท Convenient when already shopping |
| Costco / Sam’s Club | Member store hours | โ Rolls of 100 | โ No | Slight discount (~$77.75 per 100) ยท Membership required ยท Best bulk option |
| Staples / Office Depot | Weekdays 8 a.m.โ8 p.m. + weekends | โ Sometimes | โ No | Handy if already buying mailing supplies ยท Selection limited to books |
| USPS Online Store | 24/7 | โ Yes | โ Yes | Free shipping ยท Best selection of commemorative designs ยท 3โ5 days delivery |
| Amazon | 24/7 | โ Books/rolls | โ Limited | Face value price ยท Prime 1โ2 day delivery ยท Stick to USPS-fulfilled listings only |
- Step 1: Decide what type of stamp you need. Standard letter to a U.S. address = Forever stamp. Postcard = postcard stamp (61 cents). International letter = international stamp ($1.65). Heavier letter = Forever stamp + additional-ounce stamps (29 cents each extra ounce).
- Step 2: Pick the right location for your time of day. Post office if it’s a weekday before 5 p.m. and you want specialty designs. CVS or Walgreens if it’s evening or Sunday and you just need a standard book. Walmart for evening access without the pharmacy feel.
- Step 3: At a retail store, ask a staff member directly โ don’t look for stamps on a shelf. At Walmart, walk to Customer Service. At grocery stores, ask at checkout or the customer service desk. Stamps are kept behind counters at most retailers.
- Step 4: If you mail regularly, consider buying a roll of 100 stamps before July 12 to lock in the 78-cent rate. Costco, Sam’s Club, USPS online, and the post office all sell rolls. Forever stamps never expire.
- Step 5: Don’t throw away old stamps with lower printed values โ they’re still valid postage. Combine them with additional-ounce or make-up stamps to reach the current rate. A postal clerk will do the math for you.
Stamp prices and USPS rate changes are subject to Postal Regulatory Commission review and may change. The July 12 price increase to 82 cents per Forever stamp is proposed and pending final approval as of this writing. Retailer hours, stamp availability, and in-store policies vary by location โ call ahead to confirm before making a special trip. This page has no affiliation with USPS, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, or any retailer.