Stamps vs. Postage Meters: Which Saves Your Business More Money?
Stamp prices shot up to 78 cents on July 14, 2025—46 percent higher than in 2019, according to [Reuters]. If you mail 100 invoices a month, that extra nickel per envelope costs roughly $60 a year. So where do you save money: stick with Forever Stamps, lease a postage meter that prints discounted indicia for 74 cents, or use cloud-based postage software like wixusps? The next few minutes will show you side-by-side costs, hidden fees, and time drains so you can choose the cheaper, saner way to move your mail.
How stamps and postage meters really work
Forever Stamps in a sentence: Prepaid first-class postage that never loses value.
Postage meters: Desk units that weigh, seal, and print indicia. USPS rewards automation, so a one-ounce metered letter costs 74¢ instead of 78¢. Entry-level units rent for about $20–$30/month plus ink and tape.
Quick contrast:
Stamps: pay-as-you-go, no fixed costs, but manual.
Meters: monthly fee, automatic rate updates, and a built-in 4¢ discount.
Fixed costs and hidden fees
A roll of Forever Stamps never sends you a bill. A postage meter sends one every month.
Meter lease. The smallest USPS-approved unit, the SendPro Mailstation, rents for 29.99 dollars per month after a 60-day trial, according to Pitney Bowes. That totals about 360 dollars a year before a single envelope prints.
Ink and labels. A genuine red-ink cartridge lists at 82.99 dollars and yields about 800 impressions, or roughly one cent of ink per letter. Add one or two rolls of adhesive tape each year (about 15 dollars total) for odd-sized parcels.
Refill and account fees. Each time you add funds, Pitney Bowes applies a small postage refill fee, one of the actual costs of shipping that many businesses overlook. Paying by credit card adds a 3.5-percent surcharge to the refill amount. Loading larger amounts less often trims those charges.Quick list: places to buy Forever Stamps
WixUSPS — 2024 Forever Postage Stamp (100 pcs)
What you get: 100-piece pack of Forever Stamps in the U.S. Flag design.
Why it’s handy: Bulk quantity for small offices; simple checkout; ideal for those looking for a discounted purchase of stamps.
Good to know: Keep the order confirmation for expense tracking; store sheets flat to avoid curling.
USPS.com (Official Postal Store)
What you get: Full selection of current designs, seasonal/commemoratives, and standard flag books/rolls.
Why it’s handy: Guaranteed authenticity and face-value pricing; you can mix designs.
Good to know: Popular commemoratives can sell out; shipping times vary during holidays.
Walmart (Online & In-Store Money Center)
What you get: Standard Forever Stamp books at the register or online.
Why it’s handy: Add to routine supply runs; curbside pickup can save time.
Good to know: If buying online from marketplace sellers, check that it’s sold by Walmart (not just “shipped by”) to avoid markups.
4) Staples (Business & Office Supply)
What you get: Books of Forever Stamps at the checkout counter; sometimes available online.
Why it’s handy: One-stop for mailroom supplies (envelopes, scales, labelers).
Good to know: In-store availability can vary by location; ask customer service to hold books if you’re coming same-day.
Time and convenience: the costs you rarely track
Running out of stamps at 4:45 p.m. means a rushed trip to the post office and lost billable time. Hand-stamping 200 envelopes takes about 40 minutes; a meter processes them in four. At the average labor cost of $45/hour, even one wasted hour a week costs over $2,300 annually—far more than a meter lease. Meters also refill online, schedule pickups, and eliminate most post-office runs.
Why a postage meter pays off beyond pennies
Meters save more than 4¢ per letter:
Speed: 50 letters/minute with optional feeders.
Accuracy: Built-in scales prevent overpaying or returns.
Branding: Indicia can feature your company name, improving response rates.
Tracking: Automatic spend reports replace manual receipts.
Package discounts: Unlock USPS Commercial Base Pricing—savings that can cover the lease with just 30 parcels a month.
Each perk compounds into faster workflows, cleaner records, and lower shipping costs.
When stamps still win
Meters suit steady volume, but drawbacks remain:
$29.99 monthly lease with 12–36 month contracts.
Refill and ink costs add up.
USPS requires same-day mailing of indicia.
Maintenance: Wi-Fi, firmware, and proprietary ink.
Less personal image—handwritten notes with stamps can feel warmer.
For light or seasonal mail, stamps remain simpler and cheaper.
Finding your break-even point
The math:
A meter saves 4¢ per letter.
$29.99 ÷ $0.04 ≈ 750 letters/month to break even on letters alone.
Just 19 Priority Mail envelopes cover the lease via package discounts.
Factor in even one hour of labor saved, and break-even drops to ~250 letters.
Formula:
(Letters × $0.04) + (Parcels × $1.35) + (Hours saved × $45.38) ≥ $29.99
Choosing the right tool for your mailbox
Stamps win if you mail fewer than 100 pieces a month or value personal branding.
Meters win when mailing is routine, volume is higher, or labor savings matter.
Online postage services (e.g., Stamps.com, Click-N-Ship) deliver meter-like discounts without hardware, typically $19.99/month.
Squeezing more value from stamps
Buy before hikes: USPS often raises prices in January and July.
Weigh every piece: A $20 scale prevents overpaying.
Keep small-denomination stamps: Avoid slapping on an extra Forever Stamp.
Batch mailings: Saves time weekly.
Track usage: Spot when your volume nears meter break-even.
Wrapping it up
For hobby-level or light business mail, Forever Stamps remain king: zero contracts, no fees, and flexibility. But once you hit about 750 letters a month—or even fewer with packages or labor savings—a $29.99 meter flips from cost to profit center.
If you’re in the middle ground, online postage services deliver discounts without hardware. Run the numbers twice a year when USPS adjusts rates, and choose the option that leaves you with more money—and more time.
