Book of Stamps vs Roll of Stamps: Which is The Cheapest Way to Buy?
Book of Stamps vs Roll of Stamps: Which is The Cheapest Way to Buy?
Holiday season is knocking at the door again. Between Thank You cards, family Christmas greetings, and even New Year’s letters for 2026, the same question keeps showing up: Book of Stamps vs Roll of Stamps — which one is really the cheapest way to buy?
Let’s dig into the new USPS pricing update from July 2025 (78¢ per First-Class Forever stamp), see how books and rolls compare, and learn how to save money before the next rate increase hit again in 2026.
How Many Stamps Were There in the Book of Stamp?
The book of the stamp is a booklet made up of one or more small panes of postage stamps on a cardboard cover. Postage Stamps are still used to mail letters in today’s world. The Stamps Booklets are one of the major things that everybody who sends and receives letters or postal mail should be aware of. The stamp booklet is also known as a book of stamps. Stamp booklets were first released on April 16, 1900.
However, nowadays, anybody can purchase a stamp book easily and get all of the stamps issued by the USPS. In the Stamp Book cost that contains all of the essential stamps, there are over 20 stamps.
How Much Do I Need To Pay For a Stamp Book?
Generally speaking, each stamp book consists of 20 postal stamps. Most of the time, the cost of forever postage stamps is the same as the cost of first-class stamps. In other words, no matter whether you bought a forever stamps booklet or a first-class stamps booklet, the stamps books were all the same.
In 2025, you’ll have to pay $0.78*20 = $15.6 for the forever stamp book. I would recommend everyone to buy forever stamps, for the reason why is that they may be used at any time since they have no expiration date.
How Many Stamps Were There in the Roll of Stamp?
According to the USPS, the first coil (roll) stamps were issued on February 18, 1908, in response to business requests. Coils were also used in stamp vending equipment. From this sentence, we can clearly know that the main target customers of this form of stamp sales are group buying customers who have a large demand for enterprises, groups, etc., rather than individuals. Then according to different types of stamps, their prices are also different.
This requires you to always make sure that you have confirmed the quantity and type of postage (first-class stamp, second class Stamps, postcard stamps, etc.) you read before placing an order to ensure you are getting a fair deal. You can buy a variety of different designs, so pick up some pretty stamps for the upcoming holidays. But if something is cheaper, usually for good reason, you may have misread the stamp number or postage type.
Books vs Rolls: Quick Pros & Cons
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Book | Lower upfront cost, nice holiday design choices, no leftover waste | Higher unit price if you end up buying many books |
| Roll | Always ready on hand, convenient for bulk mailing, saves trips | Higher upfront payment, fewer design variety |
What Does A Roll Of First Class Stamps/Forever Stamps Cost In 2025?
Starting in 2025, the price of first-class and forever stamps will increase from 0.73 cents to 0.78 cents apiece. A roll (coil) of stamps will contain anywhere from 20 to 10,000 stamps, and you can go to USPS.com and see that the price of a roll of stamps will range from $15.6 to $7,800.
What does a roll of postcard stamps cost in 2025?
On some holidays you want to send some postcards to your family and friends to convey the joy of the holiday, so buying postcard stamps directly will be more cost-effective than buying standard first-class stamps.
61 cents per postcard stamp in 2025. You can buy a roll of 100 postcard stamps from USPS for $61, or choose from as few as 20 postcard stamps. However, these should only be used on postcards and should not be placed on standard letters.
Postcard stamps were previously 56 cents, an increase of 5 cents from before and a bigger increase than first-class stamps. However, they’re still economical and a better option if you’re just sending postcards.
Is it cheaper to buy stamps by the roll or is it cheaper to buy stamps by booklet?
Buying a roll of stamps or even subscribing to a roll is often the most convenient option if you need to mail letters regularly and in bulk. If you buy stamps from USPS.com, no matter what form you buy, it’s not the cheapest because it’s based on the type and quantity of stamps you buy, not the form. If you run a business, buying stamps by roll saves you time and effort and ensures you always have stamps on hand.
Some tips on how to subscribe to USPS stamp rolls
To subscribe to USPS stamp rolls, all you need to do is go to the online USPS store and from there you can go to their “Stamp Rolls” section. Here you should find options to buy stamp subscriptions as well as one-time purchases of stamp rolls.
Choose a stamp roll subscription from four options (monthly or twice a month, six months, or twelve months) and add it to your cart. There is nothing special about this, you can decide to send monthly or twice monthly subscriptions depending on your needs. You decide the duration of your subscription, choosing between six or twelve months. Whichever you choose, you can ship twice a month, or once a month.
Remember that your subscription will be automatically charged to your card each month, so you must ensure you have sufficient funds in the appropriate account to cover this cost.
The costs of the forever stamp of 2024 are calculated as follows:
Monthly subscription for 6 months for $478 ($78 per month)
Two monthly subscriptions for 6 months for $956 ($156 per month)
Monthly subscription for 12 months for $956 ($68 per month)
Two monthly subscriptions for 12 months for $1912 ($136 per month)
Please note that the stamp subscription is only for the convenience of regular stamp delivery, which is the same as the ordinary magazine subscription. If the stamp price increases during your subscription period, your subscription price will be updated to reflect this. You cannot hold stamps for a fixed price by creating a subscription. So you still need to pay attention to the price of stamps in time. Be sure to cancel or modify your subscription when your demand for stamps decreases, otherwise it will be a big non-essential expense.
| Feature | Book of Stamps (Booklet) | Roll of Stamps (Coil) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical quantity | 20 Forever stamps per book | 100+ stamps per roll (up to 10,000 for businesses) |
| Unit price (since July 2025) | $0.78 each | $0.78 each |
| Cost of 1 unit | $15.60 per book | $78.00 per roll of 100 |
| Savings potential | Very little if you buy only 1 book | Slight savings if you buy in bulk; less re-ordering hassle |
👉 Important: USPS does not discount stamp rolls versus books — both are sold at the face value of 78¢ per stamp. Any “saving” comes from avoiding trips, ordering fees, or time.
Can I Order A Roll Of Stamps or A Book of Stamps online?
There are many places that sell stamps online, and you have a reasonable choice, depending on your preferences.
You can order these stamps online from the USPS website. If you like certain designs, but stamps that are no longer sold by USPS, you can go to Amazon, Walmart, and other large shopping sites, and The USPS Stamps: the best place to buy discount forever stamps for sale cheap in bulk.
Large online shopping sites often sell stamps at a premium due to supply and demand. Additionally, Amazon charges third-party sellers for the convenience of being able to offer free Prime shipping.
If you want to buy a lot of stamps at a more favorable price, but you don’t want to use the USPS subscription service, you can consider the boutique stamp shopping website the Forever Stamp Store. Also you can order cheap forever stamps for sale in bulk from The USPS Stamps.
USPS specialist based in Los Angeles with extensive experience in postal operations and customer service. Certified in mail management and trained at the USPS Business Mail Academy, she offers reliable guidance on Forever Stamps and practical mailing solutions.
