Stamp inventory calculator

Count what's actually in your stamp drawer. The tool totals the face value, shows how much mail it covers, and flags the denominations worth topping up — so a half-used booklet and a pile of 5¢ stamps stop being a mystery.

How to value a stamp drawer

For mailing purposes, a stamp is worth its face value — or, for a Permanent™ stamp, the current domestic rate of $1.24. Collector value is a different question (condition, rarity and demand), but for postage planning, face value is the number that matters. Add the counts above honestly: stamps hiding in card envelopes and desk drawers count too.

Two patterns make a drawer work well. First, enough Permanent™ stamps for everyday letters — they're the only denomination that never needs a top-up. Second, a scatter of small denominations (1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢) so odd rates like $2.61 or $5.21 can be hit exactly instead of overpaid. Canada Post sells low-value stamps precisely for this.

Once you know the drawer's value, use the stamp combination finder to spend it down letter by letter with the least overpay.