Royal Mail stamp prices to rise from April – how to beat the hike
Stamp prices are going up from Tuesday 7 April, with the cost of a standard first class stamp rising by 10p to £1.80. Stock up NOW to beat the hike – as you'll still be able to use them even after prices go up.
Here's how prices are changing:
Class & letter size (1) | Current price | Price from Tuesday 7 April | Price rise (%) |
First – standard | £1.70 | £1.80 | 10p (+6%) |
First – large | £3.15 | £3.30 | 15p (+5%) |
Second – standard | 87p | 91p | 4p (+5%) |
Second – large | £1.55 | £1.55 | No change |
(1) A standard letter can weigh up to 100g and measure a maximum of 24cm x 16.5cm x 0.5cm. Meanwhile, large letters can measure 35.3cm x 25cm x 2.5cm, but still have to weigh 100g or less – if they weigh more, you have to pay extra.
The cost of many of Royal Mail's 'Signed For', 'Special Delivery Guaranteed' and 'Tracked' services will also increase from Tuesday 7 April, as will the cost of sending parcels by first and second class. See a full list of prices.
Martin Lewis: 'Stock up in advance to beat the rise'
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "For years, every time stamps go up in price I've suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn't have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it's still valid after the rise.
"This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.70, soon rising to £1.80 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So you may as well stock up now if you’re going to need stamps."
If you do stock up on stamps now, be careful to avoid fakes. Buy from reputable high street outlets and, where possible, hang on to your receipt. Stamps are also available directly from the Royal Mail online shop (you must spend £50 to get free delivery).
First-class stamp prices last went up in April 2025
The price of first-class stamps for standard letters went up by 5p in April last year to the current £1.70. Prior to this, they increased by 22% in October 2024 (from £1.35 to £1.65).
Royal Mail blames the latest increases on the "continued rise in cost of delivery". Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail said: "We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.
"On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago. In the meantime, the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million to 32 million addresses across the UK."
Still have non-barcoded stamps? Exchange them using Royal Mail's 'Swap Out' scheme
On 31 July 2023, Royal Mail scrapped everyday non-barcoded stamps – the ones that feature a profile of the Queen's head – in favour of barcoded versions. You can no longer use these non-barcoded stamps, but you can still exchange them for new barcoded versions for free.
It's worth noting that Christmas stamps or 'special' stamps with pictures on are still valid, so you won't need to swap these.
To swap your stamps, you'll need to complete a standard 'Swap Out' form for stamps worth up to £200, or a bulk stamp 'Swap Out' form for stamps worth more than £200 (links open PDFs). If you don't have a printer, you can request a form on the Royal Mail website or pick one up from your local Post Office. Both forms include instructions on where to send your stamps.
There is currently no deadline to complete swaps, but we suggest doing it sooner rather than later in case the scheme closes. Royal Mail said it'll aim to process your application within 30 days.
For more information on the 'Swap Out' scheme, see Royal Mail's website.
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