How much is a First Class stamp and are stamps going up?

If you're wondering how much a First Class stamp costs, you're not alone. The price of stamps went up in April 2023, and sadly another price hike is due in October. 

But it's not just prices changing in 2023. Since the start of the year, King Charles stamps have entered circulation and some stamps have expired, meaning families can no longer use non-barcoded stamps (although if you have any old style stamps, you can exchange them through Royal Mail's Swap Out scheme). 

But what are the current rates for stamps and what will they be from October?

How much is a First Class stamp?

Up until 1 October, a First Class stamp for a standard letter costs £1.10, but from 2 October, this will rise by 15p to £1.25. A First Class stamp for a large letter costs £1.60, but after the October price hike, it will cost 35p more, at £1.95. Standard letters must be no larger than 24cm x 16.5cm x 5mm. Large letters can be no bigger than 35.3cm x 25cm x 2.5cm.

Why are stamps going up?

The rise in price is due to the increased costs faced by Royal Mail in light of inflation, coupled with fewer people sending letters these days - Royal Mail says there has been a 25% decline in letters since the pandemic. In addition, the service was the victim of a cyber attack earlier this year, and has also been hit by repeated Royal Mail strikes. The business expects to make an operating loss of up to £450m this year.

Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, has said: "We appreciate that many businesses and households are facing a challenging economic environment and we are committed to keeping our prices affordable.

He added: "We have to carefully balance our pricing against a continued decline in letter volumes and the increasing costs of delivering letters six days a week to an ever-growing number of addresses across the country."

How much is a Second Class stamp?

Second Class stamps for standard letters rose by 7p on 3 April, from 68p to the new price of 75p. And this price will not increase in October. But Second Class stamps for larger letters will go up by 40p from £1.15 to £1.55 as of 2 October

The new cost covers letters weighing up to 100g and has the same £20 compensation cover as the First Class stamps (excluding money and valuables), and they can also be bought via the Royal Mail online shop, as well as the Post Office, supermarkets and some stationery stores.

Second Class is a cheaper option for UK customers who don't need their letter sent urgently, because delivery times are slightly slower. "Delivery in two to three working days including Saturdays," Royal Mail states of their Second Class postal service online.

Is there anything I can do to beat the stamp price increase?

If you send a lot of letters, it's worthwhile stocking up on barcoded stamps while they are cheaper, as they will still be valid when the prices go up in October. Alternatively, if your standard sized letters aren't urgent, it's worthwhile sending them Second Class as this is cheaper than first class and the price isn't going up in October.

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 hike.

"This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.10, soon to be rising to £1.25 – in 2012 it was just 60p.

"So you may as well stock up now, even if it's just for Christmas cards for the next few Christmases." 

Can I still use old stamps?

Whether you can still use stamps bought before the price increase, depends on the type of stamps you have. If you have stamps with a barcode on, you will still be able to use those after the prices go up. 

But everyday non-barcoded stamps (ones featuring the late Queen's profile) expired on 31 July 2023, so you won't be able to use those. But you can exchange them for free, using the Royal Mail Swap Out service. If you have any special stamps, like Christmas themed ones or ones with pictures on, these are still valid and don't need to be swapped out for barcoded versions. 

You can exchange your old stamps using Royal Mail's Stamp Swap Out form.

Current UK postage rates

For the full list of First and Second Class services, visit the online price guide.

If you send or receive a lot of stuff by post, you might also be wondering if Royal Mail delivers post on Good Friday and Easter Monday.