Stamp Prices Rise 15% From 3 April

8th March 2023

Standard stamp prices are to rise by up to 15%, Royal Mail has confirmed. From Monday 3 April, the cost of first-class stamps will be hiked to £1.10 (up 15p from 95p), while second-class stamps will increase to 75p (up 7p from 68p).

This means you have until Sunday 2 April to stock up on first or second-class stamps to secure them at their current price to beat the hike. Just ensure you're given new barcoded stamps rather than old-style versions without a barcode.

Regular stamps without a barcode will no longer be valid after 31 July 2023. This follows the introduction of a 6 month grace period from the initial 31 January deadline. You can either use up your non-barcoded stamps before this new deadline or swap them for the new barcoded ones.

In February last year, Royal Mail announced it would scrap non-barcoded 'everyday' stamps that feature a profile of the Queen's head. You'd no longer be able to use these types of stamps from 31 January 2023, but this deadline was later extended for a further six months in recognition of users needing more time to adjust to the change. It means non-barcoded stamps can still be used until 31 July 2023 (or swapped for barcoded stamps - see below for more on this).

From Monday 3 April, the cost of stamps will rise as follows:

Standard letters (max 100g, 24cm x 16.5cm x 5mm)

First class: £1.10 (up from 95p)
Second class: 75p (up from 68p)
Large letters (max 100g, 35.3cm x 25cm x 2.5cm)

First class: £1.60 (up from £1.45)
Second class: £1.15 (up from £1.05)
Royal Mail blames the increases on a "25% drop in letter volumes since the pandemic, increasing costs and the highest inflation rates for a generation".