Stamp Prices To Increase Again From 7th April

6th March 2026

Stamp prices in the UK are rising again, and the latest announcement confirms significant increases from 7 April 2026. The changes affect both First Class and Second Class stamps, and they reflect Royal Mail's ongoing struggle with falling letter volumes and rising delivery costs.

Key price increases announced for April 2026

Royal Mail has confirmed the following changes:

First Class stamp: rising by 10p, from £1.70 to £1.80.

Second Class stamp: rising by 4p, from 87p to 91p.

These increases take effect from 7 April 2026 and apply to standard letter stamps purchased at the counter or online.

Royal Mail says the rises are necessary because delivery costs continue to increase while the number of letters being sent has fallen by around 70% over the past 20 years.

Why prices are going up
Royal Mail cites several pressures:

Fewer letters being posted, reducing revenue.

More delivery points as the UK population grows.

Higher operational and energy costs, which have risen sharply in recent years.

Citizens Advice has criticised the increases, arguing that stamp prices "can't be treated as a dial that is turned up" without improving service reliability.

Other postal price changes to note
While the headline increases affect stamps, Royal Mail is also adjusting other charges:

Fuel and Energy Surcharge rising from 8% to 11% from 5 January 2026.

Updated franking and parcel rates also take effect from April 2026.

Large Letter First Class stamp (0-100g) will cost £3.30, while the Mailmark franking equivalent is £2.86.

These changes mean businesses and frequent senders will also face higher mailing costs.

What this means for households and businesses
For most households, Royal Mail notes that the average adult spends only around £6.50 per year on stamps, so the impact is modest.

However, small businesses, charities, and anyone who sends large volumes of mail will feel the increases more sharply.