How much is a first class stamp? Why prices have increased and if second class stamps have gone up

The price of a first class stamp has increased from £1.10 to £1.25 – the third increase in just 18 months.

This represents a 14 per cent jump, after the price already increased by 18 per cent in April.

Royal Mail said the price rise was due to current economic pressures, though the Citizens Advice charity accused regulator Ofcom of “letting the company get away” with price rises despite “poor service”.

How much are stamps?

The price of a standard first class stamp has increased from £1.10 to £1.25 from Monday 2 October – a 14 per cent increase.

A large first class stamp now costs £1.95 – a 22 per cent jump from £1.60.

Standard second class stamps are remaining at the same price – 75p.

But the price of a large second class stamp is going up, from £1.15 to £1.45 – a jump of 35 per cent.

Why are stamps increasing in price?

Royal Mail blamed rising costs and the lack of reform of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for the price increase.

Under the USO, Royal Mail is required to deliver letters to all 32 million UK addresses six days a week. The company has been pushing for this to be reduced to five days a week, with a Monday to Friday service.

Royal Mail has said the USO is unsustainable in its current form as the number of letters being sent is falling while the number of households is rising.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Ofcom caps the price of a second class stamp, to make sure an affordable option is always available, especially to support people on lower incomes.

“However, the postal market is rapidly evolving, as people send fewer letters and receive more parcels. So Royal Mail needs flexibility when setting first class stamp prices, to make sure the universal postal service can continue.”

Matthew Upton, policy director at Citizens Advice, said: “Royal Mail holds a virtual monopoly on an essential public service that millions of people rely on, but despite missed delivery targets across the country this summer, Royal Mail has still chosen to hike prices.”

How do I swap out old stamps?

Old stamps bearing an image of the late Queen are no longer valid, but it is possible to swap them out if you still have some.

Barcodes have been added to all Royal Mail stamps, bringing greater security and allowing customers access to interactive content, meaning the older-style stamps are being replaced.

New stamps featuring King Charles III were introduced earlier this year, and he will now feature on all standard stamps in circulation.

Non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through the “stamp swap out” scheme.

You must complete a form and send it off with the stamps you wish to swap, and Royal Mail will then send you equivalent stamps with barcodes.

Postage is free of charge, and you simply have to write on the envelope “Freepost SWAP OUT”.

You can find the form here, and up to £200 worth of non-barcoded stamps can be swapped in this way.

If you have more than £200 worth of stamps, you will need to use the “bulk stamp swap out” form, which you can find here.

Royal Mail recommends sending bulk batches via a secure service with suitable cover, to the following address:

Royal Mail
Swap Out
Tallents House
21 South Gyle Crescent
EDINBURGH
EH12 9PB

If you don’t have access to a printer, you can request a “stamp swap out” form to be posted to you by completing this form online.