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Royal Mail has announced the price of a first-class stamp will increase next month.
Ahead of the increase on April 7, money saving expert Martin Lewis has urged those who regularly use stamps to ‘stock up’.
The price increase will see the cost of a standard first-class stamp rise by 10p to £1.80.
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The last price hike was in April last year, when stamps went up by 5p to £1.70.
In October 2024, there was a 22 per cent increase, with prices jumping from £1.35 to £1.65.
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 per cent 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.”
The Express reports that Martin Lewis encouraged people who regularly use first-class stamps to bulk-buy before the price increase takes effect.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
However Martin’s Money Saving Expert website warned people to be wary of fakes and said: “Buy from reputable high street outlets and, where possible, hang on to your receipt.”
The price of large first-class stamps will also go up from £3.15 to £3.10, and a second-class standard stamp will rise from 87p to 91p.
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