Hours left to stock up on stamps before another price rise – here’s how much more you’ll have to pay

HOUSEHOLDS have just hours left to stock up on postage stamps before another price hike.

It comes after Royal Mail announced that the price of first class stamps will go up again on Monday, October 2.

The price of a single first class stamp will rise from £1.10 to £1.25.

Large first class stamps will rise in price from £1.60 to £1.95.

While the price of standard second class stamps will remain at 75p, large second class stamps will – up from £1.15 to £1.55.

The delivery company said first class stamps were rising in price as it faced “increasing cost pressures”.

It also said the lack of reform of the universal service obligation (USO) had contributed to the need to hike prices.

The USO forces Royal Mail to deliver letters six days a week to all 32million UK address for the same price.

Nick Landon, the firms chief commercial officer, said: “We understand the economic challenges that many of our customers are currently facing and have considered the price changes very carefully in light of the significant decline in letter volumes.

“Letter volumes have reduced dramatically over recent years, down more than 60% from their peak in 2004/5 and 30% since the pandemic.”

It comes after the Royal Mail raised the price of first class stamps by 15p from 95p to £1.10 in March.

Meanwhile, second class stamps rose from 68p to 75p.

The Royal Mail charges more for first class stamps as they ensure your letter gets to its destination faster.

Generally, a letter with a first class stamp on it will arrive at the intended address the next working day.

Meanwhile, it takes up to three working days for second class items to arrive.

Depending on the size of your letter, you may have to pay more for a first or second class stamp.

Currently, any letters over 35.3cm long, 25cm wide and 2.5cm thick and up to a weight of 100g, will cost £1.60 to send first class.

Meanwhile, it will cost you £1.15 to go second class.

It comes after the Royal Mail ousted old-style stamps and replaced them with barcoded ones in July.

The business said the move would make letters more secure.

Anyone who still has these old-style stamps and uses them may have to pay a surcharge.