Royal Mail stamp prices are rising again next week – see how much more you’ll pay

The price of stamps has been steadily rising over the last few years – with Royal Mail blaming the increase on a decline in the number of letters being sent

The price of stamps is set to rise again next week – but there is a way you can beat the increase.

The price of a standard first-class stamp will increase from £1.35 to £1.65 – up 30p, or 22% – from October 7. The cost of a large first-class stamp will rise from £2.10 to £2.60 – up 50p, or 24%. Royal Mail said the increase is down to a decline in the number of letters being sent.

The price of stamps has been steadily increasing over the last few years. A standard first-class stamp rose from £1.10 to £1.25 in October 2023, then to £1.35 in April 2024. The price of some other Royal Mail delivery services including “Signed For”, “Special Delivery Guaranteed” and “Tracked” will also increase from October 7.

There will be no change to the price of second-class stamps, which will remain at 85p for a standard second-class stamp, and £1.55 for a larger second-class stamp. If you’re due to post a lot of cards to friends and family at Christmas, you can beat the increase by stocking up on stamps this weekend.

As long as the stamp just says the postage class, and does not contain a price, it will still be valid after the hike. Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, said: “We always consider price increases very carefully. However, when letter volumes have declined by two-thirds since their peak, the cost of delivering each letter inevitably increases.

“A complex and extensive network is needed to get every letter and parcel across the country for a single price – travelling on trucks, planes, ferries and in some cases drones before it reaches its final destination [delivered] on foot. We are proud to deliver the universal service, but the financial cost is significant.”

It comes after Royal Mail replaced traditional stamps with ones that feature barcodes. The only stamps you can continue to use are “special stamps” issued to commemorate anniversaries and events, as well as Christmas stamps. If you still have some old stamps, you can exchange them through the Royal Mail “Swap Out” scheme.

To do this, download a “Swap Out” form on the Royal Mail website, call up Royal Mail on 03457 740740, or pick up a form from your local Post Office. If you’re downloading the form online and you don’t have access to a printer, you can complete a web form and request for it to be posted to you.

Once you’ve filled it out, post back the stamps you want to swap using the Freepost address. Your new barcode stamps should then arrive in seven days.