The price of a standard first class stamp will increase from £1.65 to £1.70, while a large first class stamp will rise from £2.60 to £3.15, from April 7
Martin Lewis has urged households to “stock up” on stamps before another Royal Mail price rise comes into force. The price of stamps are rising from April 7.
The price of a standard first class stamp will increase from £1.65 to £1.70, while a large first class stamp will rise from £2.60 to £3.15. A standard second class stamp will increase from 85p to 87p. The price of a large second class stamp will remain the same at £1.55. The cost of other Royal Mail services, such as “Signed For” and “Tracked” deliveries will also increase from April 7.
However, you can save money by purchasing your stamps now ahead of the price rise. Martin Lewis, said: “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.
“This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.65, soon rising to £1.70 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So while it’s not a huge saving this time, you still may as well stock up now.” The price of first class stamps went up twice last year, in October 2024 and April 2024.
Royal Mail said the new increase was down to the firm delivering fewer letters. Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, said: “We always consider price changes very carefully but the cost of delivering mail continues to increase. A complex and extensive network of trucks, planes and 85,000 posties is needed to ensure we can deliver across the country for just 87p.”
It comes after Ofcom announced plans for Royal Mail to scrap second class letter deliveries on Saturdays, and reduce the service to alternate weekdays. There would still be first class post delivered Monday to Saturday. Ofcom said the number of letters being delivered to UK homes has fallen from 20 billion twenty years ago, to 6.6 billion today.
Royal Mail expects it to be 4 billion a year in the next few years. Ofcom estimates that cutting down the number of second class deliveries would save Royal Mail between £250million and £425million. However, the regulator warned Royal Mail must still improve its service.
Royal Mail has been fined more than £16million in the last 18 months over poor performance and missing delivery targets. Ofcom is suggesting reducing the number of first class mail that must be delivered the next day from 93% to 90%, and from 98.5% to 95% for second class mail delivered within three days.
This will bring them more in line with other international and European markets, it added. The regulator has opened a consultation on the changes and expects to publish a final decision this summer. Natalie Black, Ofcom Group Director for Networks and Communications, said: “The world has changed – we’re sending a third of the letters we were twenty years ago.
“We need to reform the postal service to protect its future and ensure it delivers for the whole of the UK. But we’re safeguarding what matters most to people – First Class mail six days a week at the same price throughout the UK, and a price cap on Second Class stamps.”
Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mail said: “Ofcom has recognised the urgent need for change so that the future of the Universal Service can be protected for all. Our proposal was developed after speaking to thousands of people across the country and is designed to preserve what matters most for our customers – maintaining a one-price-goes-anywhere service to 32 million UK addresses and First Class deliveries six days a week.
“As Ofcom’s analysis shows, it is no longer financially sustainable to maintain a network built for 20 billion letters when we are now only delivering 6.7 billion. Reform is crucial to support a modern, sustainable, and reliable postal service for our customers, our company and our people.”
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