Royal Mail stamps: first and second class postage stamp prices rising again in April 2026 - how much are they?

• Royal Mail will increase the price of first-class and second-class stamps from April 7
• A first-class stamp will rise to £1.80, while a second-class stamp will cost 91p
• First-class postage has increased 137% in the past six years after multiple price hikes
• The rise comes as Royal Mail continues to miss delivery targets, drawing criticism from MPs and consumer groups
• Royal Mail says the changes reflect falling letter volumes and rising delivery costs

If you still send letters, your postage costs are about to hit new heights.

From April 7, the price of a first-class stamp will rise by 10p, while second-class stamps will increase by 4p, Royal Mail has confirmed.

For regular senders, the change is another reminder of just how much stamp prices have climbed over recent years.

In the past six years alone, first-class postage has risen 137%, with eight separate increases, while second-class stamps have gone up six times.

Yet the hikes come amid continuing concerns over Royal Mail’s performance. The company has repeatedly missed delivery targets, with the last time it hit its first-class goal being 2019-20.

Customers, including those waiting for time-sensitive documents such as medical appointments, are still facing a degree of uncertainty over whether letters will arrive on time.

Anne Pardoe, head of policy at Citizens Advice, says rising prices should be tied to improved performance. She said: “Higher prices must come with higher standards – increases should be tied to Royal Mail’s performance on the doorstep.”

The postal service has faced criticism from MPs for what some describe as “chaos” since Christmas, with reports of letters being delivered in batches rather than daily.

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How much will stamps now cost?

• First-class stamp: £1.80 (up 10p)
• Second-class stamp: 91p (up 4p)

Even at these prices, Royal Mail says that UK stamps remain below the European average, which stands at £1.93 for first class and £1.56 for second class.

Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail, explained that the price rises reflect both the fall in letter volumes and the growth in delivery addresses, now at 32 million across the UK.

He said: “On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% 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 company is also navigating major changes to its service, and last year, Ofcom approved a plan to scrap Saturday deliveries for second-class letters.