Stories

Fri, 06 Mar 2026

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 Price of first class stamps to rise to £1.80

Royal Mail says the increase reflects the rise in delivery costs, but the move angers consumer groups.

* From April 7, a first-class stamp will cost £1.80 (up from £1.70) and a second-class stamp will cost 91p (up from 87p).
* This is the latest price increase in a series of rises over the past few years.
* The Royal Mail says the price hike reflects higher delivery costs due to declining letter volumes and increasing address numbers.
* Critics, including Citizens Advice, argue that price increases should be tied to performance, given the postal service's poor delivery record.
* The company has been fined £21m by Ofcom for failing to meet its targets in 2024-25, with nearly a quarter of first-class post arriving late.
* Consumer groups have expressed anger over the jump in stamp prices and Royal Mail's poor performance.