Stories

Tue, 07 Apr 2026

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 Price of first class stamp rises to £1.80

The rise come as the postal service faces criticism over missing delivery targets.

* The price of a first class stamp has risen by 10p to £1.80, while a second class letter costs 4p more at 91p.
* Royal Mail says it needs to increase prices due to declining letter volumes and increasing addresses.
* Despite this, only 77% of first-class letters are delivered within one working day, falling short of the 93% target.
* This is the eighth price rise in five years, and comes as Royal Mail faces growing criticism over its performance.
* The latest increase means a first class stamp is now almost three times more expensive than it was a decade ago.
* Business account holders will also face higher charges due to increased energy costs from May.
* Consumer groups have criticized the price rises, with some suggesting they should be tied to Royal Mail's delivery performance.