STAMPS are an essential for getting letters, birthday cards or parcels to loved ones – or posting mundane paperwork.
The price of a stamp will depend on what type you get and how quickly you want it delivered.
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Royal Mail charges different postage prices depending on the size or weight of the item.
There was a surge in demand for the postal service amid the pandemic last year, especially over Christmas when loved ones were unable to give presents in person due to lockdown measures.
Luckily, that doesn’t look like it will be the same scenario this year, though some people may not be able to travel abroad, or at home if they want avoid busy crowds.
You can check out the last dates you need to know to get letters and packages delivered in time for Christmas.
Royal Mail increased the price of stamps in January 2021 – two months earlier than the usual annual price hike in March.
Here, we take you through everything you need to know about how much it costs to send something in the post.
How much is a first class stamp?
Sending a letter first class is the fastest and most expensive option, with your item typically arriving within one to two working days.
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A first class stamp costs 85p for a standard letter, which can weigh up to 100g and measure a maximum of 24cm x 16.5cm x 5mm.
The price of first class stamps was hiked by 9% from 2020’s price of 76p.
A single first class stamp can be bought individually if you buy it at a Post Office counter.
Otherwise, you can typically buy them in books of six or 12.
A book of six costs £5.10 from the Royal Mail, while a set of 12 will cost £10.20.
Buying a book of stamps used to save money but it now works out the same prices as buying each one individually.
It still saves you the time and effort of going back and forth to the Post Office though.
If you want to send an item first class that’s bigger than a standard letter, the cost of the stamp will increase.
What can I send with a first class stamp?
Besides a standard letter, you can also send a large letter with a first class stamp, but it will cost more.
As of January 2021, first class stamps for a large letter cost £1.29 – an increase of 12% from £1.15 last year.
You can buy a book of four large stamps for £5.16, which still works out at £1.29 per stamp.
According to Royal Mail, large letters can measure 35.3cm x 25cm x 2.5cm, but still have to weigh 100g or less.
If they weigh more, you’ll have to pay extra.
If your large letters weighs up to 250g, a stamp will cost £1.83, if it weighs up to 500g, it will cost £2.39 and if it weights up to 750g, it will cost £2.70.
You can pay for these higher weight stamps either at the self-service machines or customer service desks at the Post Office.
Small and medium parcels can also be sent with a first class stamp, costing more depending on how heavy it is.
Royal Mail defines a small parcel as 45cm by 35cm by 16cm thick.
If it weighs up to 1kg, the stamp will cost £3.85 and if it weighs up to 2kg, the stamp will cost £5.57.
For a parcel to be considered “medium”, it must measure up to 61cm by 46cm by 46cm.
A medium parcel costs £6.00 to send first class if they weigh up to 1kg.
It then costs £9.02 if they weigh 2kg, £15.85 if it costs up to 5kg, £21.90 if it weighs up to 10kg and £33.40 if it costs up to 20kg.
If your parcel weighs any more than this or is larger than this then you can’t send it via Royal Mail.
You will instead have to use a service like Parcelforce, FedEx or Hermes.
We’ve rounded up an in-depth guide on the best parcel service options.
How much is a second class stamp?
Posting a letter or parcel second class is cheaper than first class but it takes longer for it to arrive.
Typically, it takes two to three working days for a second class item to arrive, including Saturday.
A second class stamp for a standard letter costs 66p as of January this year.
This comes as an increase of 1p from 65p in 2020.
You can buy second class stamps individually from the Post Office.
But you can also get them in a book of 12 for £7.92 at a variety of different shops, like supermarkets and off-licences.
If you want to send a large letter weighing up to 100g, it will cost you £96.
You can also buy these stamps in a book of four for £3.84 but if the letter weighs more you’ll have to buy the stamp individually at the post office.
Large letters that weigh up to 250g, will cost £1.53, ones weighing up to 500g will cost £1.99 and those weighing up to 750g will cost £2.70.
But like first class stamps, you can send small and medium parcels with second class stamps.
Sending a small parcel that weighs up to 2kg will cost £3.20.
Meanwhile, medium parcels will cost £5.30 to send second-class if they weigh up to 2kg and will cost £8.99 if they weigh up to 5kg.
If you want to send a medium parcel second class weighing up to 10kg, it will cost you £20.25 and for one weighing up to 20kg, it will cost you £28.55.
With second class stamps, you also can’t send large parcels so will have to send your package via a different parcel service.
Do stamps have an expiry date?
Stamps with no monetary value indicated on them do not expire and can be used at any point.
Stamps with a monetary value also don’t expire, but you will need to make sure the value on the stamp equals enough for the cost of postage.
For example, a second class stamp bought two years ago is still valid now but you won’t be able to use it to post a large letter.
How are postage prices decided?
The Royal Mail typically increases the price of stamps annually in March but this year they increased them in January.
Normally, it gives customers advance warning of around a month before pushing up prices.
Last year the rise in prices was announced in December.
The postal service defended the most recent price hike by blaming the Covid-19 pandemic, which had cost it £85million.
The extra spending was spent on paying for protective equipment, covering absences, overtime and agency staff.
At the time, Royal Mail said: “The reduction in letter volumes has had a significant impact on the finances of the universal service which lost £180million in the first half of the year.
“This demonstrates the need for change in the universal service.
“We are working tirelessly to deliver the most comprehensive service we can in difficult circumstances as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact our operation.”
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