Royal Mail is hiking stamp prices again on 7 April 2026 – and the cost increases have become eye-watering. A first-class stamp will jump from £1.70 to £1.80, while second-class stamps will rise to 91p. Since 2020 alone, that's a 137% increase for first-class stamps (they were just 76p six years ago).
This is the eighth price rise in as many years, and it's adding up fast. Back in 2012, a first-class stamp cost just 60p.
**Here's what you need to do:**
Martin Lewis, the personal finance expert, has a simple piece of advice: **buy stamps now, before 7 April**. The key is that undated stamps (ones that say "1st Class" or "2nd Class" rather than showing a specific price) remain valid forever, even after a price rise. So if you buy a book of stamps this week at today's prices, you can use them months or years from now without paying extra.
If you send regular mail – bills, documents, letters – it's worth stockpiling a reasonable amount. Work out how many stamps you typically use in a year and buy accordingly.
**The bigger picture:**
Citizens Advice has raised concerns about Royal Mail's performance. The company hasn't met its annual delivery targets since 2019-2020, and MPs have accused it of lying about its service quality. People are reporting late deliveries of important documents and medical appointment letters across the country.
Royal Mail says UK adults now spend only £6.50 per year on stamps on average, and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago. But the company is also delivering to 4 million more addresses than before.
**What to do next:**
If you use stamps regularly, visit your local Post Office or supermarket this week and buy what you need. Check Royal Mail's website for the full list of price changes – parcels, Special Delivery, and Tracked services are also affected.
For more help with budgeting through cost-of-living pressures, visit MoneySavingExpert.com or Citizens Advice.
Source: Martin Lewis says 'stockpile today' item 'hit by 140% price increase' on April 7
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