Mailmark Franking Machines: Do You Need One in 2026?

A Mailmark franking machine is a Royal Mail approved postage meter that prints a blue 2D barcode instead of the old "town and crown" red die, and it is the only type of franking machine Royal Mail now accepts. Since standard non-Mailmark machines were decertified on 1 January 2023, every business that franks its own post needs a Mailmark-ready machine to send mail. In return you get Royal Mail's lowest published prices, faster automated sorting and machine-readable tracking data on your mail.

If you are still unsure what Mailmark actually is, whether your existing machine qualifies, or how much it can save you in 2026, this guide answers the questions businesses ask most.

What is Mailmark franking?

Mailmark is Royal Mail's current standard for franked mail. Rather than the traditional red circular insignia, a Mailmark machine prints a neat blue 2D barcode alongside your postage indicia. That barcode carries machine-readable information about the mailpiece, including the postage paid, the service used and the sender account, which allows Royal Mail's optical sorting equipment to read and route items automatically.

The technology was introduced back in 2013, so any meter manufactured before then was never Mailmark capable. Royal Mail has been steadily moving all franking customers onto the newer format to improve accuracy and efficiency across its network. You can read the official position on Royal Mail's own franking pages, which set out how the service works and what compliant mail needs to look like.

Do I still need a Mailmark machine in 2026?

Yes. This is the single most important point for any business owner reading this. Royal Mail decertified standard, non-Mailmark franking machines on 1 January 2023, which means those older meters can no longer be used to send post. If your machine still prints a red circular mark rather than a blue barcode, it is no longer valid for Royal Mail and you will need to upgrade to a Mailmark-ready model.

For the vast majority of UK businesses this transition is already complete, because the leading manufacturers stopped selling non-compliant machines well before the deadline. If you have bought or leased a machine from Pitney Bowes, Quadient, FP Mailing or Frama in recent years, it will almost certainly be Mailmark enabled. When you top it up with genuine franking machine labels and approved ink, it will produce fully compliant Mailmark impressions.

How much does Mailmark franking save versus stamps?

Franking has always been cheaper than buying stamps, and Mailmark franking attracts Royal Mail's lowest published letter prices. Following the tariff update that took effect on 7 April 2026, the headline comparisons for the most common formats are as follows.

First Class letters (0 to 100g)

A First Class letter costs £1.80 with a stamp but only £1.77 with Mailmark franking, a saving of 3p per item. The difference is far larger on a First Class Large Letter, where a stamp costs £3.30 against £2.86 by Mailmark franking, saving 44p on every single item.

Second Class letters (0 to 100g)

A Second Class letter is 91p with a stamp compared with 88p by Mailmark franking, again a 3p saving, while a Second Class Large Letter drops from £1.55 to £1.52. Those per-item figures look modest in isolation, but across hundreds or thousands of items a month they add up quickly, particularly on the Large Letter format. We break the full tariff down in our post on the Royal Mail postage rates for 2026.

The biggest single saving usually comes from switching high-volume, non-urgent post to Second Class Mailmark rather than sticking with First Class stamps out of habit. Combined with the franking discount, that change can materially cut your annual postage bill.

How can I tell if my franking machine is Mailmark ready?

The quickest check is to look at the impression your machine prints. A Mailmark mark features a blue 2D barcode; an old, decertified machine prints a red circular "town and crown" die with no barcode. If you are seeing the red mark, the machine is no longer valid for posting.

You can also check the model. Current ranges such as the Pitney Bowes SendPro series, the Quadient iX range, the FP Mailing PostBase family and the Frama Matrix machines are all Mailmark capable. If you are unsure, your supplier or Royal Mail account team can confirm the status of a specific serial number. Whichever machine you run, keeping it stocked with the correct consumables matters: browse compatible supplies by manufacturer, such as Pitney Bowes franking supplies or Quadient and Neopost supplies, to keep your impressions crisp and scannable.

Why print quality matters for Mailmark

Because Mailmark relies on a barcode being read by automated equipment, print quality is more important than it was in the red-ink era. A faded, streaky or smudged impression can cause a scan to fail, which risks items being surcharged or delayed. Two practical habits protect you here.

First, use genuine or fully approved ink cartridges rather than cheap unbranded refills, which can produce weak barcodes. Second, frank onto a clean, flat surface. For anything other than a standard envelope, or for parcels and awkward packaging, print onto a self-adhesive franking label so the barcode sits flat and clear. You can stock up on labels for every major brand in our franking machine labels collection, and pair them with quality envelopes for a professional finish.

Other benefits of Mailmark franking

Lower prices are the headline, but Mailmark brings several operational advantages too. Because the barcode is machine readable, letters move through Royal Mail's sortation more quickly. The data captured also supports reporting on your mail as it moves through the network, giving greater visibility than a plain franked mark ever could. Perhaps most usefully for busy mailrooms, a Mailmark-compatible machine updates its tariff automatically whenever Royal Mail changes its prices, so you are never left franking at the wrong rate after an annual increase.

The professional appearance is a quieter benefit worth noting. A crisp blue barcode and clean indicia look more polished than a stamp stuck on by hand, and you can usually add your business name or a short return-to-sender message to the impression, reinforcing your brand on every envelope that leaves the building.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mailmark franking cheaper than stamps?

Yes. Mailmark franking attracts Royal Mail's lowest published letter prices. As of the 7 April 2026 tariff, a First Class letter is £1.77 by Mailmark franking versus £1.80 with a stamp, and a First Class Large Letter is £2.86 versus £3.30, a 44p saving per item on the larger format.

Can I still use a non-Mailmark franking machine?

No. Royal Mail decertified standard, non-Mailmark machines on 1 January 2023. If your machine prints a red circular mark rather than a blue 2D barcode, it can no longer be used to send post and will need replacing with a Mailmark-ready model.

What does a Mailmark franking mark look like?

It includes a blue 2D barcode printed alongside the postage indicia, replacing the older red "town and crown" die. The barcode holds machine-readable data that Royal Mail's sorting equipment scans automatically.

Which franking machines are Mailmark compatible?

Current models from the main manufacturers are all Mailmark capable, including the Pitney Bowes SendPro range, the Quadient iX series, FP Mailing PostBase machines and the Frama Matrix range. Any machine sold new in the UK in recent years will be compliant.

Do I need special ink or labels for Mailmark?

You need ink and labels approved for your specific machine so that the barcode prints clearly enough to scan. Using genuine consumables and self-adhesive labels for parcels and packets is the simplest way to avoid failed scans and possible surcharges.

Does the Mailmark tariff update automatically?

On a Mailmark-compatible machine connected to your postage provider, the tariff updates automatically when Royal Mail changes its prices, so you always frank at the correct current rate.

The bottom line

Mailmark is no longer optional; it is simply how franking works in the UK today. If your machine is already printing a blue barcode you are compliant and enjoying Royal Mail's best letter prices, so the priority is keeping it fed with approved ink and quality labels so every impression scans first time. If you are still looking at a red circular mark, that machine cannot post and an upgrade is overdue. Either way, the combination of the franking discount and a well-maintained Mailmark machine remains one of the easiest ways for a UK business to control its postage costs.