Royal Mail Postage Rates 2026 - October Price Update!
Franking Machine Supplies can confirm the Royal Mail price change landing on 5th October 2026. If you run a mailroom, the headline is short: stamp prices are rising, franking prices are not. There is nothing to update on your machine and nothing to budget for on the franking side.
In short: From 5th October 2026 Royal Mail is increasing stamp prices on parcels and on its tracked and guaranteed services. All Mailmark franking prices are unchanged, as are 1st and 2nd Class letter and large letter stamps. A 1st Class letter stays at £1.80 by stamp or £1.77 franked. Because parcel stamps rise while franked parcels hold, franking a parcel now saves 35p to £1.45 an item.
What Royal Mail is changing on 5th October 2026
The increase is limited to four groups of services:
- 1st and 2nd Class parcels
- Royal Mail Signed For parcels
- Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed
- Royal Mail Tracked
Letter and large letter stamp prices are not moving, and neither is any Mailmark franking price.
If you frank, there is nothing for you to do
This is the question we expect most, so to be clear: because franking prices are not changing, there is no new tariff for your franking machine to download. The rates your machine picked up on 7th April 2026 are still the correct ones on 6th October. No rate download, no engineer visit, no action at all.
The only thing worth checking is that your machine connected normally back in April, which most Mailmark machines do automatically.
Parcels are where this actually matters
For a mailroom sending parcels, this change quietly improves the economics. Until now there was no price advantage to franking a parcel at all: a 1st Class small parcel cost £5.45 by stamp and £5.45 franked. From 5th October the stamp price rises and the franked price does not, so a gap opens up:
- 1st Class small parcel up to 2kg: 45p saved per item
- 1st Class medium parcel up to 20kg: £1.45 saved per item
- 2nd Class small parcel up to 2kg: 35p saved per item
- 2nd Class medium parcel up to 20kg: £1.05 saved per item
That is up to 8.6% off parcel postage, alongside the 13.33% a Mailmark machine already saves on a 1st Class large letter. If parcels are a meaningful share of your outbound post, it is worth revisiting your volumes after the change.
Royal Mail First Class Postage Rates from 5th October 2026
The complete First Class table from 5th October 2026 is below, with stamp and Mailmark prices side by side.
| 1st Class Postage Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Weight up to and including | Stamp Prices | Mailmark™ Prices |
| Letter | 0-100g | £1.80 | £1.77 |
| Large Letter | 0-100g | £3.30 | £2.86 |
| 101-250g | £3.60 | £3.28 | |
| 251-500g | £3.60 | £3.30 | |
| 501-750g | £3.60 | £3.30 | |
| Small Parcel | 0-1kg | £5.90 | £5.45 |
| 1-2kg | £5.90 | £5.45 | |
| Medium Parcel | 0-1kg | £8.70 | £8.05 |
| 1-2kg | £8.70 | £8.05 | |
| 2-5kg | £10.90 | £10.05 | |
| 5-10kg | £10.90 | £10.05 | |
| 10-20kg | £16.90 | £15.45 | |
Royal Mail Second Class Postage Rates from 5th October 2026
And the Second Class rates. Only the parcel rows have changed here too.
| 2nd Class Postage Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Weight up to and including | Stamp Prices | Mailmark™ Prices |
| Letter | 0-100g | 91p | 88p |
| Large Letter | 0-100g | £1.55 | £1.52 |
| 101-250g | £1.90 | £1.81 | |
| 251-500g | £2.40 | £2.30 | |
| 501-750g | £2.70 | £2.50 | |
| Small Parcel | 0-1kg | £4.60 | £4.25 |
| 1-2kg | £4.60 | £4.25 | |
| Medium Parcel | 0-1kg | £7.50 | £6.95 |
| 1-2kg | £7.50 | £6.95 | |
| 2-5kg | £9.50 | £8.75 | |
| 5-10kg | £9.50 | £8.75 | |
| 10-20kg | £14.20 | £13.15 | |
Download the Postage Rates 2026 PDF if you would like a printable copy for the mailroom wall.
Royal Mail October 2026 postage rates FAQs
When do the new Royal Mail postage rates start?
The new Royal Mail stamp prices take effect on 5th October 2026. Right up until 5th October 2026, the prices set on 7th April 2026 still apply.
Are 1st and 2nd Class stamp prices going up in October 2026?
No. A 1st Class letter stays at £1.80 and a 2nd Class letter stays at 91p. Large letter stamp prices are unchanged too. Only parcel stamps and the tracked and guaranteed services are rising.
Are Mailmark franking prices changing in October 2026?
No. Every Mailmark franking price is unchanged on 5th October 2026, on letters, large letters and parcels alike.
Do I need to update my franking machine for this change?
No. Because Mailmark franking prices are not changing, there is no new tariff to download. The rates your machine loaded on 7th April 2026 remain correct.
How much is a 1st Class parcel from 5th October 2026?
A 1st Class small parcel up to 2kg costs £5.90 with a stamp, or £5.45 with a Mailmark franking machine, saving 45p per parcel. A medium parcel up to 2kg costs £8.70 by stamp or £8.05 franked.
How much does a franking machine save on parcels?
From 5th October 2026 a Mailmark franking machine saves between 35p and £1.45 on every parcel, which is 7.3% to 8.6% of the stamp price. Before that date the stamp and franked parcel prices are identical.
Do postage prices include VAT?
Standard Royal Mail retail and Mailmark franking postage is exempt from VAT, so no VAT is added to the prices shown above.
Related reading
- Franking Machine vs Stamps: How Much Do You Save in 2026?
- Mailmark Franking Machines: Do You Need One in 2026?
- Royal Mail Postage Rates 2026 Effective From Today - April Update
Stock up on franking machine supplies
Postage prices change; your mailroom still needs ink, labels and envelopes on the shelf. Browse our full range of franking machine supplies here