Cost of Posting a Letter in the UK

Stamp prices change more often than people expect, and the "cost of posting a letter" is rarely just the price of the stamp once you add paper, an envelope and your own time. Our UK postage price tracker puts stamp-price changes in historical context. Here's a breakdown of the costs to consider.

Royal Mail stamp prices

First Class stamp: £1.80 for a standard letter - aims for next-day delivery including Saturdays, no tracking included.
Second Class stamp: £0.91 for a standard letter - aims for delivery within 2 to 3 working days, no tracking.
Large Letter surcharge: applies once an item exceeds standard letter dimensions or weight, adding to the base price.

These prices are set by Royal Mail and reviewed periodically (usually once or twice a year), so figures can shift - always check Royal Mail's published tariff for the current exact price before budgeting for a large batch of letters.

Tracked and Signed For prices

For anything where proof of delivery matters, Royal Mail and third-party services offer tracked options at a higher price than a plain stamp: Signed For adds a signature requirement and tracking to First or Second Class, Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 provide online tracking with a next-day or 2-3 day aim, and Special Delivery Guaranteed offers a guaranteed delivery time with compensation cover, at the highest price point.

What a stamp doesn't include

A stamp price only covers postage - Royal Mail physically moving the item from A to B. It does not include:

The paper the letter is printed on
The envelope
Printing costs (ink or toner)
Your time to fold, seal and get to a postbox or Post Office counter

Once you add these, a "free" letter you print at home with your own paper and envelope often costs close to what a fully printed-and-posted online service charges, once ink and a proportion of a multi-pack of envelopes are factored in - the online service just saves the trip and the time.

International posting costs

International prices are split by zone. Letters to Europe are generally cheaper than to the rest of the world. Royal Mail's International Standard, International Tracked, and International Tracked & Signed services increase in price in that order, reflecting the added tracking and signature confirmation.

What a fully printed-and-posted letter costs online

At Send Letters Online, a standard single-page UK letter costs from £2.99 including paper, printing, folding, a windowed envelope and Royal Mail postage - no separate cost for a stamp, envelope or paper, and no trip to a postbox. First Class, Tracked and Signed For options are available at higher price points, all inclusive of the same print-and-post service.

See exact current prices

Full pricing for every Royal Mail service, UK and international, all inclusive of print, fold, envelope and postage.

View pricing

Frequently asked questions

How much is a stamp in the UK right now?

Royal Mail's standard First Class stamp is £1.80 and Second Class is £0.91 for a standard letter, following the price change on 7 April 2026. Prices are reviewed periodically, so always check Royal Mail's current tariff for the exact figure on the day.

Why is posting a letter more expensive than just the stamp?

A stamp only covers postage. It doesn't include the paper, the envelope, printing, folding, or getting to a postbox or Post Office. A fully printed-and-posted letter, including all of that, typically costs a little more than the stamp price alone.

Is it cheaper to print and post a letter yourself or use an online service?

It depends on how you value your time. Printing at home (with your own paper and envelope) plus a stamp can be marginally cheaper on paper, but once you add ink, an envelope and a trip to post it, an online print-and-post service is often similar in total cost and considerably faster.

How much does it cost to send a letter internationally from the UK?

International Standard starts from a few pounds depending on the destination zone (Europe is cheaper than the rest of the world), with International Tracked and International Tracked & Signed costing more for tracking and signature confirmation.