Do Stamps Expire in the UK? Everything You Need to Know

The short answer: barcoded Royal Mail stamps do not expire and can be used whenever you like. Old non-barcoded stamps are a different story. Here is exactly what is still valid, what is not, and what to do if you have a drawer full of stamps from years ago.

The two rules that cover almost every stamp

Before getting into the details, two rules cover the vast majority of situations:

• Barcoded stamps do not expire. Since Royal Mail moved to barcoded stamps in 2022, all new First Class and Second Class stamps carry a small square barcode. These are valid indefinitely.
• Non-barcoded stamps are no longer accepted. Old-style stamps without a barcode were withdrawn from use in 2023. Royal Mail will not accept letters or parcels franked with them.

What are Non-Value Specific stamps?

Most everyday Royal Mail stamps are Non-Value Specific, or NVI. Instead of showing a printed price, they show a service class: "1st" or "2nd". An NVI stamp always covers the current postage rate for that class, regardless of when you bought it.

This means a First Class NVI stamp bought in 2015 still covers the full First Class rate in 2026, even though the price has risen since then. You do not need to add extra postage to make up the difference. The face value of the stamp rises automatically with Royal Mail's prices.

The same applies to Large Letter First Class and Large Letter Second Class NVI stamps.

What about stamps with a printed price?

Some stamps, particularly commemorative or special issue stamps, show a printed monetary value such as "50p" or "£1.85". These stamps cover exactly the printed amount and nothing more.

If Royal Mail has raised the relevant postage rate above that printed value since the stamp was issued, you would need to add a supplementary stamp to make up the difference. For example, a stamp showing 76p on a letter that now requires 85p would leave the letter 9p short.

Barcoded commemorative stamps issued since 2022 follow the same rule: the printed value is what counts, not the service class.

The non-barcoded stamp transition

In 2022, Royal Mail began replacing all standard stamps with barcoded versions as part of a broader modernisation programme. The barcodes allow mail to be tracked and enable additional digital services linked to each stamp.

Royal Mail set a deadline of 31 July 2023 for using non-barcoded stamps, after which they were no longer valid for postage. To help customers use up existing stock, Royal Mail ran a Stamp Swap Out scheme. Under that scheme, anyone who had non-barcoded stamps could exchange them for equivalent barcoded stamps at no cost, either at a Post Office or by post.

The swap-out scheme remains open. If you still have non-barcoded stamps in a drawer, you can exchange them through the Royal Mail website or at a Post Office counter. There is no fee and no upper limit on the number you can swap.

How to tell if a stamp is barcoded

Look for a small square pattern on the stamp, similar in appearance to a QR code. Barcoded stamps issued since 2022 all carry one. If you cannot see a barcode on a First Class or Second Class stamp, it is an old non-barcoded stamp and should be swapped rather than used.

Royal Mail has also issued some stamps with a rectangular barcode rather than a square one. Both formats are valid.

The simpler alternative: skip stamps entirely

If stamp expiry rules feel more complicated than they are worth, you can avoid the question altogether. Online letter posting services let you write or upload your letter, choose a Royal Mail service and pay online. The printing, franking and posting is handled for you. There are no stamps to buy, store or expire.

Send Letters Online prices start at £2.99 for a standard single-page letter via Royal Mail Second Class, with same-day dispatch if you order before 1:30 pm on weekdays.