Martin Lewis, the renowned financial expert, has advised UK residents to consider stocking up on a common household item ahead of an upcoming price increase. Express reports that from April 2025, the cost of first-class and second-class stamps will rise, with notable increases expected.
Lewis’s suggestion aims to help the public avoid paying higher postage fees as prices change. The price hike will impact both standard and large stamp categories, though exact figures are yet to be fully detailed.
Stamp Price Rise Details
From April 7, 2025, the price of stamps will increase across several categories. A standard first-class stamp will rise from £1.65 to £1.70, reflecting a 5p increase.
A large first-class stamp will increase from £2.60 to £3.15, a significant rise of 55p.
Meanwhile, a standard second-class stamp will see a smaller increase from 85p to 87p, while the price of a large second-class stamp will remain unchanged at £1.55. Additionally, Royal Mail will also be raising prices for other services such as signed for and tracked services.
Royal Mail has attributed the price increase to the rising costs of delivering mail. With fewer letters being sent, maintaining the extensive delivery network—comprising trucks, planes, and 85,000 postal workers—has become increasingly expensive.
Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail, explained:
We always consider price changes very carefully but the cost of delivering mail continues to increase.
Martin Lewis’s Advice
Martin Lewis has long recommended that people bulk-buy stamps before price hikes take effect. He emphasized that stamps which only list the postage class (e.g., first-class) will remain valid, even after the price increase.
He suggests purchasing stamps now, at their current prices, to avoid paying higher prices in the future. Martin also pointed out that first-class stamps have nearly tripled in price since 2012, when they were only 60p. While the increase this time may seem modest, it still represents an additional cost for households.
For years, every time stamps go up in price, I’ve suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn’t have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it’s still valid after the rise – said Martin Lewis.
The Impact of the Increase
This price rise marks part of an ongoing trend where postal rates have steadily risen. While the increase in the price of a first-class stamp may not seem substantial on its own, it can add up for those who rely on postal services regularly. Martin Lewis pointed out,
“This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.65, soon rising to £1.70 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So while it’s not a huge saving this time, you still may as well stock up now.”
Additionally, the Ofcom proposal to limit second-class letter deliveries to every other weekday, with no deliveries on Saturdays, signals potential further changes to the postal system in the UK.
Despite these changes, Royal Mail maintains that its operational costs require these price increases to continue providing services across the country. As Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail, explained,
A complex and extensive network of trucks, planes and 85,000 posties is needed to ensure we can deliver across the country for just 87p.
