Postage Price Calculator 2026: Franked vs Stamp Costs
How much will this batch cost to post? This calculator looks up the current Royal Mail price for your item, franked and with stamps, and multiplies it by your quantity. Prices checked October 2026.
How to use it
- Pick the class: 1st or 2nd.
- Pick the format: letter, large letter, small parcel or medium parcel.
- Enter the weight of one item.
- Enter the quantity.
The calculator finds the right weight band, then shows the franked total, the stamp total, and how much franking saves on the batch.
The prices it uses
Franked prices are Royal Mail's Mailmark tariff from 7 April 2026. Letter and large letter stamp prices also date from April. Parcel stamp prices rose on 5 October 2026, per dealer Mailcoms' published tables. Franked prices did not change in October.
1st Class
| Format | Weight | Stamp | Franked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | Up to 100g | £1.80 | £1.77 |
| Large letter | Up to 100g | £3.30 | £2.86 |
| Large letter | 101g to 250g | £3.60 | £3.28 |
| Large letter | 251g to 500g | £3.60 | £3.30 |
| Large letter | 501g to 750g | £3.60 | £3.30 |
| Small parcel | Up to 2kg | £5.90 | £5.45 |
| Medium parcel | Up to 2kg | £8.70 | £8.05 |
| Medium parcel | 2kg to 10kg | £10.90 | £10.05 |
| Medium parcel | 10kg to 20kg | £16.90 | £15.45 |
2nd Class
| Format | Weight | Stamp | Franked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | Up to 100g | 91p | 88p |
| Large letter | Up to 100g | £1.55 | £1.52 |
| Large letter | 101g to 250g | £1.90 | £1.81 |
| Large letter | 251g to 500g | £2.40 | £2.30 |
| Large letter | 501g to 750g | £2.70 | £2.50 |
| Small parcel | Up to 2kg | £4.60 | £4.25 |
| Medium parcel | Up to 2kg | £7.50 | £6.95 |
| Medium parcel | 2kg to 10kg | £9.50 | £8.75 |
| Medium parcel | 10kg to 20kg | £14.20 | £13.15 |
All prices are exempt from VAT.
Worked examples
A batch of invoices
You are sending 250 2nd Class letters, each under 100g.
- Franked: 250 × 88p = £220.00
- Stamps: 250 × 91p = £227.50
- Saving: £7.50
A catalogue mailing
You are sending 400 1st Class large letters, each 180g.
- Franked: 400 × £3.28 = £1,312.00
- Stamps: 400 × £3.60 = £1,440.00
- Saving: £128.00
A week of online orders
You are sending 60 2nd Class small parcels, each under 2kg.
- Franked: 60 × £4.25 = £255.00
- Stamps: 60 × £4.60 = £276.00
- Saving: £21.00
Getting the format right
Format matters as much as weight. Royal Mail's standard size limits are:
| Format | Maximum size | Maximum weight |
|---|---|---|
| Letter | 240mm × 165mm × 5mm | 100g |
| Large letter | 353mm × 250mm × 25mm | 750g |
| Small parcel | 45cm × 35cm × 16cm | 2kg |
An A4 envelope that is not folded is a large letter, even if it weighs only 30g. That one detail changes the 1st Class franked price from £1.77 to £2.86.
Why the saving varies so much
Royal Mail prices franking differently by format. Standard letters save just 3p. 1st Class large letters up to 100g save 44p, the biggest gap in percentage terms. Parcels now save 35p to £1.45 after the October 2026 stamp increase, according to Mailcoms.
So a calculator is useful: two batches of the same size can save very different amounts, depending entirely on what is inside the envelopes.
Tips for accurate weights
- Weigh a finished item, with every insert, not just the paper. A return envelope or brochure can push a letter over 100g.
- Check the thickness too. A letter thicker than 5mm becomes a large letter, whatever it weighs.
- Weigh one in ten on a big mailing, in case the inserts or paper weight vary between printed batches.
- Watch the band edges. A large letter at 102g falls in the 101g to 250g band. Trimming a page could save 42p each on 1st Class.
Questions people ask
Does the calculator round up weights?
Yes. Royal Mail bands are "up to and including", so an item of exactly 100g is in the first band, and 101g moves to the next.
Are these the prices my franking machine will charge?
They should be, provided your machine has the April 2026 rate update loaded. Your supplier sends that automatically.
What the calculator leaves out
- Signed For, Special Delivery and international services, which have their own franked prices on Royal Mail's tariff.
- Business Mail and bulk contracts, which are priced differently.
- Machine costs such as lease and ink. For that, use our franking savings calculator.
Next steps
If your regular batches show a healthy saving, a franking machine may pay for itself. Our guide to franked mail vs stamps explains the trade offs, and the full tariff is in our guide to Royal Mail franked mail costs.
Prices checked October 2026, from Royal Mail's Mailmark franking tariff of 7 April 2026, Royal Mail stamp prices and dealer Mailcoms' published tables.