For most UK businesses sending letters, a franking machine is cheaper than stamps in 2026. Since the 7 April 2026 Royal Mail price change, a standard 1st Class letter costs £1.80 with a stamp but only £1.77 when franked through Mailmark, and a 2nd Class letter costs 91p with a stamp against 88p franked. The saving grows sharply on larger items: a 1st Class large letter up to 100g is £3.30 by stamp but £2.86 by Mailmark franking, a 44p saving on every single item. Multiply those pennies across a year of post and the difference easily runs into hundreds of pounds.
Below we break down exactly where franking beats stamps in 2026, where it does not, and how to work out the tipping point for your own postroom.
The 2026 numbers: stamps versus Mailmark franking
Every franking saving in 2026 comes from Mailmark, Royal Mail's barcode-based franking standard. Franked mail is billed at a lower rate than the equivalent stamp because it is pre-sorted and machine-readable, so Royal Mail passes some of that efficiency back to the sender. Here is how the headline letter rates compare after the April 2026 Royal Mail price change.
| Item (up to 100g) | Stamp price | Mailmark franked price | Saving per item |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Class letter | £1.80 | £1.77 | 3p |
| 2nd Class letter | 91p | 88p | 3p |
| 1st Class large letter | £3.30 | £2.86 | 44p |
| 2nd Class large letter | £1.55 | £1.52 | 3p |
Standard Royal Mail retail and franking postage is exempt from VAT, so these prices are what you actually pay. The pattern is clear: on standard letters you save a modest 3p per item, but on large letters, which cover most brochures, multi-page invoices and A5 or A4 documents in a C5 or C4 envelope, franking can shave 30p to 44p off every single piece.
Where franking clearly wins
The more post you send, the more compelling franking becomes, because the per-item saving is fixed while a stamp never gets cheaper. A business sending 100 large letters a week at a 44p saving is roughly £44 a week or over £2,200 a year better off on postage alone, before you add the softer benefits.
Those softer benefits matter too. Franking prints postage to the exact penny, so you never overpay by rounding up to the nearest stamp, and you never run out at an awkward moment because credit tops up online in seconds. Franked mail also carries your business name or logo in the meter mark, which looks more professional than a stamp and can improve open rates. If you want to see the numbers for your own volumes, the franking savings calculator from Mailcoms works out your likely annual saving in a couple of minutes.
Where stamps still make sense
Franking is not automatically the right answer for everyone. If you post only a handful of standard letters a month, the 3p per item saving will not cover the cost of renting or buying a machine, ink and labels. In that scenario stamps, or an online option such as Royal Mail's Click and Drop, may be the more sensible choice.
The break-even point depends on your mix of mail rather than a single magic number. A business that sends mostly large letters reaches profitability at a far lower volume than one sending only standard letters, because the per-item saving is so much bigger. As a rough guide, once you are consistently sending tens of items a week, and especially large letters, franking usually pays for itself. It is worth mapping your typical monthly post before deciding.
The hidden costs to factor in
An honest stamps-versus-franking comparison has to include the running costs of a machine, not just the postage line. The main ongoing consumables are franking ink and franking labels, both of which are easy to budget for and easy to economise on. Buying compatible franking ink cartridges rather than always paying for the manufacturer's own-brand versions can cut supply costs significantly without affecting Mailmark readability, and our guide to choosing the right franking ink explains how to keep each cartridge lasting longer.
You can trim costs further with a cartridge refilling and recycling service, which refills your existing cartridge instead of sending it to landfill, and by right-sizing your franking-friendly envelopes so a document that fits a letter format is never posted at the pricier large letter rate. These small habits protect the savings that franking delivers. For a wider view of trimming both cost and carbon, see our guide to sustainable mailing for small businesses.
Buying or leasing the machine itself
Green Franking supplies the ink, labels and envelopes that keep your postroom running, but not the machines themselves. If you have decided franking is right for your business, you can buy, lease or service an actual meter through our partner network. Mailcoms offers a full range of Royal Mail approved franking machines to buy or rent, with options sized from the smallest home office up to high-volume mailrooms, so you can match the machine to the volumes that make franking worthwhile.
One important point for 2026: only Mailmark-compliant meters are certified for use. Older non-Mailmark franking machines have been decertified by Royal Mail and can no longer be used to frank mail, so if you are weighing up a second-hand bargain, check it is a current Mailmark model before committing. You can confirm the latest position on the Royal Mail franking pages.
The verdict for 2026
For any business posting more than a token amount of mail, franking is the cheaper option in 2026, and the advantage is widest on large letters where Mailmark saves up to 44p an item. Stamps remain fine for very low volumes, but they never get cheaper and never carry your branding. The smart move is to check your monthly post, run your numbers through a savings calculator, and if the case stacks up, keep your running costs down with sensible compatible supplies. Do that and the pennies saved on every envelope quietly add up to a healthier postage budget across the year.
Frequently asked questions
Is a franking machine cheaper than stamps in 2026?
Yes, for most businesses. After the April 2026 Royal Mail price change a 1st Class letter costs £1.80 by stamp versus £1.77 franked, and a 1st Class large letter costs £3.30 by stamp versus £2.86 franked, a saving of up to 44p per item. The more you post, the greater the total saving.
How much can franking actually save me?
It depends on your volume and mix of mail. Standard letters save around 3p each, while large letters save up to 44p each. A business sending 100 large letters a week could save over £2,000 a year on postage alone, before factoring in avoided overpayment and improved efficiency.
Do I still save on 2nd Class post?
Yes. A 2nd Class letter costs 91p with a stamp and 88p when franked through Mailmark, a 3p saving per item. The saving is smaller than on 1st Class large letters but still adds up across regular mailings.
Are there extra costs with a franking machine?
Yes, you need to budget for the machine itself plus franking ink and labels. Choosing compatible supplies, refilling cartridges and using correctly sized envelopes all keep these running costs low so they do not erode your postage savings.
Can I still use an old franking machine in 2026?
Only if it is Mailmark-compliant. Royal Mail has decertified older non-Mailmark meters, so they can no longer frank mail. If you are buying or leasing a machine, confirm it is a current Mailmark model first.
Where can I buy the supplies and the machine?
Green Franking supplies compatible franking ink, labels and envelopes for all major machine brands. For the franking machine itself, whether to buy, lease or service, Mailcoms offers a full range of Royal Mail approved Mailmark machines.