Second class stamp price history
Second class stamp prices have seen a significant rise over the past 35 years. The table below highlights the prices and changes over time.
It’s quite interesting to go through the data and to contrast the cost of a second class stamp today to that of 1980. Of course, we live in a very different world now when email has all but killed the traditional letter, card and postcard sending practices of earlier generations and one in which Royal Mail continually raises its prices despite, or some would say because of, falling volumes of mail.
Also, the second class letter definitely used to be treated differently to the first class and typically would take up to three days to arrive whereas first class was always the next day in most of mainland UK. Today the second class letters are thrown in with the first class and transported and delivered in the same vans so there is little to choose between the two services.
Along with this, there has been a rise in competitors to Royal Mail, none of whom have the Universal Obligation to deliver to every part of the UK as well as the rise in parcel post fuelled by home shopping.
However you view it though, there should always be a need for a second class stamp.
Table of second class stamp prices from 1980-2024
| Year | Pence | % rise | Cumulative Annual % rise since 1980 |
| 1980 | 10 | ||
| 1981 | 11.5 | 13% | 15% |
| 1982 | 12.5 | 8% | 25% |
| 1983 | 12.5 | 0% | 25% |
| 1984 | 13 | 4% | 30% |
| 1985 | 12 | -8% | 20% |
| 1986 | 13 | 8% | 30% |
| 1987 | 13 | 0% | 30% |
| 1988 | 14 | 7% | 40% |
| 1989 | 15 | 7% | 50% |
| 1990 | 17 | 12% | 70% |
| 1991 | 18 | 6% | 80% |
| 1992 | 18 | 0% | 80% |
| 1993 | 19 | 5% | 90% |
| 1994 | 19 | 0% | 90% |
| 1995 | 19 | 0% | 90% |
| 1996 | 20 | 5% | 100% |
| 1997 | 20 | 0% | 100% |
| 1998 | 20 | 0% | 100% |
| 1999 | 19 | -5% | 90% |
| 2000 | 19 | 0% | 90% |
| 2001 | 19 | 0% | 90% |
| 2002 | 19 | 0% | 90% |
| 2003 | 20 | 5% | 100% |
| 2004 | 21 | 5% | 110% |
| 2005 | 21 | 0% | 110% |
| 2006 | 23 | 9% | 130% |
| 2007 | 24 | 4% | 140% |
| 2008 | 27 | 11% | 170% |
| 2009 | 30 | 10% | 200% |
| 2010 | 32 | 6% | 220% |
| 2011 | 36 | 11% | 260% |
| 2012 | 50 | 28% | 400% |
| 2013 | 50 | 0% | 400% |
| 2014 | 53 | 6% | 430% |
| 2015 | 54 | 2% | 440% |
| 2016 | 55 | 2% | 450% |
| 2017 | 56 | 1% | 460% |
| 2018 | 58 | 3.5% | 480% |
| 2019 | 61 | 5% | 510% |
| 2020 | 65 | 6.5% | 650% |
| 2021 | 66 | 2% | 660% |
| 2022 | 68 | 3% | 660% |
| 2023 | 75 | 10% | 750% |
| 2024 | 85 | 13% | 850% |