SHOW MENULetter Rates 1968-2006
A system of "First Class" and "Second Class" mail replaced the old system of letters and printed papers on 16th September 1968. The aim is to deliver First Class post on the next working day after posting in most parts of the country, and there is no weight limit. Second Class post is cheaper, has a weight limit (1½lb before metrication in 1975, 750g afterwards), and may be held back while First Class mail is processed. The delivery target was originally the second working day after posting, but from 5th January 1976 arrangements were made to deliver many by the third working day, reducing considerably the amount of expensive weekend and night-time sorting work required.
On 7th April 2005 Royal Mail moved to a system in which Franking and Account customers received a discount compared to customers who used stamps or SmartStamps to pay the postage. This was done in two stages – in 2005 only first class mail had differentiated rates, in 2006 second class mail was added too. These were the only two sets of rates to which this applied before Pricing in Proportion was introduced on 21st August 2006 to complicate the rate tables still further. Purely for the sake of labelling in this document, these have been referred to as "uniform" and "differentiated" rates.
The rate progressions in the modern period do not generally follow any consistent pattern, and so there is little option but to provide complete lookup tables for the rates.
Uniform 1st/2nd Class Rates
| Date | First Class | Second Class | Date | First Class | Second Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 (16 Sep) |
5d – 4oz 9d – 6oz 1s – 8oz 1s 3d – 10oz 1s 6d – 12oz 1s 9d – 14oz 2s – 1lb 2s 3d – 1lb 2oz 2s 6d – 1lb 4oz 2s 9d – 1lb 6oz 3s – 1lb 8oz 4s – 2lb Each additional 1lb – 2s |
4d – 4oz 6d – 6oz 8d- 8oz 10d – 10oz 1s – 12oz 1s 2d – 14oz 1s 4d – 1lb 1s 6d – 1lb 2oz 1s 7d – 1lb 4oz 1s 8d – 1lb 6oz 1s 9d – 1lb 8oz (max) A 2s 'concessionary printed papers rate' for second class mail up to 2lb applied to items that would have qualified as printed papers under the pre-two-tier regulations |
1971 (15 Feb) |
3p – 4oz 5p – 6oz 7p – 8oz 9p – 10oz 11p – 12oz 13p – 14oz 15p – 1lb 20p – 1lb 8oz 30p – 2lb Each additional 1lb – 15p |
2½p – 4oz 4½p – 6oz 5½p- 8oz 6½p – 10oz 7½p – 12oz 8½p – 14oz 9½p – 1lb 10½p – 1lb 8oz (max) |
| 1972 (6 Mar) |
3p – 2oz 4p – 4oz 6p – 6oz 8p – 8oz 10p – 10oz 13p – 12oz 15p – 14oz 17p – 1lb 24p – 1lb 8oz 34p – 2lb Each additional 1lb – 17p |
2½p – 2oz 3½p – 4oz 5½p – 6oz 6½p- 8oz 7½p – 10oz 8½p – 12oz 9½p – 14oz 11½p – 1lb 13½p – 1lb 8oz (max) |
1973 (10 Sep) |
3½p – 2oz 5p – 4oz 8p – 6oz 10p – 8oz 12p – 10oz 14p – 12oz 16p – 14oz 18p – 1lb 27p – 1lb 8oz 36p – 2lb Each additional 8oz – 9p |
3p – 2oz 4p – 4oz 5½p – 6oz 7p- 8oz 8½p – 10oz 10p – 12oz 11½p – 14oz 13p – 1lb 18½p – 1lb 8oz (max) |
| 1974 (24 Jun) |
4½p – 2oz 6½p – 4oz 10p – 6oz 12½p – 8oz 15p – 10oz 17½p – 12oz 20p – 14oz 22½p – 1lb 32½p – 1lb 8oz 42½p – 2lb Each additional 8oz – 10p |
3½p – 2oz 5p – 4oz 7p – 6oz 9p- 8oz 11p – 10oz 13p – 12oz 15p – 14oz 17p – 1lb 22½p – 1lb 8oz (max) |
1975 (17 Mar) |
7p – 2oz 10p – 4oz 12½p – 6oz 15p – 8oz 17½p – 10oz 19½p – 12oz 22p – 14oz 24p – 1lb 34p – 1lb 8oz 44p – 2lb Each additional 8oz – 10p |
5½p – 2oz 8p – 4oz 9½p – 6oz 11p- 8oz 13p – 10oz 14½p – 12oz 16½p – 14oz 18p – 1lb 24p – 1lb 8oz (max) |
| 1975 (29 Sep) |
8½p – 60g 11½p – 100g 15p – 150g 18p – 200g 21p – 250g 24p – 300g 27p – 350g 30p – 400g 33p – 450g 36p – 500g 51p – 750g 66p – 1kg Each additional 250g – 15p |
6½p – 60g 9p – 100g 11p – 150g 13½p – 200g 16p – 250g 18½p – 300g 21p – 350g 23½p – 400g 26p – 450g 28½p – 500g 42p – 750g (max) |
1976 (7 Jun) |
8½p – 60g 11½p – 100g 15p – 150g 18½p – 200g 22p – 250g 25½p – 300g 29p – 350g 32½p – 400g 36p – 450g 39½p – 500g 57p – 750g 74½p – 1kg Each additional 250g – 17½p |
6½p – 60g 9p – 100g 11p – 150g 14p – 200g 17p – 250g 20p – 300g 23p – 350g 26p – 400g 29p – 450g 32p – 500g 47p – 750g (max) |
| 1977 (13 Jun) |
9p – 60g 12½p – 100g 16p – 150g 20p – 200g 24p – 250g 28p – 300g 32p – 350g 36p – 400g 40p – 450g 44p – 500g 67p – 750g 87p – 1kg Each additional 250g – 20p |
7p – 60g 9½p – 100g 12p – 150g 15p – 200g 18½p – 250g 22p – 300g 25½p – 350g 29p – 400g 32½p – 450g 36p – 500g 54p – 750g (max) |
1979 (20 Aug) |
10p – 60g 14p – 100g 18p – 150g 22½p – 200g 27p – 250g 31½p – 300g 36p – 350g 40½p – 400g 45p – 450g 49½p – 500g 76p – 750g £1.00 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 22p |
8p – 60g 11p – 100g 13½p – 150g 17p – 200g 21p – 250g 25p – 300g 29p – 350g 33p – 400g 37p – 450g 40p – 500g 60p – 750g (max) |
| 1980 (4 Feb) |
12p – 60g 17p – 100g 22p – 150g 27p – 200g 32p – 250g 38p – 300g 44p – 350g 50p – 400g 56p – 450g 62p – 500g 93p – 750g £1.22 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 27p |
10p – 60g 13½p – 100g 16½p – 150g 21p – 200g 26p – 250g 31p – 300g 36p – 350g 41p – 400g 46p – 450g 50p – 500g 75p – 750g (max) |
1981 (26 Jan) |
14p – 60g 20p – 100g 26p – 150g 32p – 200g 38p – 250g 44p – 300g 51p – 350g 58p – 400g 65p – 450g 72p – 500g £1.08 – 750g £1.44 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 33p |
11½p – 60g 15½p – 100g 19p – 150g 24p – 200g 30p – 250g 36p – 300g 42p – 350g 48p – 400g 53p – 450g 58p – 500g 87p – 750g (max) |
| 1982 (1 Feb) |
15½p – 60g 22p – 100g 28½p – 150g 35p – 200g 42p – 250g 49p – 300g 56p – 350g 64p – 400g 72p – 450g 80p – 500g £1.18 – 750g £1.57 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 39p |
12½p – 60g 16½p – 100g 20½p – 150g 26p – 200g 32p – 250g 38p – 300g 44p – 350g 50p – 400g 56p – 450g 62p – 500g 94p – 750g (max) |
1983 (5 Apr) |
16p – 60g 23p – 100g 29p – 150g 36p – 200g 43p – 250g 50p – 300g 58p – 350g 66p – 400g 74p – 450g 82p – 500g £1.22 – 750g £1.62 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 40p |
12½p – 60g 17p – 100g 21p – 150g 27p – 200g 33p – 250g 39p – 300g 45p – 350g 51p – 400g 57p – 450g 63p – 500g 95p – 750g (max) |
| 1984 (3 Sep) |
17p – 60g 24p – 100g 31p – 150g 38p – 200g 45p – 250g 53p – 300g 61p – 350g 69p – 400g 78p – 450g 87p – 500g £1.28 – 750g £1.70 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 42p |
13p – 60g 18p – 100g 22p – 150g 28p – 200g 34p – 250g 40p – 300g 46p – 350g 52p – 400g 59p – 450g 66p – 500g 98p – 750g (max) |
1985 (4 Nov) |
17p – 60g 24p – 100g 31p – 150g 38p – 200g 45p – 250g 53p – 300g 61p – 350g 69p – 400g 78p – 450g 87p – 500g £1.28 – 750g £1.70 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 42p |
12p – 60g 18p – 100g 22p – 150g 28p – 200g 34p – 250g 40p – 300g 46p – 350g 52p – 400g 59p – 450g 66p – 500g 98p – 750g (max) |
| 1986 (20 Oct) |
18p – 60g 26p – 100g 32p – 150g 40p – 200g 48p – 250g 56p – 300g 64p – 350g 72p – 400g 82p – 450g 92p – 500g £1.15 – 600g £1.35 – 700g £1.45 – 750g £1.55 – 800g £1.70 – 900g £1.85 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 45p |
13p – 60g 20p – 100g 24p – 150g 30p – 200g 37p – 250g 43p – 300g 49p – 350g 55p – 400g 62p – 450g 70p – 500g 85p – 600g £1.00 – 700g £1.05 – 750g (max) A 12p Xmas stamp issued 2nd Dec 1986 (but not other 12p stamps) was deemed to pay basic 2nd class rate until 24th Dec. |
1988 (5 Sep) |
19p – 60g 28p – 100g 34p – 150g 42p – 200g 51p – 250g 59p – 300g 67p – 350g 76p – 400g 86p – 450g 97p – 500g £1.20 – 600g £1.40 – 700g £1.50 – 750g £1.60 – 800g £1.75 – 900g £1.90 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 45p |
14p – 60g 22p – 100g 26p – 150g 32p – 200g 39p – 250g 46p – 300g 52p – 350g 59p – 400g 65p – 450g 73p – 500g 90p – 600g £1.05 – 700g £1.10 – 750g (max) |
| 1989 (2 Oct) |
20p – 60g 30p – 100g 37p – 150g 45p – 200g 54p – 250g 62p – 300g 71p – 350g 80p – 400g 90p – 450g £1.02 – 500g £1.25 – 600g £1.45 – 700g £1.55 – 750g £1.65 – 800g £1.80 – 900g £1.95 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 50p |
15p – 60g 24p – 100g 28p – 150g 34p – 200g 42p – 250g 49p – 300g 56p – 350g 63p – 400g 70p – 450g 78p – 500g 95p – 600g £1.10 – 700g £1.15 – 750g (max) |
1990 (17 Sep) |
22p – 60g 33p – 100g 41p – 150g 49p – 200g 59p – 250g 68p – 300g 78p – 350g 88p – 400g 99p – 450g £1.10 – 500g £1.35 – 600g £1.60 – 700g £1.70 – 750g £1.80 – 800g £1.95 – 900g £2.10 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 55p |
17p – 60g 27p – 100g 32p – 150g 38p – 200g 46p – 250g 55p – 300g 63p – 350g 71p – 400g 79p – 450g 87p – 500g £1.05 – 600g £1.25 – 700g £1.30 – 750g (max) |
| 1991 (16 Sep) |
24p – 60g 36p – 100g 45p – 150g 54p – 200g 64p – 250g 74p – 300g 85p – 350g 96p – 400g £1.08 – 450g £1.20 – 500g £1.50 – 600g £1.80 – 700g £1.95 – 750g £2.05 – 800g £2.25 – 900g £2.40 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 60p |
18p – 60g 28p – 100g 34p – 150g 41p – 200g 49p – 250g 58p – 300g 66p – 350g 75p – 400g 84p – 450g 93p – 500g £1.15 – 600g £1.35 – 700g £1.40 – 750g (max) |
1993 (1 Nov) |
25p – 60g 38p – 100g 47p – 150g 57p – 200g 67p – 250g 77p – 300g 88p – 350g £1.00 – 400g £1.13 – 450g £1.25 – 500g £1.55 – 600g £1.90 – 700g £2.05 – 750g £2.15 – 800g £2.35 – 900g £2.50 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 65p |
19p – 60g 29p – 100g 36p – 150g 43p – 200g 52p – 250g 61p – 300g 70p – 350g 79p – 400g 89p – 450g 98p – 500g £1.20 – 600g £1.40 – 700g £1.45 – 750g (max) |
| 1996 (8 Jul) |
26p – 60g 39p – 100g 49p – 150g 60p – 200g 70p – 250g 80p – 300g 92p – 350g £1.04 – 400g £1.17 – 450g £1.30 – 500g £1.60 – 600g £2.00 – 700g £2.15 – 750g £2.30 – 800g £2.55 – 900g £2.75 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 70p |
20p – 60g 31p – 100g 38p – 150g 45p – 200g 55p – 250g 64p – 300g 73p – 350g 83p – 400g 93p – 450g £1.05 – 500g £1.25 – 600g £1.45 – 700g £1.55 – 750g (max) |
1999 (26 Apr) |
26p – 60g 39p – 100g 52p – 150g 66p – 200g 77p – 250g 88p – 300g £1.00 – 350g £1.14 – 400g £1.30 – 450g £1.45 – 500g £1.75 – 600g £2.20 – 700g £2.35 – 750g £2.55 – 800g £2.80 – 900g £3.05 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 75p |
19p – 60g 31p – 100g 40p – 150g 50p – 200g 61p – 250g 70p – 300g 80p – 350g 92p – 400g £1.05 – 450g £1.20 – 500g £1.40 – 600g £1.60 – 700g £1.70 – 750g (max) |
| 2000 (27 Apr) |
27p – 60g 41p – 100g 57p – 150g 72p – 200g 84p – 250g 96p – 300g £1.09 – 350g £1.24 – 400g £1.41 – 450g £1.58 – 500g £1.90 – 600g £2.39 – 700g £2.56 – 750g £2.77 – 800g £3.05 – 900g £3.32 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 81p |
19p – 60g 33p – 100g 44p – 150g 54p – 200g 66p – 250g 76p – 300g 87p – 350g £1.00 – 400g £1.14 – 450g £1.30 – 500g £1.52 – 600g £1.74 – 700g £1.85 – 750g (max) |
2002 (4 Jul) |
27p – 60g 41p – 100g 57p – 150g 72p – 200g 84p – 250g 96p – 300g £1.09 – 350g £1.30 – 400g £1.48 – 450g £1.66 – 500g £2.00 – 600g £2.51 – 700g £2.69 – 750g £2.91 – 800g £3.20 – 900g £3.49 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 85p |
19p – 60g 33p – 100g 44p – 150g 54p – 200g 66p – 250g 76p – 300g 87p – 350g £1.05 – 400g £1.19 – 450g £1.35 – 500g £1.60 – 600g £1.83 – 700g £1.94 – 750g (max) |
| 2003 (8 May) |
28p – 60g 42p – 100g 60p – 150g 75p – 200g 88p – 250g £1.01 – 300g £1.15 – 350g £1.37 – 400g £1.56 – 450g £1.74 – 500g £2.10 – 600g £2.64 – 700g £2.83 – 750g £3.06 – 800g £3.36 – 900g £3.67 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 89p |
20p – 60g 34p – 100g 46p – 150g 56p – 200g 69p – 250g 80p – 300g 91p – 350g £1.10 – 400g £1.25 – 450g £1.42 – 500g £1.68 – 600g £1.92 – 700g £2.04 – 750g (max) |
2004 (1 Apr) |
28p – 60g 42p – 100g 60p – 150g 75p – 200g 88p – 250g £1.01 – 300g £1.15 – 350g £1.33 – 400g £1.50 – 450g £1.68 – 500g £2.03 – 600g £2.38 – 700g £2.55 – 750g £2.73 – 800g £3.30 – 900g £3.45 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 86p |
21p – 60g 35p – 100g 47p – 150g 58p – 200g 71p – 250g 83p – 300g 94p – 350g £1.14 – 400g £1.30 – 450g £1.48 – 500g £1.75 – 600g £2.00 – 700g £2.12 – 750g (max) |
Differentiated 1st/2nd Class Rates
| Date | First Class | Second Class | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 (7 Apr) |
Stamped
30p – 60g46p – 100g 64p – 150g 79p – 200g 94p – 250g £1.07 – 300g £1.21 – 350g £1.40 – 400g £1.59 – 450g £1.78 – 500g £2.15 – 600g £2.52 – 700g £2.71 – 750g £2.90 – 800g £3.27 – 900g £3.64 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 88p |
Franked
29p – 60g45p – 100g 62p – 150g 77p – 200g 91p – 250g £1.04 – 300g £1.17 – 350g £1.36 – 400g £1.54 – 450g £1.73 – 500g £2.09 – 600g £2.44 – 700g £2.63 – 750g £2.81 – 800g £3.17 – 900g £3.53 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 85p |
Stamped
21p – 60g35p – 100g 47p – 150g 58p – 200g 71p – 250g 83p – 300g 94p – 350g £1.14 – 400g £1.30 – 450g £1.48 – 500g £1.75 – 600g £2.00 – 700g £2.12 – 750g |
Franked
Same asstamped rates |
| 2006 (3 Apr) |
Stamped
32p – 60g49p – 100g 68p – 150g 84p – 200g 99p – 250g £1.14 – 300g £1.29 – 350g £1.49 – 400g £1.70 – 450g £1.90 – 500g £2.30 – 600g £2.69 – 700g £2.89 – 750g £3.10 – 800g £3.49 – 900g £3.89 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 85p |
Franked
31p – 60g48p – 100g 66p – 150g 82p – 200g 96p – 250g £1.11 – 300g £1.25 – 350g £1.45 – 400g £1.64 – 450g £1.85 – 500g £2.23 – 600g £2.61 – 700g £2.81 – 750g £3.00 – 800g £3.39 – 900g £3.77 – 1kg Each additional 250g – 83p |
Stamped
23p – 60g37p – 100g 50p – 150g 62p – 200g 75p – 250g 88p – 300g £1.00 – 350g £1.21 – 400g £1.39 – 450g £1.55 – 500g £1.78 – 600g £2.01 – 700g £2.12 – 750g |
Franked
22p – 60g36p – 100g 49p – 150g 61p – 200g 73p – 250g 86p – 300g 98p – 350g £1.18 – 400g £1.36 – 450g £1.51 – 500g £1.74 – 600g £1.96 – 700g £2.07 – 750g |
