Most businesses pick a postage class out of habit and never revisit the decision. Yet with Royal Mail's April 2026 price changes now in effect, the choice between first and second class franking is one of the simplest ways to cut your postage bill - often without your customers noticing any difference at all.
So which should your business actually use? Here is a clear, honest comparison built on the verified April 2026 Mailmark rates.
First Class vs Second Class Franking: The Short Answer
For most routine business post - invoices, statements, letters and general correspondence that is not time-critical - second class Mailmark franking is the cheaper choice and usually arrives within two to three working days. Reserve first class for genuinely urgent items where next-working-day delivery matters.
The reason is simple: second class costs significantly less per item, and with a Mailmark franking machine you pay below the stamp price on top of that. For the majority of day-to-day mail, the slower delivery is a non-issue - which means most businesses are overpaying simply by defaulting to first class.
What Do First and Second Class Franking Cost in 2026?
These are the verified Royal Mail rates effective 7th April 2026. All postage is exempt from VAT.
First class (Mailmark franking):
- Letter (0-100g): £1.77 (stamp price £1.80)
- Large letter (0-100g): £2.86 (stamp price £3.30)
- Large letter (101-250g): £3.28 (stamp price £3.60)
- Large letter (251-500g): £3.30 (stamp price £3.60)
Second class (Mailmark franking):
- Letter (0-100g): 88p (stamp price 91p)
- Large letter (0-100g): £1.52 (stamp price £1.55)
- Large letter (101-250g): £1.81 (stamp price £1.90)
- Large letter (251-500g): £2.30 (stamp price £2.40)
You can view the full breakdown on our first class postage rates and second class postage rates pages.
How Much Cheaper Is Second Class Franking?
The gap is substantial, especially on standard letters - the single most common item UK businesses send.
A standard first class letter costs £1.77 with Mailmark franking. The same letter sent second class costs just 88p. That is a saving of 89p on every letter - roughly half the cost - purely by stepping down a delivery class on post that is not urgent.
The numbers add up quickly. A business sending 200 standard letters a week would spend around £354 a week at first class, versus £176 a week at second class. Across a working year, that is a difference of well over £9,000 - on exactly the same envelopes, to exactly the same addresses.
Large letters tell a similar story. A 0-100g large letter is £2.86 first class but £1.52 second class with Mailmark - a saving of £1.34 per item for content that simply does not need to arrive the next day.
When Is First Class Worth the Extra Cost?
Second class is not always the right answer. First class franking earns its premium when:
- The item is genuinely time-sensitive - legal deadlines, time-bound offers, or documents a customer is actively waiting on
- Delivery speed affects your cash flow - some businesses find invoices sent first class are paid marginally sooner
- The recipient expects urgency - certain professional or client communications benefit from arriving promptly
Royal Mail aims to deliver first class mail the next working day (including Saturdays), while second class typically takes two to three working days. If that one-to-two-day difference has no real consequence for the item in hand, you are paying a premium for speed you do not need.
The Bigger Saving: Franking vs Stamps on Either Class
Choosing the right class is only half the equation. The other half is how you pay for postage in the first place.
On every class and format, Mailmark franking costs less than buying a stamp. The standout figure is the first class large letter: £2.86 franked versus £3.30 as a stamp - a saving of up to 13.33% on every single item, like-for-like. That discount applies before you have even considered switching class.
In other words, the biggest savings come from combining both decisions: frank your mail rather than stamping it, and match the delivery class to the genuine urgency of each item. A business doing both can cut its postage costs dramatically compared with stamping everything first class out of habit.
First Class vs Second Class Franking: At a Glance
| Factor | First Class Franking | Second Class Franking |
|---|---|---|
| Standard letter (Mailmark) | £1.77 | 88p |
| Large letter 0-100g (Mailmark) | £2.86 | £1.52 |
| Delivery aim | Next working day | 2-3 working days |
| Best for | Urgent, time-sensitive mail | Routine, non-urgent post |
| Cheaper than a stamp? | Yes | Yes |
| VAT | Exempt | Exempt |
How a Franking Machine Makes the Choice Effortless
A modern Mailmark franking machine does more than apply discounted postage. It lets you select first or second class at the touch of a button, weighs each item on a built-in scale so you apply the exact correct rate, and updates tariffs automatically whenever Royal Mail changes prices - as it did in April 2026.
That means no more guesswork, no more over-stamping bulky letters, and no need to keep two denominations of stamp in a drawer. You simply choose the service that fits each item and the machine charges the right amount. For businesses processing mixed mail every day, that control is where the real, repeatable savings live. If you are weighing up the switch, our guide on how to use a franking machine walks through the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is second class franking much slower than first class?
Royal Mail aims to deliver first class mail the next working day and second class within two to three working days. For most routine business post, that difference has no practical impact, which is why second class is the more cost-effective default.
Is franked mail cheaper than using stamps?
Yes. With Mailmark franking you pay below the stamp price on both first and second class letters and large letters. The largest like-for-like saving is on first class large letters, where Mailmark is up to 13.33% cheaper than the stamp price.
Does franked mail look less professional than stamps?
No - the opposite is usually true. Franked mail carries a clean, branded impression and can include your company logo or an advertising message, giving every envelope a consistent, professional appearance.
Can one franking machine send both first and second class?
Yes. Every Mailmark franking machine lets you choose the service per item, so you can send urgent post first class and everything else second class from the same machine.
Is there VAT on franked postage?
Standard Royal Mail letter and large letter services are exempt from VAT, as shown on our Royal Mail postage rates page.
The Verdict
For the bulk of everyday business mail, second class Mailmark franking is the smart default - it is far cheaper than first class and arrives only a day or two later. Save first class for the items that genuinely need to move fast. Layer franking on top of stamps across both classes, and you are saving money twice: once on the class, and again on the discount franking gives you over retail stamp prices.
Not sure which machine suits your mail volume? Request a free no-obligation quote or get in touch with our team for honest advice. You can also browse common queries on our franking machine FAQ page.
Prices and tariffs referenced in this article are based on Royal Mail's rates effective 7th April 2026. All postage figures are exempt from VAT. Always check the Royal Mail website for the most current pricing.