Is A Franking Machine Worth It? 2026 Cost vs Stamps (UK)

The short answer

A franking machine is worth it if you send a decent number of large letters, especially 1st Class ones. It's usually not worth it if you mainly post a few standard letters a day.

That's not the answer most suppliers lead with, but it's what Royal Mail's own price list tells you. The gap between stamp prices and franked prices has narrowed on standard letters, and widened on large letters. So whether you'll save comes down to what's in your post tray.

Franked vs stamp prices

Here's what you pay from 7 April 2026, according to Royal Mail's stamp prices and Business Price Guide (checked October 2026):

Item	Stamp	Franked	You save
1st Class letter	£1.80	£1.77	3p (1.7%)
2nd Class letter	91p	88p	3p (3.3%)
1st Class large letter up to 100g	£3.30	£2.86	44p (13.3%)
1st Class large letter 101g to 250g	£3.60	£3.28	32p (8.9%)
2nd Class large letter up to 100g	£1.55	£1.52	3p (1.9%)
2nd Class large letter 501g to 750g	£2.70	£2.50	20p (7.4%)

Read that table twice. On a standard 1st Class letter, you save 3p. You'd need to send 1,000 of them to save £30. On a 1st Class large letter under 100g, you save 44p, so the same £30 comes from fewer than 70 items.

If someone tells you franking saves "up to a third" on postage, ask them which items they mean. That kind of figure was more realistic when stamp and franked prices were further apart on everyday letters.

The break even point

To work out whether a machine pays for itself, you need two numbers: what the machine costs you each month (lease, ink and any software fee), and your average saving per item.

Break even items per month = monthly machine cost divided by average saving per item

Some examples, using an illustrative machine cost of £30 a month:

• All standard letters (3p saving): 1,000 items a month, roughly 50 a working day.
• Half standard letters, half 1st Class large letters under 100g (average 23.5p): about 128 items a month, six or seven a day.
• All 1st Class large letters under 100g (44p): about 69 items a month, three or four a day.

You can run your own numbers in our savings calculator.

Three businesses, three answers

A two partner solicitors' office. They post around 25 items a day, and most are A4 documents in large letter envelopes going 1st Class because clients want them quickly. That's roughly 500 large letters a month. At a 44p saving each, that's £220 a month in postage savings, before the machine cost. Easily worth it.

A plumber sending invoices. He sends maybe ten invoices a week, all standard 2nd Class letters, and most customers pay online anyway. That's about 40 items a month, saving £1.20. No machine on earth is that cheap. Stamps or emailed invoices are the answer.

A small online bookshop. Paperbacks go out as large letters, a mix of 1st and 2nd Class, about 400 a month. The 2nd Class ones in the 101g to 250g band save 9p each and the 1st Class ones save 32p. Depending on the mix, savings land somewhere between £36 and £128 a month. That's worth getting quotes for, but they'd want to compare franking against Click & Drop before signing a long lease, because parcel and large letter online rates can be competitive.

The common thread is simple: count your items by type before you speak to a supplier. It puts you in control of the conversation.

The hidden costs

The monthly lease isn't the only cost. Before you decide, add these in:

Ink. You'll go through cartridges, and Mailmark machines generally need genuine ones. Check the price and yield when you get a quote. Our ink prices guide has more.

Labels. If you send thick items or parcels, you'll use franking labels.

Software or meter fees. Some contracts charge separately for the online account or postage downloads.

Service. Is it included, or will a call out cost you?

Contract length. Most leases run for several years. If your post volume drops halfway through, you're still paying. That's the biggest risk for small businesses.

Exit fees. Ending early can mean paying the rest of the lease. And if you forget to cancel at the end, many contracts auto renew.

Benefits that aren't about price

Money isn't the only reason businesses frank their mail. A few others come up again and again:

• No more stamp runs. You top up postage online and never run out at 4.55pm.
• Accurate postage. The scale weighs each item, so you don't overpay out of caution or underpay and have mail held up.
• Spend tracking. Most machines let you split postage by department or client, which is useful for recharging costs.
• A more professional look. You can add your logo or a short message to the frank.
• Collection. Larger senders can arrange for Royal Mail to collect, though there may be a charge.

These can tip the balance for a business that's close to break even.

Who should not bother

We'd steer you away from a franking machine if:

• You send fewer than about 20 items a day and most are standard letters.
• Your volume is unpredictable or falling, and you'd struggle with a multi year lease.
• You mainly send parcels and already get good rates through Click & Drop or a courier account.
• You're a home based sole trader who posts a few invoices a week.

For these businesses, stamps or Royal Mail Click & Drop are often cheaper overall. Our franking vs Click & Drop guide compares the two directly.

Who it's a no brainer for

On the other hand, a franking machine is very likely worth it if:

• You send lots of A4 documents 1st Class, such as solicitors, estate agents, schools and accountants.
• You post thin products as large letters every day.
• You have several departments or clients and need to track who's spending what.
• You currently waste staff time going to the Post Office.

For these businesses, see our best small business franking machines and the full franking machine prices guide.

How to decide in an afternoon

Pull last month's postage spend, count your items by type, and run them through the savings calculator with a real quote. If the saving clearly beats the machine cost, get two more quotes and negotiate. If it's marginal, stick with stamps for now and look again after Royal Mail's next price change, because the gap between stamp and franked prices shifts every time tariffs move.

And remember the softer benefits. If franking saves someone a weekly trip to the Post Office, that time has a value too, even if it never shows up in the calculator.

FAQs

Is franking cheaper than stamps?

Yes, on every common letter and large letter service. But the saving on standard letters is small, 3p an item from April 2026.

Can I rent a franking machine for a short time to test it?

Some suppliers offer shorter rental terms. They usually cost more each month than a lease but give you a way out. See our rental guide.

Do I need a franking machine to get business postage rates?

No. Royal Mail Click & Drop offers online prices without a machine, though for standard and large letters they're the same as or close to stamp prices.

What happens to my postage credit if I stop?

Postage you've paid for is yours. Ask your supplier how it's refunded or transferred when the contract ends.

Looking for a deal?

If the numbers stack up for you, the next step is getting a fair price. Tell us how much you post and we'll match you with approved suppliers. Compare franking machine prices.