IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE!
Which Franking Machine Do I Need? Free 2026 Size Finder
Answer four quick questions about your post and we'll point you to the right size of franking machine, with three models worth getting quotes for. It takes under a minute, and it'll stop you being talked into a machine that's far bigger (or smaller) than you need.
The four questions
- How many items do you post on a typical day? Count letters, large letters and parcels together.
- What's the heaviest item you post regularly? This decides how big a scale you need.
- Do you send parcels? If so, you'll want label printing and possibly an external weighing platform.
- Do you need to split postage costs by department, client or project?
How we match you
The finder uses simple rules based on daily volume and weight, built from manufacturer spec sheets (checked October 2026).
Under 50 items a day: low volume machine. These are small desktop units fed by hand.
50 to 200 items a day: low to mid volume. You'll benefit from a faster machine and a 5kg scale if you send packets.
Over 200 items a day: mid to high volume. Differential or dynamic weighing saves a lot of sorting time with mixed mail.
Then it adjusts for weight and parcels. If your heaviest item is over 2kg, it rules out machines with small scales unless they take an external platform. If you need cost centre accounting, it favours models with stronger software.
Recommended models by size
Low volume
- Quadient iX-1, about 18 letters a minute.
- FP PostBase Vision 3S, about 30 letters a minute, 2kg scale.
- Pitney Bowes DM50. See our DM50 review.
Mid volume
- Quadient iX-3, about 45 letters a minute, platforms up to 35kg.
- Pitney Bowes SendPro C, up to 50 letters a minute, 5kg scale.
- FP PostBase Vision 5S, about 50 letters a minute, 5kg scale. Or the PostBase Qi4 if you're looking at older FP models.
High volume
- FP PostBase Vision 9A, up to 120 letters a minute, dynamic weighing.
- Quadient iX-7, up to 175 letters a minute.
- Quadient iX-5 with auto feed, about 110 letters a minute.
For more detail, read franking machine sizes.
Prices
The finder shows a price range rather than a fixed figure, because lease prices depend on contract length, options and the supplier. Postage itself is the same on every machine: from 7 April 2026, £1.77 for a franked 1st Class letter and £2.86 for a franked 1st Class large letter up to 100g (Royal Mail, checked October 2026). Our prices guide explains what affects the lease.
Why size matters so much
Getting the size right is the single biggest thing you can do to keep franking costs down. Postage is the same on every machine, so a bigger machine doesn't save you anything on Royal Mail's side. All it does is cost more each month. On the other hand, a machine that's too small will slow your team down, and if your scale can't handle your parcels you'll end up weighing items twice.
A quick example. An office posting 40 letters a day doesn't need 175 letters a minute. At 18 letters a minute, an iX-1 would frank the whole day's post in under three minutes. Paying for a mailroom machine in that office would be money down the drain.
Meanwhile, an office posting 400 mixed items a day on a hand fed entry machine would spend a good chunk of the afternoon at it, weighing each item and changing settings. A mid volume machine with differential weighing would get through that in a fraction of the time.
The finder is designed to land you in the right band. If it suggests a size you didn't expect, it's worth asking why your current machine (or the one you've been quoted) is different.
Before you get quotes
- Write down your daily volume and heaviest item so every supplier quotes for the same spec.
- Ask for the total cost over the full term, including ink and software.
- Check the renewal and notice terms.
- Confirm in writing that the machine is Mailmark compliant.
Remember that the finder gives you a starting point, not a final answer. A good supplier should ask you the same questions and come to a similar conclusion.
FAQs
What if I'm between two sizes?
Pick the smaller one unless you're confident your volume will grow soon. You can usually upgrade.
Does the finder recommend a brand?
No. It shows models from several brands so you can compare. Quotes decide the winner.
Get quotes
Got your size? Compare franking machine prices or see our small business guide.
