National stamp costs going up 20c and postage to UK and Europe to rise by 85c

The price of stamps is going up next month.  All existing stamps with ‘N’ (National) and ‘W’ (Worldwide) or specific euro denominations remain valid and fully useable after 3rd February 2026. 

The price of stamps for national post will increase next month by 20c, with An Post blaming increased costs and falling letter volumes.

National stamp will be €1.85 from Tuesday February 3, an increase of 20c. A new €3.50 rate will apply for Britain and Europe, an increase of 85c. Stamps for the rest of the world will cost €3.95.

Rates for large envelopes, packets, over-the-counter parcels and Registered Post will also rise, as will rates for the innovative national and international Digital stamps.

An Post said people are sending fewer letters, with letter volumes declining by 7% in the last 12 months and more than 50% since 2016. Mail sent as international letters has fallen by 38% over the last three years. 

"An Post is taking action to safeguard national delivery services and equal access to letter services nationwide, for uniform prices, despite more European postal companies stepping back letter services due to falling volumes and rising costs," a statement from the company said. 

An Post said the new national stamp rate is "below the EU14 + Britain benchmark of €2.04 for domestic next day letter service.

Supporting the economy and communities

"The price changes are carefully calculated to cover the cost of providing a world class national letter service to every address. taking account of wage increases for postal staff in line with national pay awards, increased operating costs and letter volumes which have declined by 7% in the last 12 months and more than 50% since 2016.  A similar rate of decline is forecast for 2026."

“An Post’s priority is to support the Irish economy and communities by providing world-class services for the people and businesses country wide. 

"We work hard on the economics of the business by introducing smarter work practices and managing costs to achieve fair, cost-reflective prices below the European benchmark average, and below the UK, despite falling volumes due to e-substitution," said An Post mails and parcels managing director Garrett Bridgeman. 

 “An Post remains entirely self-financed. Our quality of service is amongst the highest in Europe and we continue to innovate in the provision of vital services for the Irish economy and local communities. 

"I’m pleased to confirm that An Post’s Community Focus supports including free postage to all nursing and care homes will continue throughout 2026.

“Increasingly, European countries have reduced letter delivery frequency to once or twice a week and now deliver to mail boxes outside the home or to central collection points. While An Post continues to design future generation mail services to suit customers’ needs, the company is committed to retaining the option of a next-day national service to the door, by trusted, trained postal staff in a growing fleet of emission free vehicles."

All existing stamps with ‘N’ (National) and ‘W’ (Worldwide) or specific euro denominations remain valid and fully useable after February 3.