Franking
Franking
What is franking?
Franking is a pre-paid postage option where a franking mark is printed directly onto the envelope or a label (for parcels).
It's a flexible way to pay for postage, you can manage your spend and give your mail a professional image.
Ready to get started?
Already a franking user? Visit our franking help & support hub
Franking machines can process huge volumes of mail quickly and accurately.
Send letters, parcels and international mail with no restrictions on minimum or maximum postage volumes.
As it's a pre-paid, self-service way to post, you can manage your spend and access a wide range of both letter and parcel services.
Franking means your post will always have a professional finish. Impress your customers by also including your company’s logo on your items.
Some of our prices are changing, please visit royalmail.com/prices2024 for more details.
Franked mail can now be posted up to 7 days after the day a customer has printed their meter impression.
FAQs: Changes to Meter Indicia / Labels for Special Delivery Guaranteed® and Royal Mail Signed For® (Mar-22)
1D Indicia FAQspdf, 270.11 KB (March 2022)
API FAQspdf, 122.37 KB (March 2022)
Royal Mail Mailmark® (Mailmark machine)
- Our most efficient franking mark ever
- Machine-readable 2D barcode for increased accuracy and can only be created on the most sophisticated franking machines
- Mailmark® machines allow for pre-payment
- Upload credit as and when you need it, monitor usage throughout your business and manage departmental spend
How to start franking
Use our list of authorised manufacturers to lease or buy your franking machine. Royal Mail does not recommend one company over another.
Your licence will provided by your franking provider.
Your can pay for your franking postage with Direct Debit, credit card and credit accounts with deferred payment terms.
You can pay for a wide variety of mail with franking, including Special Delivery Guaranteed, international and one-off business collections.
These services are available through franking:
UK mail
1st and 2nd Class
1st and 2nd Class Signed For
Special Delivery Guaranteed
International mail
International Standard
International Tracked
International Signed
International Tracked & Signed
Franking prices wallchart (pdf, 3.43 MB)
UK and International formats and services guide for franking (pdf, 2.45 MB)
International services guide for franking (pdf, 345.5 KB)
To qualify for savings and avoid penalties, you must separate your mail by UK/international destination, and then by product and class.
Already using a franking machine?
Upgrade your machine
If you already have a franking machine, you can upgrade your software or lease or buy a Mailmark enabled machine. Just contact your manufacturer or independent supplier to find out more.
Machine maintenance
Maintenance of franking machines is carried out by Royal Mail authorised providers.
Choose from our list of authorised inspectors, maintainers and repairers. Royal Mail does not recommend one company over another.
Apply to become a franking inspector
Franking prices
Royal Mail Mailmark franking prices (pdf, 3.43 MB)
Standard franking prices (pdf, 2.13 MB)
Legal scheme for franking letters and parcels (pdf, 123.11 KB)
Decertification of Standard Franking Machines
We have written to all franking customers who use a Standard franking machine advising them that we will be removing the option to send franked mail using their Standard franking machine. From 1st January 2023 Royal Mail will only accept franked mail from customers who use a Mailmark Franking machine. For further information please click herepdf, 172.11 KB.
