If you use the Royal Mail regularly to post letters and parcels, you'll be familiar with the service's stamp system.

While most will know about the pricing and delivery times associated with these 1st and 2nd class stamps, many may be unsure about how long these last before expiring.

If you're thinking about sending some items through the post but are worried your stamps may not be valid anymore, here is everything you need to know.

Do 1st and 2nd class Royal Mail stamps expire?

In short, 1st and 2nd class stamps from the Royal Mail do not expire and can be used whenever needed unless any changes regarding these are made.

However, older stamps without barcodes are no longer valid for sending letters and parcels with the Royal Mail.

These stamps expired on July 31, 2023, with customers now needing to purchase the newer barcoded ones on offer.

Recommended Reading:

 How long does it take the Royal Mail to deliver 1st and 2nd Class stamped post?

Does Royal Mail deliver letters and parcels after 5pm?

Royal Mail: Can I still use old first and second-class stamps?

How much do 1st and 2nd Class stamps from the Royal Mail cost?

According to the Royal Mail, the cost of a standard 1st Class stamp book (4x) is £5.40. The Large Letter 1st Class stamp book costs £8.40.

A Large Letter 2nd Class stamp book on the other hand costs £6.20.

When does the Royal Mail deliver post in the UK?

The Royal Mail delivers post from Monday to Saturday each week with no deliveries being made on Sunday (with the exception of 'Special Delivery Guaranteed' parcels).

The UK Government website states that 1st Class mail is delivered within one day of being dispatched.

2nd Class mail is delivered within two days of being sent out by the postal service.

Letters to Europe are delivered within three to five days of being dispatched by the postal service.

Meanwhile, letters sent anywhere else in the world take five to seven days to be delivered.