Christmas cards and wrapping paper 2026: cost per card and per metre compared

Cards and wrapping paper are small costs that add up fast, and postage is now the biggest part of the bill. A second-class stamp has cost 91p since 7 April 2026 and a first-class stamp £1.80. When we checked on 1 November, boxed cards ranged from about 3p to £1.50 each, and wrapping paper from 38p to £1.43 a metre.

At a glance

• Cheapest cards: Morrisons charity bumper pack, 30 cards for £1 (about 3p each).
• Moonpig personalised card: £3.99 standard, or about £2.79 each with 30% off two or more.
• Cheapest wrap: Morrisons 4m rolls at £1.50, about 38p a metre.
• Postage: 91p second class, £1.80 first class.

Boxed and packed cards

Morrisons lists its cards as available from early November. Prices included:

• Charity bumper pack, 30 cards: £1 (about 3p each).
• Kids charity Festive Faces, 15 cards: 60p (4p each).
• Duo and Traditional packs of 10: £1 to £1.50 (10p to 15p each).
• Trio packs of 15: £2.50 (about 17p each).
• Luxury snowflake bauble, 5 cards: £4 (80p each).

Card Factory had 40 value cards for £2.49 (about 6p each), 32 mini charity cards for £1.49 (about 5p each), and 10 deluxe charity cards for £3.49 (about 35p each). It also listed a three-for-two offer on selected boxed cards.

John Lewis costs more: its 12 Christmas Text charity cards were £4.50 (about 38p each), 20 Museums & Galleries charity cards £9.50 to £10 (about 48p to 50p each), and six Caroline Gardner cards £9 (£1.50 each).

The Works says it is now an in-store only retailer, so we couldn't compare its prices online. We also couldn't load Funky Pigeon's site.

Personalised cards

Moonpig charges £3.99 for a standard card, £6.99 for a large card and £9.99 for a giant card. The code 30OFF2 takes 30% off when you buy two or more standard cards, which brings each one to about £2.79. Moonpig posts standard cards first class for £1.90 or by Royal Mail Tracked for £2.79.

Wrapping paper

• Morrisons: most 4m rolls are £1.50 (about 38p a metre), and 5m of parcel paper is £1.50 (30p a metre). A 2m Grinch roll at £1.50 works out at 75p a metre.
• John Lewis: 4m rolls are £4 (£1 a metre), 8m extra-wide rolls £7 (about 88p a metre), and 10m of brown kraft £5 (50p a metre). Licensed Hallmark rolls, such as 3.5m of LEGO paper for £5, are about £1.43 a metre.

Plain brown kraft paper costs less than many printed rolls and can usually go in the recycling, as long as it has no foil or glitter.

Worked example: 30 cards

Here's what sending 30 cards second class would cost, with 91p stamps:

• Morrisons bumper pack: £1 for cards + £27.30 for stamps = £28.30.
• John Lewis charity cards (12 for £4.50, so three packs): £13.50 + £27.30 = £40.80, with six spare cards.
• Moonpig standard cards with 30OFF2, posted first class by Moonpig: about £83.80 + £57 = about £140.80.

Sending all 30 first class with your own stamps adds £26.70 over second class. Handing cards over in person, or sending an e-card to some people, cuts the biggest cost.

What to do now

1. Count your card list and split it into post and hand-delivered.
2. Use up old stamps. MoneySavingExpert says stamps you already have stay valid after price rises.
3. Check Royal Mail's last posting dates for Christmas before you write anything.
4. Measure your presents and buy wrap by the metre, not by the roll.
5. Use charity packs if you want part of the price to go to a good cause, and check how much the pack says it donates.

Questions

Are charity cards worth it?

Each pack says how much goes to charity, and this varies widely. If giving is the aim, a direct donation may pass on more.

Can I recycle wrapping paper?

Plain paper usually can. Foil, glitter or plastic-coated wrap usually can't. Check your council's rules.

Is Moonpig's postage cheaper than a stamp?

No. A first-class stamp is £1.80, against £1.90 for Moonpig's first-class option.

Ways to save

See current offers for Moonpig, Morrisons, John Lewis and The Works.

Prices checked on 1 November 2026 and can change. Sources: Morrisons: Christmas cards, Morrisons: wrapping paper, Card Factory: Christmas cards, John Lewis: Christmas cards, John Lewis: wrapping paper, Moonpig: Christmas card, Moonpig: delivery, The Works, Royal Mail: prices 2026, MoneySavingExpert: stamp price rise

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