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Franking Ink blog

Franking advice, machine guides and postage news

Practical guides for franking machine users - how to pick the right ink and labels, cut your postage with Mailmark, and keep your machine printing cleanly. Updated regularly by a Royal Mail Approved supplier.

9 Ways to Cut Your Franking Costs: A Practical Mailroom Guide
13 October 2026

9 Ways to Cut Your Franking Costs: A Practical Mailroom Guide

The quickest way to cut your franking costs is to stop wasting what you already pay for: choose the right postage class and format...

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Franking Machine Says Ink Cartridge Not Recognised? 5 Fixes to Try
29 September 2026

Franking Machine Says Ink Cartridge Not Recognised? 5 Fixes to Try

If your franking machine says the ink cartridge is not recognised, the cause is almost always simple: the wrong cartridge for the model, leftover...

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Letter, Large Letter or Parcel? A Franking Format Guide
22 September 2026

Letter, Large Letter or Parcel? A Franking Format Guide

Letter, Large Letter or Parcel? Royal Mail sorts every UK item into one of four formats, and your franking machine prices the item against...

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Switching Franking Machines: Ink, Labels and Leftover Postage
15 September 2026

Switching Franking Machines: Ink, Labels and Leftover Postage

Switching franking machines is mostly an administrative job, not a technical one. Your franking licence sits with your provider rather than with you, so...

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How Many Envelopes Can You Frank With One Ink Cartridge?
8 September 2026

How Many Envelopes Can You Frank With One Ink Cartridge?

A single franking ink cartridge usually prints somewhere between 1,000 and 65,000 impressions, and the figure depends far more on which machine you run...

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Royal Mail Postage Rates 2026 - October Price Update!
4 September 2026

Royal Mail Postage Rates 2026 - October Price Update!

Royal Mail raises stamp prices on parcels from 5 October 2026, while every Mailmark franking price stays put. Franking Ink breaks down what changes,...

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Franking Machine Maintenance: Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Checklist
1 September 2026

Franking Machine Maintenance: Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Checklist

Franking machine maintenance comes down to a handful of small habits on a schedule: check the print impression and ink level every week, clean...

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What Envelopes Can You Use With a Franking Machine?
25 August 2026

What Envelopes Can You Use With a Franking Machine?

Almost any flat, white, flexible paper envelope will run through a franking machine, but gummed or self seal envelopes in standard DL, C5 or...

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How to Change Franking Machine Ink Without the Mess
18 August 2026

How to Change Franking Machine Ink Without the Mess

Changing franking machine ink takes about two minutes and follows the same basic sequence on almost every model: let the machine finish its run,...

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What Is Mailmark? A Guide for Franking Machine Users
11 August 2026

What Is Mailmark? A Guide for Franking Machine Users

Mailmark is Royal Mail's smart franking format, a machine-readable 2D barcode that replaces the old town-and-crown die and unlocks the lowest available postage prices...

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How to Find the Right Franking Ink Cartridge for Your Machine
10 August 2026

How to Find the Right Franking Ink Cartridge for Your Machine

To find the right franking ink cartridge, match it to your exact franking machine make and model, then check whether your machine franks in...

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How Long Does Franking Ink Last? Shelf Life, Storage and Cartridge Care
28 July 2026

How Long Does Franking Ink Last? Shelf Life, Storage and Cartridge Care

Sealed franking ink cartridges typically last two to three years when stored correctly, and once fitted you should aim to use a cartridge within...

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