Royal Mail’s last recommended posting date for UK 2nd Class post this Christmas is Friday 18 December 2026, with 1st Class and Tracked 24 on Monday 21 December and Special Delivery Guaranteed on Wednesday 23 December. Parcelforce, Evri and DPD have their own cut-offs, which are listed below. All of these are recommendations rather than guarantees, so the safest plan is to post as early as you can.
This guide gives every date in one place, explains which service suits which job, shows how to work backwards from a deadline, and covers how to avoid the delivery scams that appear every December. Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday.
Royal Mail Last Posting Dates for Christmas 2026
These are the last recommended posting dates for UK inland services, taken from Royal Mail’s own Christmas page.
| Last posting date | Royal Mail service |
|---|---|
| Friday 18 December | 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For |
| Saturday 19 December | Royal Mail Tracked 48, and Tracked Returns 48 (to reach the sender before Christmas) |
| Monday 21 December | 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail Tracked 24 |
| Wednesday 23 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed |
Royal Mail says the dates are correct at the time of publication but may change, and advises posting as early as possible. Royal Mail’s page lists no separate date for greetings cards. Cards travel as ordinary letters, so treat the 2nd Class and 1st Class dates as your outer limits and post well before them. International deadlines depend on the destination and service, so check Royal Mail’s country-by-country guide rather than relying on the UK dates above.
Parcelforce, Evri and DPD Last Posting Dates
Parcelforce’s UK inland dates also come from Royal Mail’s consumer guide. The Evri and DPD dates apply to parcels handed in at a Post Office counter and are as reported by Shopappy from the Post Office’s own page.
| Date | Carrier and service |
|---|---|
| Saturday 19 December | Evri Standard Tracked (in branch), DPD 2 Day (in branch) |
| Monday 21 December | Parcelforce express48 and express48large, Evri Next Day Tracked (in branch), DPD Next Day (in branch) |
| Tuesday 22 December | Parcelforce express10, expressAM and express24 |
| Wednesday 23 December | DPD Gold (in branch) |
Shopappy notes that Evri and DPD had not published full timetables for their ParcelShop, locker and courier collection channels. If you use one of those routes, check the carrier’s own site, because the cut-off may be earlier than the in-branch date.
Which Service Should You Choose?
| Service | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Class | Cards and low-value items you can post early | The earliest cut-off, so it is the first to miss the window |
| 1st Class | Cards and small gifts posted in the last fortnight | Later cut-off than 2nd Class |
| Signed For (1st or 2nd Class) | Items where you want proof of delivery | Same dates as the matching class |
| Tracked 48 and Tracked 24 | Parcels and gifts you want to follow online | Tracked 24 has the later cut-off |
| Special Delivery Guaranteed | Valuable or truly last-minute items | The last Royal Mail option before Christmas, and it costs more |
How to Work Backwards From a Deadline
A last posting date is not the date to start, it is the date to be finished. ShipStation’s guide for UK sellers gives a handy example: if Tracked 48 has a last posting date of Saturday 19 December and you need a day to pack and do not post at weekends, your last posting day is Friday 18 December, so your checkout cut-off for that service is Thursday 17 December. The same logic works for gifts you are ordering online. Subtract delivery time to you, wrapping and a spare day, and you have a realistic date.
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A suggested plan, which is my own rather than Royal Mail’s:
- Overseas cards and parcels: check Royal Mail’s country guide now and post as soon as you can.
- Parcels for the UK: aim for the first week of December, which leaves a buffer for bad weather and the busiest days.
- UK cards: post by the end of the second week of December, well ahead of the 2nd Class cut-off on 18 December.
- Emergency gifts: use Tracked 24 by Monday 21 December or Special Delivery Guaranteed by Wednesday 23 December.
Returns and Online Orders
If you are returning something, Royal Mail says Saturday 19 December is the last posting date for Tracked Returns 48 to get back to the sender before Christmas. Retailers also set their own order cut-offs, which are usually earlier than the carriers’ posting dates, so check the delivery page of each shop. If you are buying gifts in the sales, our Black Friday 2026 smart shopping tips cover how to avoid delivery and returns headaches, and our Christmas budget planner helps you keep postage in the budget.
Avoid Delivery Scams This Christmas
December is peak season for fake delivery messages. A typical scam text or email claims a parcel is being held and asks you to click a link and pay a small fee or confirm card details. Do not use the link. Go to the carrier’s official website or app directly, and use the tracking number from your order confirmation. Our guide to spotting phishing emails and scam texts shows the warning signs, such as urgent wording, odd sender addresses and links that do not go to the carrier’s real domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last posting date for Christmas 2026?
It depends on the service. For Royal Mail, 2nd Class is Friday 18 December, Tracked 48 is Saturday 19 December, 1st Class and Tracked 24 are Monday 21 December, and Special Delivery Guaranteed is Wednesday 23 December.
Are last posting dates guaranteed?
No. Royal Mail says the dates are correct at the time of publication but may change, and ShipStation stresses they are carriers’ recommendations. Posting earlier is always safer.
What is the last Royal Mail posting date for cards?
Royal Mail gives no separate date for cards. Follow the 2nd Class date (Friday 18 December) or the 1st Class date (Monday 21 December), and post earlier if you can.
What is the last date to post Evri parcels in 2026?
At a Post Office counter, Evri Standard Tracked is Saturday 19 December and Evri Next Day Tracked is Monday 21 December, as reported by Shopappy. Other drop-off routes may differ, so check Evri’s own site.
What is the last Parcelforce posting date for Christmas 2026?
Parcelforce express48 and express48large have a Monday 21 December cut-off, and express10, expressAM and express24 have Tuesday 22 December, according to Royal Mail’s consumer guide.
What day of the week is Christmas Day 2026?
Friday 25 December 2026.
What if I miss the last posting date?
Special Delivery Guaranteed, with a last date of Wednesday 23 December, is the final Royal Mail option. Otherwise consider delivering the gift in person, buying locally or sending an e-gift card.
When should I post international parcels?
Earlier than domestic post, and the exact deadline depends on the country and service. Check Royal Mail’s country-by-country guide before you buy postage.
The Bottom Line
Write the three key dates on your calendar: Friday 18 December for 2nd Class, Monday 21 December for 1st Class and Tracked 24, and Wednesday 23 December for Special Delivery Guaranteed. Then ignore them as targets and aim to be finished a week or two earlier. Dates can change, so check Royal Mail’s and your carrier’s own pages before you rely on them.
Sources consulted: Royal Mail’s Christmas last posting dates page, ShipStation’s guide for UK sellers and Shopappy’s report on the Post Office dates.
