How long do first and second class stamps take to deliver ahead of Father’s Day?

It’s Father’s Day on Sunday, and this year the celebrations may be a little different to usual in the wake of coronavirus and subsequent lockdown measures.

With social gatherings in England still limited to six people outdoors with social distancing measures in place – or one person mixing with a single household in a ‘support bubble’ – Father’s Day get-togethers might be a little bit more low-key than usual.

All of which means – if you’re unable to have a family get-together – that it’s even more important than usual that your Father’s Day card gets to its destination in time.

If you haven’t posted your card yet, when should you – and which stamps will ensure it gets there?

How long do first and second class stamps take to deliver?

First-class letters and cards in the UK should, under normal circumstances, be delivered the day after they are posted.

Prices for a first-class stamp start at 76p for any item up to 100g in weight (which should cover the majority of cards), with the cost rising for heavier letters and parcels.

Second-class letters and cards in the UK are regarded as less urgent mail, and can take up to two to three working days for delivery.

For second-class, the price of a stamp starting at 65p for letters up to 100g.

Will my Father’s Day card get there in time?

If you’re posting your Father’s Day cards today – Thursday 18 June – your best chance of them arriving in time for the big day will be to send it with a first-class stamp.

However it’s worth bearing in mind that in the wake of the current pandemic there have been some changes to the service, with Royal Mail saying on its website that some services may be disrupted due to Covid-19.

While Saturday deliveries were temporarily suspended in lockdown, these were resumed as of last Saturday, 13 June – which means that you have an extra day for your card to be delivered.

There are no deliveries on Sundays though – so you should get your card in the post today if you want to give it the best chance of being there on Father’s Day.

If you want to be absolutely certain it will arrive you can check the Royal Mail’s website for other delivery options, including signed for and tracked items – although these will cost you more than a standard first class letter or card.

MORE: When is Father’s Day 2020 and where can you buy personalised cards online?