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Royal Mail has published the last recommended postage dates for international and UK parcels to arrive in time for 25 December 2025.
See all the dates to remember along with tips for communicating with your customers during this busy time of the year.
Last posting dates for Christmas 2025
The table below shows the dates to remember if you’re using Royal Mail services.If you’re using an alternative courier service then some companies are offering collections up until 22 December – but be sure to check with individual couriers for exact dates.
Deliveries in the UK
These are the last posting dates for delivering parcels and letters in the UK:
|
Date |
Postage option |
|---|---|
|
Wednesday, 17 December |
2nd Class 2nd Class Signed For |
|
Friday, 19 December |
Royal Mail Tracked 48 |
| Sunday, 21 December | Royal Mail Tracked 24 1st Class 1st Class Signed For |
| Tuesday, 23 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed |
International deliveries
You’ll need to leave more time if you’re posting internationally.
These are the last posting dates for using standard international shipping:
|
Royal Mail business account customers |
Destination |
|---|---|
|
Sunday, 7 December |
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey |
|
Monday, 8 December |
Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA |
|
Thursday, 11 December |
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bulgaria, Caribbean, Central and South America, China, Cyprus, Far and Middle East, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain |
Bear in mind there are many express options available that allow you to ship later than these dates. The Royal Mail has a country selector that shows you the different options.
Tips for communicating with your customers
Keeping your customers informed about when they can expect to receive parcels is particularly important during December.
Here are some things to keep in mind to keep online shoppers happy:
- use a tracked service – this helps customers follow their parcel and reduces the risk of something going missing
- update your website – include a ‘last order’ date for items to arrive in time for Christmas (this could be a banner or an update on your homepage, as well as on your delivery page)
- be transparent in order confirmation emails – make sure it’s clear when deliveries are expected
Small business guides and resources
This content is for general, informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain expert advice from industry-specific professionals who may better understand your business’s needs. Read our full disclaimer
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