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If you’re looking to post Christmas parcels or cards to relatives across the UK, it’s time to pencil in those last posting dates.
Post Office has announced that Monday (8 Dec) is looking likely to be its busiest day for sending Christmas post.
With Brits planning on sending more gifts this year compared to last (33% vs 20% respectively), the mail company is urging the public to post early to avoid the rush and ensure gifts arrive in plenty of time.
When are the last recommended posting dates?
If you’re sending post internationally, you’ll need to check the dates here by inputting the country you want to send mail to (most items will need to be sent ASAP).
For those who are posting parcels or cards within the UK, the last recommended posting date for sending something 2nd Class via Royal Mail is Wednesday 17 December.
If you’re going 1st Class via Royal Mail it’s Saturday 20 December.
Check out more posting dates below:
- For Royal Mail Special Delivery: Tuesday 23 December
- For Royal Mail Tracked 24: Monday 22 December
- For Evri Standard Tracked delivery: Friday 19 December
- For Evri Next Day Tracked delivery: Monday 22 December
- For DPD Next Day delivery (excludes some postcodes): Monday 22 December
- For DPD Gold delivery: Tuesday 23 December
- For Parcelforce Worldwide express48: Friday 19 December
- For For Parcelforce Worldwide express24. expressAM and express10: Monday 22 December.
Just over a third (34%) of Brits say sending Christmas parcels and cards feels like an important festive tradition.
One-third (33%) plan to post their gifts and cards by early- to mid-December, but 8% admit to leaving their Christmas posting to the last minute and sending everything in the week leading up to Christmas.
Here, postmaster Arif Matadar has shared some extra tips for ensuring your post gets to where it needs to be this month:
- Write addresses clearly and add a return address on the back.
- If you’re not sure which delivery option is best for your parcel, ask Post Office staff.
- For items like cash or vouchers, he recommends Royal Mail Special. Delivery, which offers full tracking and insurance cover “for added peace of mind”.
- When sending items abroad, all parcels containing gifts or goods must include details about the contents to ensure they can be cleared through customs.
- Check the prohibited items list and be prepared to describe what’s inside your parcel before you send.
