Post Office confirms FINAL deadline for sending Christmas presents and cards via Royal Mail

However, a small window of time remains for overseas deliveries, as certain carriers continue to offer Christmas arrival to selected destinations until next week on December 15.

The postal service has published its final recommended dates to help customers ensure festive gifts reach their recipients before Christmas Day.

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Postmasters are encouraging people to act swiftly to avoid disappointment, noting that preparation is essential during this hectic period for mail services.

Research conducted for the Post Office reveals that two-thirds of Britons, some 67 per cent, have experienced the frustration of Christmas post arriving after the festive day itself.

According to the findings, roughly 17 per cent of people have previously missed crucial posting deadlines, resulting in their cards and presents failing to arrive in time for celebrations.

These statistics highlight a recurring problem that the Post Office hopes to address by publicising its recommended final dates well in advance of the Christmas rush.

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For those still needing to send within the UK, the absolute final opportunity for guaranteed Christmas delivery falls on December 23.

Customers willing to pay for Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed or DPD Gold services can take advantage of next-day delivery with a money-back guarantee if items fail to arrive.

Postmaster Arif Patel, who has spent 15 years in the role, offered guidance for successful festive sending.

“When you’re posting a parcel, we’ll always ask what’s inside as we need to find out if it’s safe to post and make sure your item can be sent to its destination,” he explained, noting that certain items like perfume cannot be shipped internationally.

Mr Patel also advised customers to package items securely and write addresses clearly, including a return address, to protect their parcels during transit. Those posting internationally must provide content details to satisfy customs requirements.

Beyond Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide, the Post Office provides alternative delivery options through Evri and DPD at selected branches.

The organisation’s Pick Up and Drop Off service allows customers to have parcels delivered to their local branch for collection at a convenient time.

Candice Ohandjanian, mails and parcels director at the Post Office, said: “We know customers want to make the most of the festive season not wait at home for deliveries.”

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Here is a full list of the Post Office Christmas deadlines, per carrier

• Last Royal Mail 2nd Class – Wednesday December 17
• Last Parcelforce express48 date – Friday December 19
• Last Royal Mail Tracked 48 date – Friday December 19
• Last Evri Standard date – Friday December 19
• Last Royal Mail 1st Class date – Saturday December 20
• Last DPD 2Day date – Saturday December 20
• Last Parcelforce express24 date – Monday December 22
• Last Royal Mail Tracked 24 date – Monday December 22
• Last Evri Next Day date – Monday December 22
• Last DPD Next Day date – Monday December 22 (some postcode exceptions)
• Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed – Tuesday December 23
• DPD Gold: Tuesday – December 23.