Royal Mail shipping remains one of the top delivery choices for online shoppers in the UK. In fact, our own consumer research (2023 E-commerce Delivery Compass) confirms that this national postal service is the number-one courier of choice for British consumers.
For online retailers operating within the UK, Royal Mail is also among the top UK couriers for getting goods to customers quickly and reliably. Want to learn more about shipping with Royal Mail? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Royal Mail’s services, shipping costs, key advantages, and more.
What is Royal Mail?
Royal Mail is one of the world’s oldest postal services, with a history that spans over 500 years. As one of the UK’s most iconic brands, its red letterboxes remain a familiar sight in daily life for millions across the country.
Because of its long history and strong reputation, Royal Mail is very popular among UK online shoppers. The company’s own research (Delivery Matters report) shows that 2 in 3 online shoppers say they are more likely to use a retailer when they know that Royal Mail will handle the delivery.
Royal Mail has become completely privatised. However, many UK consumers still view Royal Mail as a public service, which also adds to the brand’s strong reputation for reliability. Its parent company, the Royal Mail Group, operates two major divisions:
- Royal Mail, which still serves the UK as the nation’s official postal service
- Parcelforce Worldwide, which offers international parcel shipping to and from the UK
Both of these subsidiaries offer plenty of special shipping options for e-commerce retailers. We’ll look at those in detail below.
Royal Mail shipping services
Royal Mail offers delivery services to suit every budget, speed, and need. Here’s a quick overview:
- Special Delivery Guaranteed: Next-day by 9am or 1pm. Includes insurance up to £2,500.
- Tracked 24 / Tracked 48: Tracked delivery with tracking numbers. Ideal for everyday orders.
- 24 / 48: Budget-friendly, no tracking. Best for low-value or non-urgent parcels.
- Tracked Returns: Hassle-free return labels and tracking for customers.
- Local Collect: Pick-up at over 11,500 post offices.
- Parcel Collect: Doorstep pickup — no post office queues.
Whether you want next-day speed or low-cost options, Royal Mail has you covered. Let’s learn more about what each of the services entails:
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed
Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed service offers next-day delivery options by 9 a.m., 1 p.m., or by the end of the day, seven days a week. The service includes full tracking, signature on delivery, and compensation coverage up to £2,500, with additional consequential loss cover available up to £10,000.
Saturday and Sunday deliveries are available for business customers using Click & Drop. Note that delivery guarantees may vary for certain postcode areas.
Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48
Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 offer reliable, fully tracked delivery — ideal for most e-commerce parcels. Tracked 24 aims for next-day delivery, while Tracked 48 typically delivers within 2–3 working days.
Both services include tracking numbers for you and your customer, so you can follow the parcel’s progress online.
Royal Mail 24 and Royal Mail 48
A lower-cost option for next-day and 2–3-day delivery, Royal Mail 24 and Royal Mail 48 give you the same speedy delivery, except without the benefit of detailed tracking information.
Royal Mail Local Collect and Parcel Collect
Royal Mail Local Collect is a lower-cost option that enables your customers to pick up their parcel at one of Royal Mail’s thousands of local pick-up locations.
Royal Mail Parcel Collect is a nationwide doorstep pickup service that lets customers hand over parcels or returns directly to their postal worker, saving them a trip to the post office or drop-off point.
Shipping with Royal Mail 1st and 2nd Class
Royal Mail 1st Class and 2nd Class offer affordable standard post options for parcels and letters. 1st Class aims for delivery the next working day, including Saturdays, making it a good choice for important documents or non-urgent items that benefit from quicker delivery.
2nd Class provides a low-cost option with delivery in 2–3 working days, also including Saturdays. Both services include £20 compensation for loss or damage as standard, and neither includes tracking, though proof of delivery can be added with the Signed For option.
Royal Mail Sameday
Royal Mail Sameday is the fastest delivery option for urgent shipments, operating 24/7, 365 days a year. It offers real-time satellite tracking, email delivery confirmation, and automatic compensation up to £2,500 for loss or damage — with the option to increase cover to £10,000.
Choose Sameday On Demand for one-off urgent deliveries, or Sameday Scheduled for regular time-critical shipments.
Royal Mail shipping costs
Royal Mail shipping costs vary based on parcel weight, delivery speed, service level, and whether you hold a business contract.
Businesses can access tailored rates through Royal Mail business accounts or Click & Drop, with flexible options depending on volume. If your business sends regular parcels, you can benefit from personalised pricing based on volume and service mix, plus Royal Mail Tracked Returns with contract-based pricing.
For high-volume shippers (typically spending over £20,000 per year), Royal Mail offers benefits like free weekday collections. Paid collection services are also available, with annual fees starting around £1,100 for weekday allocated-time pickup.
General Royal Mail delivery costs depend on the service you choose. For instance, 2nd Class offers a low-cost option for non-urgent items, while 1st Class aims for next-working-day delivery including Saturdays, at a slightly higher price.
Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide set international shipping rates based on destination, weight, and speed. Pricing varies widely, so it’s best to use Royal Mail’s online calculators or business quote tools for an accurate estimate.
Royal Mail’s additional services, such as Parcel Collect, offer free returns collection with certain services (like Tracked Returns) and low-cost or contract-included rates for standard pickups.
Advantages of Royal Mail for e-commerce shipping
Why do so many UK online retailers choose Royal Mail? Here are some of the perks they offer:
- Strong local presence:
11,500+ post offices and 1,200 Customer Service Points provide thousands of convenient local pick-up locations for customers. - Smooth return shipping:
Royal Mail Tracked Returns combined with Parcel Collect offers customers an easy and transparent return process. - Flexible shipping options:
From next-day to 2–3-day delivery, with or without tracking — there’s a solution for every budget, volume and speed requirement. - Specialised business services:
Royal Mail has access to extensive customer data and offers CustomerFinder (helps locate potential customers) and AddressNow (simplifies address entry during checkout). Warehousing services are also available for storing merchandise. - Free weekday pickup for higher-volume shippers:
Businesses spending over £20,000 annually qualify for free weekday pickup. Paid collection options are available for businesses spending less. - Sunday deliveries with Parcelforce:
Parcelforce offers Sunday deliveries domestically, providing competitive options alongside couriers like Evri and DPD. - Shop integrations for e-commerce:
Royal Mail offers Click & Drop, a shipping tool that integrates with WooCommerce, eBay, Amazon, Shopify, Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Etsy, and other platforms.
Looking for the right integrations for your business? Sendcloud lets you easily connect with 100+ integrations and apps. See how Sendcloud integrates with your shop and Royal Mail, plus the added benefits of doing so (think shipping excellence from checkout to returns, plus branded tracking you can use to give your marketing a boost while customers are already paying attention).
Royal Mail tracked returns for e-commerce
Royal Mail Tracked Returns gives online retailers a flexible, reliable solution for handling customer returns. The service is designed for businesses of all sizes, whether you process large volumes or want a simple way to offer tracked returns.
Key features include:
- Full tracking all the way to the delivery point, for you and your customer.
- Label creation using Royal Mail’s online portal — or customers can print their label at 11,500 Post Office branches or 1,200 Customer Service Points using Labels to Go.
- Parcel Collect returns — Royal Mail will collect returns directly from your customer’s home, at no extra cost.
- Up to £150 inclusive compensation for loss or damage.
- 24 hour and 48 hour service options, so you can choose the return speed that fits your business and customer expectations.
Pricing is based on your business needs, volume, and chosen service level. Smaller businesses may also access returns services via Click & Drop or partner integrations.
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed Returns provides a secure, premium return service with end-to-end tracking and guaranteed next working day delivery by 1pm. It includes signature on delivery and compensation cover up to £750, with options to increase cover to £1,000 or £2,500. Customers can return items easily through over 11,500 Post Office branches, offering convenience and peace of mind.
Royal Mail international shipping: Parcelforce
Royal Mail offers a range of international shipping options to suit different budgets and delivery needs.
- International Tracked: Full end-to-end tracking with online delivery confirmation — ideal for peace of mind at a competitive price.
- International Tracked & Signed: Combines tracking with signature on delivery for extra security — perfect for higher-value items.
- International Standard: A cost-effective, non-tracked option for less urgent or lower-value parcels.
For express international delivery, Royal Mail partners with its sister company, Parcelforce Worldwide. Parcelforce offers next-day delivery to many European destinations and 2–4 working day delivery globally. Pricing is based on a zone system, with rates determined by destination, weight, and speed.
Royal Mail prohibited and restricted items
As with other domestic and international couriers, you should keep in mind that some items are restricted or banned from being shipped via Royal Mail.
The following items are completely banned and cannot be shipped:
❌ Poisons, toxic liquids, solids and gases
❌ Radioactive materials
❌ Solvent-based paints, wood varnishes and enamels
❌ Waste, dirt, filth or refuse
❌ Weapons (including explosives, firearms and banned knives)
Restrictions apply to certain items, including:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lithium batteries
- Certain liquids
- Medicines
Be sure to review Royal Mail’s prohibited and restricted items carefully to avoid delivery issues.
Is Royal Mail right for your e-commerce business?
As you can see, Royal Mail offers an attractive blend of benefits for e-commerce retailers, including:
- A strong, trusted brand with a great local presence across the UK.
- Competitive pricing and personalised, volume-based offers for retailers.
- Flexible shipping options to keep customers satisfied.
If you’re in the market for a UK-based shipping partner to grow your online retail business, then Royal Mail is one of many options you can consider. Need help deciding? Choose the best delivery company for your business with our handy UK courier comparison page, or read our Evri vs Royal Mail comparison blog.
