Don't Miss the Post! Your Essential UK Christmas Posting Dates Guide
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The festive countdown is officially on, and to guarantee your cards, letters, and parcels arrive under the tree in time, it’s crucial to know the final recommended posting dates for the UK.
With Christmas Day fast approaching, post offices and courier services are gearing up for their busiest period.
To avoid disappointment, here is the ultimate guide to the deadlines for Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, and Parcelforce Worldwide.
Royal Mail: Letters and Parcels
For traditional post and standard parcels, you'll need to move quickly, but the ultimate deadline for guaranteed delivery stretches right up to Christmas Eve Eve!
| Royal Mail Service | Last Recommended Posting Date |
| 2nd Class & 2nd Class Signed For | Wednesday 17 December |
| Tracked 48 | Friday 19 December |
| 1st Class & 1st Class Signed For | Saturday 20 December |
| Tracked 24 | Monday 22 December |
| Special Delivery Guaranteed | Tuesday 23 December |
Last-Minute Lifeline: Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed is your final option, offering an on-time delivery promise (or your money back) for posting as late as Tuesday 23 December. A Saturday guaranteed delivery service is also available for an additional fee.
Courier Services: Parcels
If you're using a private courier for your Christmas gifts, be mindful of their specific service tiers and, in the case of DPD, regional postcode exceptions.
Evri (formerly Hermes)
The deadlines for Evri's popular tracked services fall slightly earlier in the week.
| Evri Service | Last Recommended Posting Date |
| Standard Tracked | Friday 19 December |
| Next Day Tracked | Monday 22 December |
Parcelforce Worldwide
Parcelforce offers both two-day and next-day options, with the guaranteed services offering a later cut-off.
| Parcelforce Worldwide Service | Last Recommended Posting Date |
| express48 | Friday 19 December |
| express24, expressAM, express10 | Monday 22 December |
Parcelforce Guarantee: Express services (express24, expressAM, express10) offer a guaranteed next working day delivery, with a refund of consignment charges in the event of late delivery.
DPD
DPD’s deadlines are mostly set for Monday 22 December, but those sending to remote or outlying postcodes must post much earlier.
| DPD Service | Last Recommended Posting Date |
| Two Day (selected postcodes) | Saturday 20 December |
| Next Day & Next Day by 12 (most UK postcodes) | Monday 22 December |
| Gold | Tuesday 23 December |
| DPD Postcode Exceptions (Next Day) | Last Recommended Posting Date |
| AB36-Ab38, FK17-FK21, IV1-IV62, KA27, KW1-KW14, PA20-PA33, PA35-PA38, PH19-PH50 | Saturday 20 December |
| IV63, KA28 | Friday 19 December |
| HS1-HS9, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-PA48, PA80, ZE1-ZE3 | Wednesday 17 December |
Key Takeaway: Post Early
While express services offer a tight turnaround right up to the 23rd, it is always recommended to send your post as early as possible. Posting closer to the deadline significantly increases the chance of delays due to the sheer volume of mail handled by all couriers during the festive season.
Make sure your gifts and greetings get there on time check your chosen service and date carefully, and happy posting
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