2nd Class mail for delivery by the third working day

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Want to stay close to friends and family? 2nd Class mail will deliver your letters and parcels in two or three working days, including Saturdays. Choose 2nd Class because:

there’s nothing better than receiving a birthday card or gift through the post
you’re planning ahead and need to send special invitations and thank you notes
it’s not urgent, you just want to stay in touch.

Buy online

Help

Price Finder

Find the right price for your mail and print postage from your computer.

Get a price

Overview

2nd Class

Delivery in two to three working days including Saturdays
Great value option to get your post delivered safely and on time
Prices start at 50p for letters up to 100g
Send parcels up to 20kg in weight
Includes compensation cover up to £20.

Sending a Letter, a Large Letter, a Small Parcel or a Medium Parcel?

Prices for 2nd Class are the same no matter where you're sending in the UK. The amount you pay depends on the size and weight of the item you're sending. Each format has its own size and weight limits.

Work out which format your item falls into
Format	Maximum weight	Maximum length	Maximum width	Maximum thickness
Letter	100g	240mm	165mm	5mm
Large Letter	750g	353mm	250mm	25mm
Small Parcel	2kg	45cm	35cm	8cm
Medium Parcel	20kg	61cm	46cm	46cm

Parcels bigger than 61cm x 46cm x 46cm or heavier than 20kg can be sent using Parcelforce services which include tracking and are guaranteed.

Rolled and cylinder shaped parcels

For rolled and cylinder shaped items, the length of the item plus twice the diameter must not exceed 104cm, with the greatest dimension being no more than 90cm.

Rolled and cylinder shaped parcels that do not exceed 45cm in length and 8cm in diameter can be sent as Small Parcels.

Exceptions apply

Parcels that do not exceed 16cm in length and 16cm in width and 16cm in depth can be sent as small parcels, provided the weight does not exceed 2kg. Visit our shop to buy boxes this size.

What if I need a quicker service?

1st Class

Trust 1st Class for quick, efficient delivery across the UK. We’re committed to making sure that your letters and parcels reach their destinations the next working day – and Saturdays

Find out more about 1st Class mail

What if I want a confirmed delivery?

Royal Mail Signed For™

When you need the extra peace of mind you get from proof of delivery with a signature, choose our Royal Mail Signed For™ service.

Find out more about Royal Mail Signed For ™ 1st Class.

What if I want a guaranteed next day delivery?

Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm™

If you need an item to arrive next day guaranteed, or are sending money or something valuable, Special Delivery™ gives you added peace of mind.

Find out more about Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm™.

Prices

Our 2nd Class prices for stamps and Online Postage are below:

Letter
Weight	Price
Includes postcards.
Up to 100g	50p

Large letter
Weight	Price
Up to 100g	69p
101-250g	£1.10
251-500g	£1.40
501-750g	£1.90

Small Parcels
Weight	Price
0–1kg	£2.60
1–2kg	£5.60

Medium Parcels
Weight	Price
0–1kg	£5.20
1–2kg	£8.00
2–5kg	£13.35
5–10kg	£19.65
10–20kg	£27.70

How to buy
At your Post Office®

2nd Class stamps are available at all Post Office® branches. Find your nearest Post Office®.

Post & Go
You can also save time at the Post Office® by using one of the self-serve Post & Go machines. Simply weigh your item, select the service you want, buy and print your postage label.

Buy online

Buy your postage online. You can:
- Use our Price Finder to find out how much your item costs and then print postage directly onto your envelopes or labels. Calculate and print your postage now.
Or
- You can go straight to Online Postage and start printing your postage right away.
Retailers

You can also buy stamps from many retail outlets including supermarkets and newsagents.

Certificate of Posting

To make a claim for compensation you will need to provide a Certificate of Posting. If you are posting an item using our 2nd Class service you can request a Certificate of Posting at the Post Office®.
Frequently asked questions
What are the delivery times for 2nd Class mail?

Where can I post a 2nd Class mail item?

I’m posting a valuable item. Should I be using 2nd Class mail?

Is compensation available for 2nd Class mail?

How much does 2nd Class mail cost?

Are there restrictions on what I can send?

Need advice on how to wrap and pack your items?

Search help for more answers...

Search Help and Support

What are the delivery times for 2nd Class mail?

2nd Class items are delivered in two to three working days. We aim to deliver 98% of 2nd Class items within three working days of posting.
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Where can I post a 2nd Class mail item?

You can buy stamps from any Post Office® branch and post your letter over the counter or at any Postbox. You can also buy stamps online and print them from your computer.

If you are posting a parcel, you can visit any Post Office counter to purchase your postage label and mail your parcel at the same time.
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I’m posting a valuable item. Should I be using 2nd Class mail?

You should not use this service to send items of value. All valuable items, especially money and jewellery, should be sent using Special Delivery Guaranteed™.
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Is compensation available for 2nd Class mail?

Every 2nd Class item is covered against loss or damage up to £20 or the value of the item, whichever is lower.

Items of value should be sent using Special Delivery Guaranteed™ which is a tracked and secure service.

Find out more about compensation for loss, damage or delay for all our services.
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How much does 2nd Class mail cost?

Prices are the same no matter where you’re sending to in the UK, and the amount you pay depends simply on the weight and size of the item you’re sending.

Get a price with our Price Finder tool.
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Are there restrictions on what I can send?

Some items are prohibited or restricted from being sent in the post in the UK, so please check before posting.

Find out more about what you can and can’t send.
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Need advice on how to wrap and pack your items?

Find out the correct way to wrap, pack and address your mail.
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Need to get it there fast?

For quick and efficient delivery within the UK.

Find out more about 1st Class mail

Need more than a stamp?

Choose envelopes and other stationery.

Buy online from our Shop now

Sending something special?

Add a personal touch to your letters and packets.

Check out our Smilers® stamp range

Got something special to send?

For tracked next-day delivery with compensation cover.

Learn about the advantages of Special Delivery Guaranteed™

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2nd Class mail

Keeping you connected for less

Price Finder

Overview

2nd Class

Sending a Letter, a Large Letter, a Small Parcel or a Medium Parcel?

Rolled and cylinder shaped parcels

Exceptions apply

What if I need a quicker service?

What if I want a confirmed delivery?

What if I want a guaranteed next day delivery?

Prices

How to buy

At your Post Office®

Buy online

Retailers

Certificate of Posting

Frequently asked questions

Search help for more answers...

What are the delivery times for 2nd Class mail?

Where can I post a 2nd Class mail item?

I’m posting a valuable item. Should I be using 2nd Class mail?

Is compensation available for 2nd Class mail?

How much does 2nd Class mail cost?

Are there restrictions on what I can send?

Need advice on how to wrap and pack your items?

Need to get it there fast?

Need more than a stamp?

Sending something special?

Got something special to send?

Search our help centre

Top topics

Using our UK services

Pay a fee

Tracking your delivery

Preparing your mail

How to buy our services

Our prices

2nd Class mail

Keeping you connected for less

Price Finder

Need to get it there fast?

Need more than a stamp?

Sending something special?

Got something special to send?

Search our help centre

Top topics

We’ve got a new look

Available nowfrom our online shop

Using our UK services

Cookies Policy

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from our online shop