Compare shipping solutions

Ways to ship with us

Shipping tools to help streamline your business

Ways to ship with us

Shipping tools to help streamline your business

Compare parcel shipping solutions

Choose a solution to suit you, whether you're sending a one-off parcel, or 20 or more each week. It's up to you whether you want to open a business parcel delivery account or not, and we'll make parcel delivery easier, whatever your business size.

	Click & Drop	Royal Mail Pro Shipping	API Shipping	Bespoke Shipping	Third party partners
Best for	Quick set-up	Scalability	Flexibility	Full control	Extra services in addition to shipping
Typical business size	One-off sender Marketplace seller SME Corporation	SME Corporation	SME Corporation	Corporation	SME Corporation
Need a business account to use?
Free to use?
	Find out more	Find out more	Find out more	Find out more	Find out more

Applying a 2D Barcode FAQs

What does a 2D barcode look like?

Below is an example of a Click & Drop label. The red arrow is pointing at the 2D barcode.

Why do I need to produce a 2D barcode on all my Parcels, including Royal Mail Signed For 1s Class and 2nd Class and Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am® and by 1pm®

Royal Mail are withdrawing all parcel products that do not carry a 2D barcoded label. This includes Royal Mail 24® and Royal Mail 48® unbarcoded services. 2D barcodes are data-rich barcodes generated through shipping solutions, that enable Royal Mail to offer greater levels of service to our customers than unbarcoded products permit.

Once you’ve migrated to a suitable shipping solution, you’ll have access to all the benefits that entails, including online delivery confirmation for all the parcels you send.

When do I need to ensure that my items contain a 2D barcode?

Register by 30 June 2021 to start using one of the RMG or third party parcel shipping solutions. For more information on which solution is most suitable, please visit the top of this page.

You will be contacted by Customer Experience with a migration date in due course to support you in your migration to a shipping solution which will enable the production of the appropriate 2D barcodes.

If you’ve looked at the shipping solutions on offer and feel you are unable to migrate to any of them then please complete the webform by 30 June 2021 by visiting royalmail.com/barcodingfeedback. We’ll get in touch once we have received your feedback and work through your options with you.

What options are available to produce an appropriate 2D barcode?

For information on the shipping solutions available please view the options at the top of this page.

What will happen if my items do not feature a 2D barcode in future?

Items which do not feature a data rich 2D barcode will be manually intercepted and surcharged in future.

What are the main benefits of moving to a fully integrated Shipping Solution?

The main benefits of using a shipping solution include:

Lower prices
Track your items
Free to use (excluding third party or bespoke solutions)
Quick set up
Automate label printing
Create end of day reports
Import your orders
Receive regular shipping and tracking reports
Integrate multiple storefronts for marketplace sellers
International – automate your customs forms

I have a supply of pre-printed Royal Mail Signed For / Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am® and by 1pm® labels, can I still use these?

These can only be used up until the point which you are migrated to an appropriate shipping solution.

Items which do not feature a data rich 2D barcode will be manually intercepted and surcharged in future.

What should I do with my pre-printed Royal Mail Signed For / Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am® and by 1pm® labels once I migrate to a full shipping solution?

You should dispose of any remaining pre-printed labels once you have migrated to an appropriate shipping solution which allows you to print your own 2D barcode labels.