This peak, you’re our Christmas number one.
Fill in your details and we’ll be in touch to chat about your festive needs.
Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide are delivering more than parcels for our customers this Christmas…
we’re delivering your promises. Putting you first this festive period with more capacity, flexibility
and planning, to make sure this peak is one worth singing about. Whether you’re looking to partner
with us for the first time or are an existing customer wanting to plan your services ahead of peak,
get in touch today before the busy season begins!
It’s beginning to look a lot like peak’s covered…
As the nation’s largest delivery network, we’re the number one choice this peak.
Extra capacity
With 2 Super Hubs that can process over 1.75m parcels on their busiest days, 5 Parcel Hubs and 5 Parcel Sort Centres.
Extra elves
87,000 posties, almost 6,000 Parcelforce drivers, thousands of seasonal workers and 1,300 customer service advisors are here to support!
Extra wheels
We’re growing our fleet of over 48,000 vehicles (including 9,000 electric vehicles) with an additional 6,000 hire vans and trucks to support this year’s peak.
Extra equipment
More resources from storage, bags, trays and handheld scanners to help move your festive items faster.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
… to be with Royal Mail and Parcelforce
From our friendly posties to an unrivalled out of home network,
we’re here to take the stress out of the festive flurry.
Turn the most demanding of customers into your number one fans this peak,
with our convenient delivery and returns solutions.
The UK’s greenest carrier*
this Christmas and beyond
We have the lowest carbon footprint per parcel of any major UK delivery company.* Our overall emissions have reduced by a further 7% since last year and 31% of our routes are now zero-emissions.**
Next day, every day,
up to Christmas Eve
You can now access our full range of express, guaranteed and great value tracked festive deliveries through one account.
Largest out of home
network in the UK
Consumers enjoy having more control over deliveries and returns. We’ve got Royal Mail Shop locations, Customer Service Points, Post Offices and Parcel Lockers to collect from and over 130,000 locations nationwide for returns.
One network for little
and large festive treats!
Send big and small parcels and letters through one network. We can also accommodate super-large items up to 2.5m long†… like Christmas trees!
Door drops get your festive
message in your customers hands
They’re ideal for nationwide reach of up to 32 million addresses across the UK, with an 83% engagement rate on average.††
Cross-border shipping?
We’ve got it covered
We’re the perfect partner to ensure items arrive on time across borders and can help you manage duties and taxes at checkout with our range of solutions like PDDP, DTP and the IOSS scheme.
* Based on publicly available reported gCO2e per parcel from other UK parcel operators. ** Royal Mail Group Sustainability Report 2025-26. †Only available via our express48large service. ††DMA/JICMAIL Door Drop Report 2025
This year to save you from tears…
follow our last posting dates
UK Royal Mail services
We’re just finalising the dates for the rest of our services and will provide them shortly.
Ideal for those last minute gifts
Our next day options include Inflight delivery options, end to end tracking, customer notifications, a photo on delivery, generous size and weight limits and the option of an Age and ID verification add on.
We began using the next day service a year ago. It’s helped to give us a competitive advantage and our customers have responded very positively to the service.
Will Manders, Head of Ecommerce, Whistlefish
Great value tracked
With a next day delivery aim 7 days a week and a Stop and Return function if the item is no longer required during transit.
Guaranteed delivery by a certain time
For urgent or valuable items, our range of timed next day options - including simply by the end of the following day - includes a money back guarantee and a signature and photo on delivery.
Express timed delivery
Our range of timed next day options for those urgent or valuable items includes a money back guarantee and a signature and photo on delivery for extra peace of mind.
Heavy or large? We can handle it!
We have services and a network that is designed to carry big or bulkier items. These services include Inflight delivery options, end to end tracking, customer notifications and a photo on delivery.
For larger items, Parcelforce provides the capacity, flexibility and care we need every time.
Sam Gompel, Owner/Director, Gompels Healthcare
Express large delivery
Our timed and guaranteed next day services will allow you to ship larger and weightier items up to 2.5m long* (500 litres in size) and weighing up to 30kg.
Two-day extra-large delivery
If you’re sending items up to 2.5m long and 4m length and girth combined, then our two-day, dedicated large service will allow you to send larger items like TVs.
* Only available via our express48large service.
Great festive value
Our two-day services include Inflight delivery options, end to end tracking, customer notifications, a photo on delivery, generous size and weight limits and optional Age and ID verification.
We’re able to offer customers the convenience and peace of mind they expect with Royal Mail Tracked 48® as our standard service.
Ben Boon, Co-founder, Pom Pom London
Flexible solutions
Choose between guaranteed two-day delivery (with a 25% refund of the delivery cost if it doesn’t arrive on time) or a great value tracked service with a two-day delivery aim.
When it’s not quite right…
With peak comes a natural increase in returns. Not to worry - our returns solutions are simple for you and your shoppers.
Customers can return from thousands of out of home locations nationwide, or we’ll pick up from their doorstep with Parcel Collect and can even bring the label.
We’re excited to expand our partnership with Royal Mail and give Vinted members full access to their UK-wide parcel pick-up and drop-off network this Christmas.
Vytautas Atkočaitis, Vice President, Vinted Go
Flexibility over returns
There are around 5,000 Parcel Lockers and 8,500 Royal Mail Shop locations for customers to drop items at, with more being added all the time. Your shoppers can also return at 1,200 Royal Mail Customer Service Points, 1,500 Drop-boxes, 110,000 Postboxes and around 5,000 of our new Digital Postboxes, plus 11,500 Post Office branches.
Collection now available
You can also offer your customers a Click & Collect option for their deliveries from thousands of locations, including our network of Parcel Lockers, Royal Mail Shop locations, Post Office branches or Customer Service Points.
Doorstep collection
If your customers don’t want to leave the house (especially when it’s chilly!), our posties can pick up returns from their doorstep with Parcel Collect. We’ll even bring the label so you don’t have to send one with every order!
Updated returns portal
A fully customisable platform for retailers that can be adapted to reflect your branding and make it easy for customers to self-serve. There’s a host of convenient return options to choose from, as well as helpful tips and guides.
Delivering global reach this festive season
Offer international shoppers fast delivery aims, notifications in local languages,* compensation and generous size and weight limits up to 30kg with our range of global services.**
We rely on your international service to ensure our products reach our global audience quickly, helping to build loyalty.
Aaron Stott, Managing Director, P Louise
To Europe
Delivery to Europe with a 2 day delivery aim. Benefit from end-to-end tracked delivery and Inflight delivery options. Effectively manage duties and taxes at checkout with our range of solutions including PDDP, DTP and the IOSS scheme, helping to create a smoother delivery experience for recipients across the EU.◊
Rest of world
Reach over 240 countries and territories worldwide with our fully tracked services, delivery from 3 working days for major destinations worldwide. You can also send large parcels up to 1.5m in length and 30kg.
Need it fast?
For your most urgent items this Christmas, benefit from guaranteed international delivery from 2 working days.
* Available in 16 languages.
** Available on selected services.
◊ There are certain items we restrict through our network.
Please check our list of Prohibited and Restricted items to comply with International regulations. Country weight restrictions may also apply,
please check our country pages for more detail. For medium sized parcels, items must be max 61cm x 46cm x 46cm.
A greener Christmas
Choose the UK’s greenest delivery carrier.* Our posties walk up to a billion steps every day, covering over half of our delivery routes wholly or partially on foot. This helps to give us the lowest carbon footprint per parcel (at just 164gCO2e) of any major UK delivery company.*
We want partners who have sustainability at their core. We enjoy working with you because you understand the importance of reducing carbon.
Edward Bulmer, Owner, Edward Bulmer Natural Paints
Responsible delivery
Our overall total emissions have reduced by 7% compared with last year, due to our continued investment in: a modern electric delivery fleet (the UK’s largest with 9,000 EV’s!), increased use of biofuels in our trucks, and reducing air and energy use in our estates.◊
Steps to net-zero
Royal Mail and Parcelforce are striving for Net-Zero by 2040 and 100% zero-emissions in the final mile by 2035. We’re on the right track and 31% of our delivery routes are now zero-emission.◊
* Based on publicly available reported gCO2e per parcel from other UK parcel operators. ◊Royal Mail Group Sustainability Report 2025-26.
See revenue soar with mail this Christmas
Tesco, Sky, Specsavers - they all use mail. Why? Because it works. 97% of mail is engaged with, 11% prompts a website visit, and a whopping 6% results in a purchase. Mail holds attention for 145 seconds.*
Mail, especially when digitally activated, holds a valuable position alongside digital marketing for customer acquisition.
Precision Marketing
Hybrid Mail
Save time and money with a digital solution that allows your team to upload mail directly to your servers from home. We’ll take it from there to process, print and deliver your mail to the door.
Partially Addressed Mail
Location-specific targeting to reach small groups of carefully selected households. No personal data required as we’ll deliver to homes rather than individuals.
Door to Door
Precise targeting by location or demographic, to around 32 million addresses. No personal data needed: we’ll deliver leaflets, flyers and brochures directly to households and businesses nationwide.
Addressed Advertising Mail
Strengthen relationships with current customers, to prompt them online or in-store. Grow your business with precision targeting to expand your brand reach.
*JICMAIL Q1 2025.
Royal Mail, the Cruciform logo, Parcelforce Worldwide, Parcelforce and the Parcelforce Worldwide globe logo are registered trademarks of Royal Mail Group Limited. Registered Number 4138203. Registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 185 Farringdon Road, London, EC1A 1AA.
© Royal Mail Group Limited 2026. All rights reserved.