Guide · Practical
Last Posting Dates for Christmas 2026
Royal Mail has published its recommended last posting dates for Christmas 2026. For most cards, the two dates that matter are Friday 18 December for 2nd Class and Monday 21 December for 1st Class. The full table is below, copied from Royal Mail’s own page, followed by a few practical tips for getting your cards out in time.
Royal Mail last posting dates for Christmas 2026
These are the latest recommended dates to post within the UK for delivery before Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2026).
| Last posting date | Royal Mail service |
|---|---|
| Friday 18 December | 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For |
| Saturday 19 December | Royal Mail Tracked 48® |
| Monday 21 December | 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail Tracked 24® |
| Wednesday 23 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed® |
Royal Mail adds that Saturday 19 December is also the last posting date for Royal Mail Tracked Returns® 48 to arrive back with the sender before Christmas.
Parcelforce Worldwide (UK)
If you are sending a parcel rather than a card, Parcelforce Worldwide’s UK services have their own dates:
| Last posting date | Parcelforce service |
|---|---|
| Monday 21 December | express48, express48large |
| Tuesday 22 December | express10, expressAM, express24 |
British Forces Post (BFPO)
Post to the Forces leaves much earlier, and the first deadlines have already passed.
| Destination | Last posting date from the UK | Last arrival at BFPO |
|---|---|---|
| Static Firm Base/PJOBs | 24 October | 30 October |
| Operations | 17 November | 24 November |
| HM Ships | 17 November | 24 November |
For post coming the other way, Royal Mail asks all BFPO locations, including HM Ships, to aim for Wednesday 16 December 2026 so that mail reaches UK addresses in time for Christmas.
Source: Royal Mail, “Get ready for Christmas 2026”, read on 28 October 2026. Royal Mail notes that its last posting dates “are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change”, so check the page again if you are cutting it fine.
Posting cards abroad from the UK
Royal Mail’s Christmas page does not list last posting dates for each country. Instead, it recommends posting international items “as early as possible” and points to the delivery aims in its Country Guides. Look up the country you are writing to, allow the time it gives, then add a margin for the Christmas rush.
If your cards are going to the United States, Royal Mail has a separate page for sending gifts and goods there: royalmail.com/usapersonalupdates. Cards are not gifts, but it is worth a look if you are tucking anything into the envelope.
Writing from the other side of the water? The Irish Christmas posting dates from An Post and the USPS holiday mailing deadlines have their own pages.
How not to miss the last post
A last posting date is the day by which Royal Mail expects to deliver in time, not a promise that it will. A few habits make a real difference.
- Post before the last collection, not just on the right day. A card dropped in after the day’s last collection simply waits for the next one. The collection times are shown on every postbox.
- Use 1st Class for the stragglers. Write the long-distance and elderly relatives’ cards first and send them 2nd Class early in December; keep 1st Class for the handful you finish last.
- Check the size. A standard letter is up to 24 × 16.5 cm, 5 mm thick and 100 g. A chunky card, a square envelope that is too big, or a card with a badge or ribbon inside may count as a Large Letter and need more postage. Royal Mail’s size and weight guide has the details.
- Write the address and postcode clearly. Put a return address on the back of the envelope so a card can come home if something goes wrong.
- Buy stamps before the queues. 1st and 2nd Class stamps have no price printed on them and stay valid, so a book bought in November will still do the job in December.
Missed the post?
It happens to everyone: the cards are written, the stamps are on, and the date has gone. If one or two people would still love to hear from you before Christmas, you can send an animated card by email or share its link by text or WhatsApp instead. It does not depend on postal collections, and you can also write it now and choose the day it should arrive. Our step-by-step guide to sending a card online shows how it works, and you can browse the painted Christmas cards to find the right scene.
It will not replace a card on the mantelpiece, and it is not meant to. It is simply a way to make sure nobody is left out.
Questions
What is the last day to post Christmas cards with Royal Mail in 2026?
For 2nd Class, Friday 18 December. For 1st Class, Monday 21 December. If you post later, Special Delivery Guaranteed® runs until Wednesday 23 December, but it costs considerably more than a stamp.
Do the dates include Northern Ireland?
Yes. Royal Mail’s inland dates cover the whole of the UK. Posting from the Republic of Ireland goes through An Post, which has its own deadlines.
When will this page be updated?
We read Royal Mail’s page on 28 October 2026 and will check it again through November and December; if Royal Mail changes a date, this page will change with it. Dates for Christmas 2027 will be added in the autumn, once Royal Mail publishes them.