First & Second Class Letters and Parcels

First Class from 60p

What can I send?

Letters and parcels are now priced depending on size and weight, so it’s worth knowing what the formats are.

• Letter: 240mm length x 165mm width, no thicker than 5mm and a maximum 100g
• Large letter: 353mm length x 250mm width, no thicker than 25mm and a maximum 750g
• Small Parcel: 450mm length x 350mm width, no thicker than 80mm and a maximum 2kg
  Cubes: Parcels of 160mm x 160mm x 160mm size limit can be sent using the Small Parcel rate.
  Tubes: a tube fitting within the set of dimensions described above can also be sent using the Small Parcel rate. 
• Medium Parcel: 610mm length x 460mm width, no thicker than 460mm and a maximum 20kg
  Tubes: a tube of 900mm x 2x diameter of 1040mm can be sent using the Medium Parcel rate.
• Items exceeding the Medium Parcel dimensions must be sent through Parcelforce Worldwide services.

What if my item gets lost or damaged?

First and Second class includes compensation up to £20. You must have a certificate of posting when making a claim, so be sure to ask for one in branch when you post your item.

To make a claim, fill in a P58 form – you can pick this up from your local Post Office. Claims are normally processed within two to four weeks. If your claim relates to damage, you may be asked to provide evidence of posting and value.

Sending an urgent or valuable item, or cash?

Take a look at Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed™, for guaranteed next day delivery and higher compensation cover. For larger packages there’s Parcelforce Worldwide express24.

Royal Mail delivers to 99% of UK addresses, but if delivering would put the health and safety of staff at risk or the address is difficult to access then they may not be able to deliver.

Suspension of delivery

Royal Mail can suspend delivery on a long-term or short term basis if:

• The addresses can only be reached by boat or airIf there are scheduled planes or ferries to the destination, Royal Mail will deliver on days when this transport is available. If there are no scheduled services, Royal Mail will try to delivery at least once a week.
• Addresses are on poorly maintained roads that require a 15 minute plus roundtrip by vehicle or on foot
• Access to the address is blocked or there is no letterbox
• There’s been a specific incident such as a member of staff being attacked by a dog

Changing how you receive your mail

You can ask for fewer deliveries a week or request delivery to a different location if you don’t want to or can’t improve access to your address.  Royal Mail can also deliver to:

• An alternative customer or Royal Mail roadside box
• A specific place, such as the site office in a caravan park
• A local Post Office branch that offers Local Collect™

There’s a small cost involved in arranging alternative delivery. You may have to pay additional costs for an alternative delivery point if the situation is within your control, for example you have dangerous dogs or an impassable private road.

You can appeal against a suspension of delivery directly with Royal Mail