Royal Mail Send Parcel: Prices, Sizes & Step-by-Step Guide

Sending a parcel should be straightforward, but with so many size options, price bands, and services, it’s easy to feel stuck before you’ve even bought a stamp. Royal Mail handles over 130,000 drop-off points across the UK and delivers to over 200 countries, making it the default choice for millions. This guide walks through the exact steps, prices, and trade-offs so you can send with confidence.

Drop-off points: over 130,000 ·
Years in operation: over 500 ·
Maximum parcel weight: 20 kg ·
Number of parcel services: 5 main ·
Countries served: over 200

Here is a quick overview of Royal Mail’s parcel sending basics:

How to send a parcel with Royal Mail

Whether you’re sending a birthday gift or a marketplace sale, Royal Mail gives you three main routes: online, at the Post Office, or with a scheduled collection. Each has its own steps.

Using Royal Mail Click and Drop

• Go to the Royal Mail Click & Drop (service portal) and choose your destination country and weight.
• No registration required for single parcels – just enter the details.
• Print your postage label at home and attach it to your parcel.

After printing, you can drop it at a Postbox, Parcel Postbox, Post Office, or Royal Mail Delivery Office. According to Royal Mail Click & Drop, you can also schedule a collection from your home address for an extra fee.

Sending from a Post Office

• Take your parcel to any Post Office branch – no printer needed.
• Choose your service (1st Class, 2nd Class, or Tracked) at the counter.
• Pay for the postage; the staff will weigh and label your parcel.

The Post Office (Royal Mail’s retail partner) states that 1st Class aims to deliver the next working day (including Saturdays), while 2nd Class takes 2–3 working days.

Printing your postage label

If you use Click and Drop, you can print labels on plain paper or adhesive label sheets. No special equipment is needed. The label includes a barcode that Royal Mail scans at each checkpoint.

Sending within the UK

• Domestic services cover next-day (1st Class) and 2-3 day (2nd Class) options.
• Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 offer end-to-end tracking with compensation up to £100.
• Maximum weight: 20 kg. See Royal Mail Help Centre (official guidance) for size restrictions.

The takeaway: Plan ahead by checking size and weight before you go.

Royal Mail parcel sizes and prices

Parcels fall into size bands – Small, Medium, Large – and the price depends on the size and service level. Knowing where your parcel fits saves money.

Royal Mail parcel size limits

These are the official size bands for parcels:

Measurements from Royal Mail Help Centre. For cylinders, length plus twice diameter must not exceed 104 cm.

Royal Mail parcel pricing by service

Five main services come with different price points for each size. The table below shows online prices (as of March 2025) from Royal Mail – Current postage prices.

Prices shown are online rates. Post Office prices differ slightly: 1st Class small parcel from £5.45, 2nd Class from £4.25.

How to measure your parcel

• Use a rigid ruler or tape measure for length, width, and depth.
• For irregular shapes, measure the longest side and the widest points.
• Check the Royal Mail Size and weight guide for exceptions like cylinders.

The catch: overestimating your parcel size moves you into a higher price band, while underestimating can result in surcharges. Always round up when in doubt.

Royal Mail postage to Ireland prices

Sending to Ireland is one of the most common international routes. Royal Mail handles it as an international destination but with its own price list.

Royal Mail international shipping to Ireland

• Standard international parcel from £6.60 (Royal Mail – Current postage prices)
• International Tracked from £8.15, with full tracking and compensation.
• Ireland Express (next-day) from £16.68.

Prices and delivery times to Ireland

Here are the prices and delivery times for Ireland:

Delivery times are estimates; customs may add delays. According to Royal Mail, tracking is included on Tracked services.

Customs and forms for Ireland

• No customs forms needed for gifts under £270 value.
• For commercial parcels or those over £270, a CN22 or CN23 form is required.
• Ireland is in the EU, so VAT and duties may apply depending on the item.

For details, see Royal Mail’s international postage page.

The implication: Opting for tracked services can reduce customs delays.

Evri vs Royal Mail for sending parcels

Evri (formerly Hermes) is Royal Mail’s biggest competitor for domestic parcel sending. The choice often comes down to price, convenience, and reliability.

Evri vs Royal Mail: price comparison

For a 1kg small parcel, Evri’s standard service typically starts around £2.95 via online booking, while Royal Mail’s cheapest tracked service (Tracked 48) starts at £3.65. For heavier parcels (5–10 kg), Evri often charges less. However, Royal Mail includes tracking on all services, whereas Evri charges extra for some tracking options. According to Royal Mail pricing, a 5 kg medium parcel with Tracked 48 is £5.15. Evri’s equivalent (Home Delivery 3–5 day) can be found for around £3.50–£4.00 depending on the seller’s contract.

Delivery speed comparison

• Royal Mail 1st Class: next working day (including Saturday).
• Royal Mail 2nd Class: 2-3 working days.
• Evri Standard: 3-5 working days.
• Evri Next Day: available at premium.

Both offer Saturday delivery options. Royal Mail’s Saturday service is included in 1st Class; Evri charges extra.

Drop-off locations comparison

• Royal Mail: over 130,000 (Post Offices, Customer Service Points, Parcel Postboxes) – Royal Mail.
• Evri: over 10,000 ParcelShops – according to Evri’s website.

Royal Mail’s network is more than 10 times larger, making it more convenient for most people. Evri shops are often located in convenience stores.

Tracking and insurance

• Royal Mail includes tracking on all 1st/2nd Class parcels since 2024 (Royal Mail pricing).
• Evri offers tracking on its standard services but charges extra for signature and higher insurance.
• Royal Mail’s compensation: up to £100 for Tracked, up to £50 for Signed For.

For high-value items, Royal Mail’s included tracking and compensation can justify the higher price.

The pattern: Choose based on weight and need for speed.

Royal Mail Click and Drop explained

Click and Drop is Royal Mail’s online label generation tool. It’s designed for individuals and small sellers who want to print postage at home.

What is Click and Drop?

It’s a free service that lets you create a postage label by entering the parcel’s destination, weight, and dimensions. No account or registration is required for a single parcel – just go to Royal Mail Click & Drop and follow the steps.

How to set up Click and Drop

1. Visit send.royalmail.com.
2. Select your destination country and enter the weight.
3. Choose the service (1st Class, 2nd Class, Tracked, etc.).
4. Pay by card or PayPal.
5. Download and print the label.

According to Royal Mail, you can also schedule a collection by selecting the pickup option during the flow.

Benefits of using Click and Drop

• No registration for single parcels.
• Integration with eBay, Etsy, and Amazon (with account).
• No minimum number of items – send one parcel at a time.
• Access to lower online prices (e.g., Tracked 48 from £3.65 vs in-branch £4.25+).

The catch: Without a printer, you lose the convenience; consider the Post Office.

Of the two major couriers, the choice often comes down to these factors:

Sources: Royal Mail (official pricing), Post Office, and Evri’s website.

Royal Mail defines four main parcel categories:

All dimensions from Royal Mail Size and weight guide.

Royal Mail parcel sending: upsides and downsides

Step-by-step guide to sending a parcel with Royal Mail

1. Measure and weigh your parcel using a tape measure and scales.
2. Determine the size category (Small, Medium, Large) using Royal Mail’s size guide.
3. Choose your service (1st Class, 2nd Class, Tracked, or International) based on speed and budget.
4. Print a label via Click and Drop or buy postage at a Post Office.
5. Attach the label securely and drop off at a Post Office, Parcel Postbox, or schedule a collection.
6. Keep the tracking receipt and check delivery status online.

Following these steps ensures a smooth parcel sending experience.

Confirmed facts and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Royal Mail has over 130,000 drop-off points across the UK (Royal Mail).
• Parcel size categories are Small, Medium, Large, and Cylinder (Royal Mail Help Centre).
• Click and Drop allows label printing without registration (Royal Mail).
• 1st Class aims for next working day delivery (Post Office).

What’s unclear

• Exact delivery times for international destinations can vary due to customs (Royal Mail).
• Price changes occur; always check the official site for current rates (Royal Mail).
• Cylinder size rules may differ for international parcels.
• Some Click and Drop features, such as scheduled collection, require a fee that may vary.

What Royal Mail and the Post Office say

“We’ve got over 130,000 drop off points, so send it your way.”

– Royal Mail (official UK postal service)

“1st Class aims to deliver the next working day, including Saturdays.”

– Post Office (Royal Mail’s retail partner)

For anyone sending a parcel in the UK, Royal Mail offers unmatched convenience with its enormous drop-off network and inclusive tracking. The trade-off is price: if you’re sending heavy items, Evri can undercut Royal Mail significantly. For quick, reliable doorstep delivery of small parcels, Royal Mail’s Click and Drop with 1st Class remains the smart default. For marketplace sellers, the integration with eBay and Etsy via Click and Drop makes it hard to beat. The choice is clear: for convenience and speed, go Royal Mail; for budget-heavy parcels, look at Evri.

For a detailed breakdown of current rates and size limits, refer to a detailed guide on prices and sizes, which consolidates the latest official data.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common questions about sending parcels with Royal Mail.