How to pack and post parcels cheaply in the UK

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Quick answer

To post parcels cheaply in the UK, make your item as small and light as you safely can so it fits the lowest size band, measure and weigh it at home, then compare prices online before you go to a counter. With Royal Mail, buying postage online is usually cheaper than paying at a Post Office counter, and Second Class or a non-tracked service costs less if speed isn’t critical. Couriers such as Evri and InPost can be cheaper for some parcels, especially if you drop off at a shop or locker.

Whether you’re sending Christmas presents, returning Black Friday orders or selling things you no longer need, a little preparation saves money every time. Prices change regularly, so always check the current figure on the carrier’s own website before you send.

Royal Mail size bands

Royal Mail prices depend on size first, then weight. Get the size band right and you avoid surcharges or your parcel being returned. These are the standard Royal Mail UK formats.

Format	Maximum size	Maximum weight
Letter	24cm x 16.5cm x 0.5cm	100g
Large letter	35.3cm x 25cm x 2.5cm	750g
Small parcel	45cm x 35cm x 16cm	2kg
Medium parcel	61cm x 46cm x 46cm	20kg

A few points to note:

• The large letter band is the big saving. If you can fit a slim item (a T-shirt, a paperback, a phone case) into a large letter at 2.5cm thick or less, it’s much cheaper than a small parcel. A cardboard thickness gauge or a ruler helps.
• Thickness catches people out. A padded envelope that bulges to 3cm is a small parcel, not a large letter.
• Weight bands sit within size bands, so a light medium parcel costs less than a heavy one.

Current stamp prices

From 7 April 2026, Royal Mail stamps for a standard letter cost £1.80 First Class and 91p Second Class. Royal Mail changed several parcel prices again during 2026, so check the current figures for large letters and parcels on royalmail.com before you buy.

Seven ways to cut postage costs

1. Shrink the package

Use the smallest box or bag that protects the item. Cut down boxes that are too tall, and use a padded envelope or mailing bags for clothes and soft items instead of a box.

2. Weigh and measure at home

A digital parcel scale pays for itself quickly if you send parcels regularly. Weighing at home lets you compare prices online and avoid guessing at the counter.

3. Buy postage online

Royal Mail offers lower prices for many parcels bought online than at a Post Office counter. You can print a label at home, or in many cases get a QR code to show at a Post Office or drop at a parcel postbox.

4. Choose the right speed

If it doesn’t need to arrive tomorrow, Second Class or a cheaper courier service is usually enough. Following Ofcom’s 2025 review of the universal postal service, Royal Mail no longer has to deliver Second Class letters six days a week and can deliver them on alternate weekdays, so allow extra time for cards and letters sent Second Class.

5. Decide if you really need tracking

Tracking and signature services add cost. For low-value items, a standard service with proof of postage (ask for a free Certificate of Posting at the Post Office) may be enough. For valuable or irreplaceable items, pay for tracking and the right level of compensation.

6. Compare couriers

Evri, InPost, DPD, Yodel and others all offer consumer sending, often through shops or lockers. Common patterns:

• Shop drop-off (for example at an Evri ParcelShop) is often cheaper than home collection.
• Locker services (such as InPost lockers) let you drop off at any time, often at lower prices for small items.
• Home collection costs more but saves a trip, useful for heavy items.

Compare the size and weight limits carefully, because they differ from Royal Mail’s.

7. Reuse packaging, safely

Boxes and padding from your own deliveries are free. Remove or cover old labels and barcodes completely so your parcel isn’t misrouted.

Packing so it arrives in one piece

Damaged parcels cost you twice: once in postage, again in replacing the item. Follow these rules:

• Use a sturdy box for anything fragile. Double-wall boxes are best for heavy or breakable items.
• Leave space for padding on all sides: bubble wrap, paper or air pillows.
• Do the shake test. If it rattles, add more padding.
• Tape all seams with proper parcel tape, not sticky tape. The “H” method (along the middle seam and across both ends) is strongest.
• Label clearly, with the full address including postcode, plus a return address inside and outside the parcel.

Proof of postage and compensation

If a parcel goes missing, proof that you sent it matters. Royal Mail offers a free Certificate of Posting at the Post Office counter, which gives you proof of postage if you need to claim for a lost item on a standard service. Tracked and signed services include proof of delivery, and Special Delivery is Royal Mail’s option for valuable items, with higher compensation levels that you can check on royalmail.com.

If you’re selling online, check your marketplace’s rules too. Many require tracked delivery for higher-value items before they’ll protect you as a seller if a buyer claims an item didn’t arrive.

What you can’t send

Every carrier has a list of prohibited and restricted items. Some items are banned outright, such as explosives and ammunition. Others are allowed only with conditions on quantity or packaging, including aerosols, perfumes and aftershaves, nail varnish, alcohol and some lithium batteries (the rules depend on how they’re packed and whether they’re inside a device). Valuables such as jewellery and cash should go by Special Delivery. Check Royal Mail’s prohibited and restricted items page, or the courier’s equivalent, before you pack.

Returning online orders

Many retailers provide a free returns label or QR code. Use it, because sending at your own cost can be more expensive. If you’re returning under the 14-day cancellation right and you have to pay postage, the retailer must still refund your original standard delivery charge. Keep proof of postage until your refund arrives.

Christmas posting tips

• Check last posting dates. Royal Mail publishes its recommended last posting dates for Christmas each year. Couriers publish their own.
• Post early in December. Networks are at their busiest just before Christmas.
• Send big items early or order direct to the recipient. Many retailers offer free gift wrapping and delivery straight to the recipient, which can cost less than posting it yourself.

Sources

• Royal Mail: Sending in the UK
• Royal Mail: Prices 2026
• Royal Mail: Online parcel price reduction
• Royal Mail: Prohibited and restricted items (personal customers)
• Royal Mail: Large Letter size guide
• Ofcom: Securing the future of the universal postal service
• GOV.UK: Accepting returns and giving refunds