Christmas Posting Dates 2026: A Guide for Online Sellers
Come December, one question matters more for retailers than any other: when is the last day to post for Christmas?
The festive season puts extra pressure on posting schedules. Below, you’ll find the official Christmas posting dates for 2026, how to set your own cut-offs, what to expect over the holiday break and how to prepare for January returns.
Last posting dates for Christmas 2026
Carrier and service | Last recommended posting date |
|---|---|
Royal Mail 2nd Class / 2nd Class Signed For | Friday 18 December |
Royal Mail Tracked 48 | Saturday 19 December |
Royal Mail 1st Class / 1st Class Signed For | Monday 21 December |
Royal Mail Tracked 24 | Monday 21 December |
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed | Wednesday 23 December |
Parcelforce express48 | Monday 21 December |
Parcelforce express24 / expressAM / express10 | Tuesday 22 December |
DPD 2 Day | Saturday 19 December |
DPD Next Day | Monday 21 December |
DPD Gold | Wednesday 23 December |
Evri Standard Tracked | Saturday 19 December |
Evri Next Day Tracked | Monday 21 December |
Sources: Royal Mail and Post Office. Dates are subject to change, and remote postcodes may need posting earlier.
Over Christmas 2025, more than 99% of items posted by Royal Mail’s recommended dates arrived on time (IDS Q3 trading update, via IPC).This came during an exceptionally busy festive period, with Royal Mail reporting an 8% increase in parcel volumes compared with the previous year. Almost 8 million more parcels also passed through its parcel points during peak season.
Set your own order-by dates
The last posting date is not necessarily the last day customers can place an order and still receive it before Christmas. Picking, packing and the trip to the counter all take time, so build in a buffer of at least a day
Delivery option you offer | Carrier cut-off | Suggested customer order-by date |
|---|---|---|
Standard (2nd Class) | Friday 18 December | Thursday 17 December |
Tracked 48 / Evri Standard / DPD 2 Day | Saturday 19 December | Friday 18 December |
1st Class / Tracked 24 / Next Day | Monday 21 December | Sunday 20 December |
Special Delivery / DPD Gold | Wednesday 23 December | Tuesday 22 December |
During the Christmas rush, increased order volumes and earlier collection times can cause further delays, making it important to account for your own processing times. A little forward planning goes a long way.
Why December is different
Gifting drives the rush.
Nearly half of UK adults (49%) planned to send Christmas gifts in 2025, and Royal Mail was the carrier of choice for 54% of them (YouGov). Many of those parcels go straight to the recipient, never seen by the buyer.
For inspiration on making your parcels stand out this festive season, explore our guide to Christmas mailers.
Prepare for January returns
Royal Mail forecast a 25% rise in returns in the first full week of January 2026, the week of “Takeback Tuesday” (Post & Parcel). Ill-fitting clothes, duplicate presents and closing returns windows all fuel the surge.
Your Christmas returns policy matters long before then. 84% of shoppers say free returns influence where they buy, and 53% expect at least 30 days to send something back (YouGov).
Returns policy option | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Statutory minimum | 14 days to cancel, then 14 days to send items back | Meeting the legal baseline |
Extended Christmas window | Gifts bought from November can be returned into January | Building confidence with gift buyers |
Free returns | You cover the cost of sending items back | Winning over hesitant shoppers |
Paid returns | The customer covers postage | Protecting margins on low-value items |
At any rate, make the process painless. Mailers with a double adhesive strip let customers reseal the original bag and send it straight back, with no scramble for packaging.
See our Freepost & Returns mailing bags.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last posting date for Christmas 2026?
For Royal Mail, it’s Friday 18 December for 2nd Class, Monday 21 December for 1st Class and Tracked 24, and Wednesday 23 December for Special Delivery Guaranteed.
What’s the last day to post with DPD or Evri?
DPD Next Day and Evri Next Day Tracked are Monday 21 December. DPD Gold runs until Wednesday 23 December.
Should my order-by date match the carrier’s posting date?
No. Set it at least a day earlier to allow time to pick and pack.
When is the Boxing Day bank holiday in 2026?
Monday 28 December, as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday.
When should I order packaging for Christmas?
At least 6–8 weeks before Christmas. Our Christmas mailers guide has a full timeline.
Don’t let packaging be the bottleneck
Deadlines are tight enough. Make sure your mailers are in stock before the rush, and keep returns-ready bags on hand for January. Get a quick quote in our bag builder, or call our team on 01438 873840.
