Getting started
How to post a parcel in the UK: a step-by-step guide
Posting a parcel for the first time can feel confusing: there are different sizes, services, couriers and ways to pay. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes once you know the steps. Here's the whole process from start to finish.
Step 1: Pack your item
Choose packaging that suits what you're sending:
- Soft items (clothes, fabric, cushions) go in a plastic mailing bag.
- Books, games and flat items go in a padded envelope or cardboard mailer.
- Anything fragile or rigid goes in a cardboard box with padding all round.
Seal it with parcel tape. Our guide to packaging a parcel has more detail on protecting fragile items.
Step 2: Measure and weigh it
Once it's packed, measure the length, width and depth in centimetres and weigh it. Kitchen scales are fine for most parcels. The size and weight together decide which services you can use and how much you'll pay. Round up – a parcel that is 2.01kg counts as over 2kg.
Step 3: Work out its size band
Royal Mail sorts everything into four sizes:
| Size | Maximum dimensions | Maximum weight |
|---|---|---|
| Letter | 24 × 16.5 × 0.5cm | 100g |
| Large Letter | 35.3 × 25 × 2.5cm | 750g |
| Small Parcel | 45 × 35 × 16cm | 2kg |
| Medium Parcel | 61 × 46 × 46cm | 20kg |
Couriers such as Evri and InPost use their own limits and mostly charge by weight. Our postage calculator checks every size limit for you.
Step 4: Choose a service
Ask yourself three questions:
- How fast does it need to arrive? Next-day services cost more than 2-3 day ones.
- Do you need tracking? For anything you've sold, or anything valuable, yes.
- Can the recipient collect it? Shop-to-shop and locker-to-locker services are much cheaper, but the recipient has to pick the parcel up.
For most small parcels, Royal Mail Tracked 48 bought online (from £3.75) or an Evri or InPost drop-off service (from £2.62) is the best value.
Step 5: Buy the postage
You have three ways to pay:
- Online, with a printed label – usually the cheapest. Print the label and stick it on the parcel.
- Online, with a QR code – no printer needed. Show the code on your phone at the drop-off point and they print the label for you. Royal Mail, Evri and InPost all offer this.
- At a Post Office counter – simplest, but often the most expensive for parcels.
Read our guide to Royal Mail Click & Drop for help printing labels at home.
Step 6: Address it
If you've bought a label online, the address is on it. If you're writing it yourself, put the recipient's name, house number and street, town, and postcode on separate lines, and add your own address on the back. See how to address an envelope or parcel.
Step 7: Drop it off
- Royal Mail: Post Office branches, Customer Service Points, Royal Mail parcel lockers, or a postbox if it fits through the slot and has a pre-paid label.
- Evri: Evri ParcelShops, which are often in newsagents and supermarkets, and Evri lockers.
- InPost: any InPost locker, open 24/7, or an InPost shop.
Not sure where your nearest one is? Our where can I post? page finds the nearest drop-off point on Google Maps.
Keep your receipt or booking confirmation. It's your proof of postage if anything goes wrong.
Tip: Enter your parcel's size and weight into our postage calculator to see every service that fits, cheapest first.
Frequently asked questions
Can I post a parcel in a postbox?
Yes, if it fits through the slot and has a pre-paid Royal Mail label or enough stamps. Larger parcels need to go to a Post Office, Customer Service Point or Royal Mail locker.
Do I need a printer to post a parcel?
No. Royal Mail, Evri and InPost all let you get a QR code instead, which is scanned and printed at the drop-off point.
What's the cheapest way to post a parcel?
It depends on the size and weight. For small, light parcels, drop-off couriers and Royal Mail tracked services bought online are usually cheapest. Our calculator compares them for you.