Seasonal
Sending Christmas cards and presents for less
December is the busiest month of the year for the post. A little planning saves money and makes sure your cards and presents arrive in time.
Christmas card postage
A standard Christmas card is a Letter, so it needs a 2nd Class (£0.91) or 1st Class (£1.80) stamp. Watch out for:
- Big or square cards over 24 × 16.5cm are Large Letters (£1.55 2nd Class).
- Chunky cards with badges or 3D decorations can be thicker than 5mm – also a Large Letter.
- Cards abroad cost £3.60 each with International Standard.
Money saver: buy books of 2nd Class stamps early. If prices rise, stamps without a printed price are still valid for their class.
Last posting dates
Royal Mail publishes recommended last posting dates every autumn. International post to faraway countries needs to go in early December, Europe around a week later, and UK 2nd Class roughly a week before Christmas, with 1st Class and Special Delivery a few days after that.
See this year's Christmas last posting dates → including a countdown, a card postage calculator and wrapping supplies.
Sending presents cheaply
- Choose the smallest packaging that protects the gift – size bands matter more than weight for Royal Mail.
- Soft gifts like clothes go cheapest in a mailing bag.
- Compare Evri, InPost and Royal Mail with our calculator – prices vary a lot for bulky gifts.
- Consider having gifts delivered direct from the online shop to the recipient, which is often free.
Presents abroad
Gifts to anywhere outside the UK (including the EU) need a customs declaration. Tick "gift", describe each item and give its value. The recipient may still have to pay import tax. Read our guide to sending a parcel abroad.