DHL
An international express specialist with insured-default shipments.
Send a parcel with Royal Mail, compared
Royal Mail delivers to the whole of the UK and ships internationally, and ParcelMatch quotes three Royal Mail services. Compare live Royal Mail prices against seven other UK carriers in one search, see the transit time and size limit for every option, and book in under two seconds. VAT included, collection fees shown before you pay.
The carrier
Why send with Royal Mail?
The national postal service, and the only carrier that reaches every UK address as a matter of universal service obligation.
- Small, light and flat items, anything going to a rural or island postcode
- Anything where a Post Office counter is the most convenient handover
At a glance
Royal Mail at a glance
| Detail | Royal Mail |
|---|---|
| Coverage | UK and international |
| Services on ParcelMatch | Tracked 24, Tracked 48, Special Delivery |
| Fastest option | Special Delivery, guaranteed next working day by a set time |
| Drop off | Included in every quote where the carrier offers it |
| Collection | Available on most services, fee shown before you pay |
| Tracking | Included as standard, on one tracking page across every carrier |
| Cover | Standard amount included, more available to buy |
| VAT | Included in the quoted price |
Services
What Royal Mail services can I book?
ServiceSpeedPage
Every service above is priced live on your route. The cheapest and the fastest are flagged in your results, so you can see the trade off rather than guess at it.
Cost
How much does it cost to send a parcel with Royal Mail?
There is no fixed answer, because Royal Mail prices on size, weight, route and speed rather than on a flat rate. Across all carriers ParcelMatch prices start from £2.95 for a small tracked parcel. Your Royal Mail price is shown in full, VAT included, before you pay, with any collection fee and any Highlands and islands surcharge already in the figure.
From £2.95
Across all carriers, for a small tracked parcel.
VAT included
Shown in full before you pay, never added after.
Collection fee in the figure
Any collection fee is already in the price you see.
Surcharges included
Any Highlands and islands surcharge is in the quote.
Your choice
Drop off or book a collection?
If the parcel is liftable and a drop off point is on your route, dropping off is almost always the cheaper of the two.
The comparison
How Royal Mail compares
ParcelMatch quotes Royal Mail alongside DPD, Evri, Parcelforce, UPS, DHL, Yodel and Whistl on the same parcel and the same route. On some routes Royal Mail wins on price, on others it does not. The comparison is the point, so the page shows you both.
Royal Mail
The UK national postal service, with tracked and signed options nationwide.
DPD
Best-in-class next-day, with one-hour delivery windows by text and email.
Evri
A drop-off-friendly economy carrier with doorstep delivery.
Parcelforce
Royal Mail's premium parcel service, with fast, signature-required options.
UPS
Global logistics with strong UK next-day and a required-signature default.
Yodel
A drop-off and parcel-shop option for non-urgent sends.
Whistl
Cost-effective tracked options, strong for B2B fulfilment volumes.
Step by step
How to send a parcel with Royal Mail
Five steps from two postcodes to a parcel on its way. No phone calls, and no logging in to a carrier site.
Enter two postcodes and your parcel size
Filter the results to Royal Mail and pick the service that fits your deadline
Pay by card, Apple Pay or your prepay wallet
Print the PDF label we email you, or use a QR code where the service supports it
Drop the parcel off or wait for the collection window
Questions
Royal Mail questions
The things senders ask before booking Royal Mail. Anything else, just ask.
Still stuck?Our UK team replies in minutes.
How long does Royal Mail take?
It depends on the service. The fastest Royal Mail option ParcelMatch quotes is Special Delivery, guaranteed next working day by a set time. Every Royal Mail service quoted on your route shows its transit estimate before you book.
Is Royal Mail cheaper through ParcelMatch?
Usually, yes. ParcelMatch quotes the wholesale rates that high volume retailers use, which is where the saving of up to 60 percent against published walk-in rates comes from. Compare it against the counter price and see.
Can Royal Mail collect from my address?
On most services, yes. Tick the collection box on the quote form and only services that include door to door pickup will show. The collection fee is in the quote before you pay.
Is Royal Mail tracked?
Yes. Tracking is included as standard on every service ParcelMatch quotes, and all carriers appear on one tracking page rather than on seven separate sites.
Do I need an account to book Royal Mail?
No. Compare, book, pay and track without creating an account. You only need one to save addresses or use a prepay wallet.
Ready when you are
Compare Royal Mail prices
Two postcodes and a parcel size. See every Royal Mail service on your route priced against seven other carriers, and book in under two seconds.
VAT included, collection fees shown before you pay
£2.95small parcels from