Last posting dates for Christmas 2026
The last days to post cards and parcels in the UK for delivery by Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026.
No carrier has published its Christmas 2026 last posting dates yet. Last year's, for guidance: Royal Mail 2025: 2nd Class by Wednesday 17 December and 1st Class by Saturday 20 December; DPD 2024: Book postage by Friday 20 December and Parcel collection and drop-off by Saturday 21 December; and Evri 2025: Courier collection and Standard delivery (ParcelShop or locker drop-off) by Friday 19 December and Next Day delivery (ParcelShop or locker drop-off) by Saturday 20 December. We'll add this year's as they're announced.
Royal Mail
Not announcedLast year (2025), for comparison
20252nd Class2025
20251st Class2025
Last year's 2nd and 1st Class dates (Wed 17 and Sat 20 December 2025) come from Which? (first published 14 Nov 2025, updated 15 Dec 2025). Check royalmail.com by hand. 2025 dates
DPD
Not announcedLast year (2024), for comparison
2024Book postage
Postage had to be booked on or before this date.2024
2024Parcel collection and drop-off2024
The latest available are 2024's, from Which? (first published 5 Dec 2024), so lastYear is 2024, not 2025. 2024 dates
Evri
Not announcedLast year (2025), for comparison
2025Courier collection
UK mainland2025
2025Standard delivery (ParcelShop or locker drop-off)
Drop off by 11 a.m.2025
2025Next Day delivery (ParcelShop or locker drop-off)
Drop off by 11 a.m.2025
to 16 DecInternational
38 destinations, Friday 5 December to Tuesday 16 December depending on the country2025
Evri publishes a 'Last posting dates for Christmas' news post each year (31 Oct in 2025, with the UK mainland dates and international dates for its most popular destinations); the 2026 address (evri.com/news/last-posting-dates-for-christmas-2026) didn't exist on 15 Oct 2026. In 2025 the Next Day drop-off cut-off was 11 a.m. throughout the festive season. 2025 dates
Shops at Christmas: the law
England and Wales. Large shops (a relevant floor area over 280 square metres) must not open on Christmas Day for serving retail customers; the occupier can be fined. Source
Scotland. No large shop (more than 280 square metres used for retail sales or display) may open for retail sales on Christmas Day; the occupier and the person managing the shop face a fine of up to £50,000. Source
Northern Ireland. Not restricted in 2026 (inferred): Northern Ireland's rules restrict large shops (over 280 square metres) only on Sundays, when they may open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. except on Easter Day or a Christmas Day that falls on a Sunday. Source
Christmas in the UK
Each carrier's recommended last posting dates; none is a guarantee, and weather or volume can slow deliveries. We update the page as carriers publish their dates.