Journal ·
Last Posting Dates for Christmas 2026 (UK)
If you're sending Christmas cards or presents by Royal Mail this year, the key dates to remember are Friday 18 December for 2nd Class and Monday 21 December for 1st Class. Here are all the UK deadlines for Christmas 2026, and when to order your cards so they arrive in time to write and post.
Royal Mail last posting dates for Christmas 2026 (UK)
These are Royal Mail's recommended last posting dates for delivery within the UK before Christmas Day, as published on royalmail.com and checked on 25 October 2026.
| Last posting date | Service |
|---|---|
| Friday 18 December | 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For |
| Saturday 19 December | Royal Mail Tracked 48 |
| Monday 21 December | 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For and Royal Mail Tracked 24 |
| Wednesday 23 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed |
Parcelforce Worldwide's UK services have their own dates: Monday 21 December for express48, and Tuesday 22 December for express24, expressAM and express10.
Royal Mail says the dates are correct at the time of publishing but can change, and it always advises posting as early as you can. Check the Royal Mail last posting dates page for the latest, and for international and BFPO deadlines, which are much earlier.
What this means for your Christmas cards
Most people send cards 2nd Class, so the date that really matters is Friday 18 December. Work backwards from there:
- Allow a weekend for writing. Writing 30 cards takes longer than anyone admits, especially when you have to find everyone's new address.
- Buy your cards by early December. That gives you a relaxed weekend or two to write them before the 2nd Class deadline.
- Abroad? International deadlines are much earlier than UK ones, so check Royal Mail's country guides and send those cards first.
- Use the right stamps. A standard Christmas card in an envelope goes as a Letter, and a 5 × 7 inch card like ours fits comfortably.
When to order Tails of Britain cards
Our cards and calendars are printed to order in the UK and posted free to UK addresses. Cards are usually made within 1 to 3 working days, and standard post usually takes a further 2 to 3 working days, so most orders arrive within about a week. Calendars can take a little longer.
For Christmas, we suggest ordering by 14 December. That's a provisional date, because our printer hasn't published its 2026 Christmas cut-offs yet, and earlier is always safer. If you want time to write and post your cards 2nd Class by 18 December, order by the end of November or the first few days of December.
Every Etsy listing shows an estimated delivery date for your postcode before you buy, which is the best guide. If you're sending a calendar as a present, Etsy lets you post it straight to the recipient.
Cards worth posting
If you still need cards, our funny animal Christmas cards come in packs of 10 with kraft envelopes: hedgehogs with a welly sledge, highland cows, a sheep choir and more, or pick any 5 of 25 designs. And for the person who's impossible to buy for, there's the 2027 British wildlife calendar.
Source: Royal Mail, Christmas 2026 last posting dates for inland services, royalmail.com, checked 25 October 2026.