The Postie May Not Come On Some Days - Royal Mail Delivery Changes in the UK - Amazon Still Delivers

28th July 2025

Starting Monday, July 28, 2025, Royal Mail is implementing major changes to its delivery schedule, particularly for second-class letters. These changes are part of a broader reform to modernize the postal service in response to declining letter volumes and rising operational costs.

What's Changing?
Second-Class Letters:

No longer delivered on Saturdays

Will now be delivered on alternate weekdays:

Week 1: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Week 2: Tuesday, Thursday

Target delivery time: within three working days

First-Class Letters:

Still delivered six days a week (Monday to Saturday)

Target delivery: next-day, with 90% expected to arrive on time

Parcels:

Unaffected by these changes

Delivered up to seven days a week

Why the Change?
Letter volumes have dropped from 20 billion to 6.7 billion annually, with further declines expected

Royal Mail delivers to more addresses than ever, increasing costs

The changes aim to make the service more reliable, efficient, and financially sustainable2

Future Adjustments
New reliability targets will be introduced from April 1, 2026:

99% of first-class mail must arrive within three days

99% of second-class mail must arrive within five days

How do these changes affect mail delivery for businesses?
The July 28, 2025 changes to Royal Mail's delivery schedule—especially for Second Class letters—have significant implications for businesses that rely on postal services for communication, marketing, and logistics.

Key Impacts on Businesses
1. Longer Delivery Times for Second Class Mail
Second Class letters (including advertising mail, invoices, and customer notifications) now follow a rotating weekday schedule:

Week 1: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Week 2: Tuesday, Thursday

No Saturday deliveries

Delivery aim: within 3 working days, with a maximum of 5 days under the new "tail of mail" rule

2. Marketing & Campaign Planning
Businesses must adjust campaign timelines to account for slower delivery

Direct mail remains effective, but lead times must be extended

Combining mail with email or SMS notifications is recommended to maintain customer engagement

3. Operational Adjustments
Bulk mailers can use the new D+3 service aligned with the updated Second Class schedule

Barcoded mail allows tracking, helping businesses monitor delivery performance

Franking machines offer discounted First Class rates for urgent communications

4. Cost vs Speed Trade-Off
First Class mail still offers next-day delivery, but at a higher cost

Businesses may need to prioritize First Class for time-sensitive items and Second Class for routine communications

5. Courier Industry Ripple Effects
Reduced letter delivery may push businesses toward private courier services for urgent documents

Increased competition in parcel delivery could lead to pricing shifts and service innovation across the logistics sector

Royal Mail Postage Costs in the UK - July 2025

Letter Prices (Domestic)
Standard Letter (up to 100g):

First Class: £1.35

Second Class: £0.95

Large Letter:

Up to 100g: First Class £2.10, Second Class £1.60

101-250g: First Class £2.50, Second Class £2.10

251-500g: First Class £3.30, Second Class £2.70

501-750g: First Class £3.90, Second Class £3.40

Note: Barcoded stamps are now mandatory for all mail.

Parcel Prices (Domestic)
Small Parcel (up to 1kg):

Second Class: £3.50

First Class: £4.19

Tracked 24: £4.89

Tracked 48: £4.19

Medium Parcel (1kg-2kg):

Second Class: £5.50

First Class: £6.30

Tracked 24: £6.99

Tracked 48: £6.19

Medium Parcel (2kg–5kg):

Second Class: £8.10

First Class: £9.00

Tracked 24: £9.60

Tracked 48: £8.40

Large Parcel (5kg–10kg):

Second Class: £15.99

First Class: £17.49

Tracked 24: £19.20

Tracked 48: £17.60

Special Services
Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm:

From £7.99 for letters

From £12.99 for small parcels

Saturday Guaranteed Delivery:

Add £3.99 surcharge

Signed For Service:

Add £1.10 to standard postage

International Postage (Letters & Small Parcels)
Europe (up to 100g):

Standard: £2.50

Tracked: £8.20

World Zone 1 (up to 100g):

Standard: £3.20

Tracked: £9.00

World Zone 2 (up to 100g):

Standard: £3.50

Tracked: £9.60

World Zone 3 (USA, up to 100g):

Standard: £3.60

Tracked: £10.00

Business Discounts & Tools
Franking Machines: Offer slightly lower rates (e.g., First Class at £1.67 vs £1.70 standard)

Click & Drop: Online discounts and bulk shipping benefits

Volume-based pricing and free parcel pickups available for business accounts

Amazon Package Deliveries in the UK – July 2025 Update

Unlike Royal Mail, Amazon continues to deliver packages daily, including weekends. Here's how their delivery system works now:

Delivery Days
Amazon delivers 7 days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays

Weekend deliveries are supported by Amazon Logistics and third-party partners like UPS, FedEx, and Royal Mail

Delivery Coverage in Remote Areas
Amazon Logistics handles most deliveries directly, even in rural and remote regions, including northern Scotland.

Where Amazon Logistics doesn't operate, Royal Mail or third-party couriers (like DPD, Evri, or Parcelforce) may be used.

Amazon continues to deliver 7 days a week, including weekends, even in remote areas.

If Royal Mail Is the Carrier
Royal Mail still delivers parcels daily, including Saturdays, even though Second Class letters are now on a reduced schedule.

Amazon parcels sent via Royal Mail are typically Tracked 24 or Tracked 48, which are parcel services unaffected by the letter delivery changes.

You can also choose Local Collect at checkout to have your parcel delivered to a Post Office branch, where you’ll receive a QR code for pickup4.

Delivery Reliability in the Highlands & Islands
Delivery times may be slightly longer due to geography, but Amazon and Royal Mail maintain dedicated logistics routes for these areas.

Amazon offers scheduled delivery and pickup point options to improve flexibility1.