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When Is The Last Day For Posting Christmas Cards?

When Is The Last Day For Posting Christmas Cards?

There's still time to make sure your Christmas cards and presents reach loved ones before the 25th, but hurry!

Christmas is just five days away now and, despite promising to be more organised this year, there’s always that last card or present that may have slipped your mind. Well, don’t worry, there’s still time - but not much. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the deadline for posting cards and presents in time for Christmas.

Royal Mail last day for posting by second class

The deadline to guarantee Christmas cards reach your loved ones before Christmas by second class postage was Sunday 19th December 2021. 

Don’t worry if you’ve missed that date, you can always opt for first class postage.

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Royal Mail last day for posting by first class

Royal Mail has advised to send anything by first class and first class signed for postage no later than Tuesday 21st December to ensure it gets where it needs to go before Christmas.

After 21st December, the only options for guaranteed delivery before Christmas are Royal Mail Tracked 24, the cut-off point for this is Wednesday 22nd December, and Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed, the cut-off for this is Thursday 23rd December. Both of these services aren’t available to purchase at the Post Office and you will need to visit the Royal Mail website.

How much are Christmas postage stamps?

This year, Royal Mail’s Christmas postage stamps are illustrated with scenes from the nativity. They were designed by Jorge Cocco, a painter and professor of art from Argentina.

Christmas postage stamps 2021, designed by Jorge Coco. (
Royal Mail)

A second class stamp book of 12 Christmas stamps costs £7.92 and a first class Christmas stamp book is £10.20. 

One single first class stamp is 76p and a second class stamp is 65p. The prices are set to rise on 1st January, with first class stamps increasing to 85p and second class stamps increasing to 66p.

To send a large letter (A4 size), the current prices are £1.15 for first class or 88p for second class.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Christmas