Royal Mail is changing how it delivers letters
Here’s what you need to know.
Following Ofcom’s reform of the Universal Service Obligation, announced in July 2025, the way Royal Mail deliver letters in the UK is changing significantly.
What’s changing from 28 July 2025?
• 2nd Class letters will now be delivered on alternate weekdays only (Mon–Fri).
• 3 working day aim, down from 6 days a week.
• Standard bulk business mail (bills, statements, notices) moves to the same 3-day delivery aim.
• 1st Class delivery targets reduce from 93% next-day to 90%
• 2nd Class targets reduce from 98.5% to 95% within 3 days
• New enforceable backstop: 99% of all mail must arrive within 2 days of its target date
What stays the same?
1st Class remains next working day, Monday to Saturday. The 2nd Class stamp price cap is retained. One-price-goes-anywhere continues.
Why the change?
Royal Mail lost £348m in 2023/24. Ofcom’s view is that reform is necessary for the service to survive. A review of stamp price affordability is also underway.
The rollout is already under way across Royal Mail’s 1,200 delivery offices, with full implementation expected by December 2026.
For anyone sending time-sensitive customer communications like renewals, reminders, compliance notices — the timing of your mailings will need to account for the new alternate-day schedule.
If you’d like to talk through how the changes might affect your mailing programme, we’re happy to help.
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