When to order for Christmas 2026
Presents ordered online and cards in the post both need time to arrive. Here’s where to find the official cut-off dates — and what we know so far.
Christmas Day 2026 is in
56days 23hrs 26mins 15secs
Counting down to midnight on 25 December 2026, UK time.
Royal Mail last recommended posting dates
Royal Mail has published its last recommended posting dates for Christmas 2026. These are the dates it gives for items to arrive in time for Christmas — posting earlier is always safer.
Posting within the UK
| Service | Last recommended posting date |
|---|---|
| Royal Mail 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For | Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Royal Mail Tracked 48 | Saturday 19 December 2026 |
| Royal Mail 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For | Monday 21 December 2026 |
| Royal Mail Tracked 24 | Monday 21 December 2026 |
| Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed | Wednesday 23 December 2026 |
| Parcelforce Worldwide express48 and express48large | Monday 21 December 2026 |
| Parcelforce Worldwide express24, express10 and expressAM | Tuesday 22 December 2026 |
Source: Royal Mail, Christmas last posting dates. Checked by us on 15 October 2026. Dates can change — always check the official page before you post.
These are the UK dates. International last posting dates vary by destination — use the country finder on Royal Mail’s Christmas page. Parcelforce Worldwide’s UK dates are listed on the same Royal Mail page.
Ordering from Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk shows an estimated delivery date for your address on each product page and again at checkout. That date depends on the item, who sells and dispatches it, your postcode and the delivery option you choose — so it’s the date to trust, rather than any general rule of thumb.
- Check whether an item is dispatched by Amazon or by another seller — it’s shown on the product page, and delivery times can differ.
- Look at the delivery estimate at checkout, after your address is entered.
- Amazon explains its delivery options on its Amazon.co.uk “Deliveries in the UK” help page. When we checked (15 October 2026) it didn’t list Christmas cut-off dates, so go by the date shown at checkout.
- Thinking about returns? Amazon sets its own return windows and publishes them on Amazon.co.uk’s returns page. Our returns after Christmas guide explains your legal rights.
Tips for posting presents yourself
- Post as early as you can — the published dates are the last recommended days, not guarantees, and December is the busiest time of year for the post.
- Write the full address and postcode clearly, and add a return address in case it can’t be delivered.
- Wrap presents in a sturdy box with padding; gift wrap alone won’t protect them in the post.
- For valuable items, choose a tracked or signed-for service so you can see where the parcel is.
- Sending abroad? International cut-off dates come much earlier than UK ones.
