How Long Does First and Second Class Post Take?

We design and print cards and prints in the UK and post them ourselves, so the timings below are the ones we work to every day. Royal Mail sets the official dates; we've flagged where the real world differs from the leaflet.

There's the service description, and there's what turns up. Both are worth knowing before you decide which stamp to use.

Cards for every occasion, posted from the UK

Every card here is printed and posted from the UK, so only Royal Mail's clock is between you and the door.

You Old Bastard (Funny Birthday Card) You Old Bastard (Funny Birthday Card) £3.87 Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Him Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Him £3.87 Fifty & Even More Fabulous Than Ever (50th Birthday Card) Fifty & Even More Fabulous Than Ever (50th Birthday Card) £3.87 Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Her Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Her £3.87 I Wish You Looked At Me Like Any Can of Diet Coke Ever (Valentines Day Card) I Wish You Looked At Me Like Any Can of Diet Coke Ever (Valentines Day Card) £3.87 Sixty Looks Pretty Good On You (60th Birthday Card) Sixty Looks Pretty Good On You (60th Birthday Card) £3.87

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The two numbers that matter

  • First Class: usually next working day, including Saturdays. It is aimed at next day, not guaranteed - it's a target, not a promise.
  • Second Class: supposed to be two working days, but in practice it can take up to five days anywhere in the UK.
  • Neither class is tracked, so "where is it" has no answer once it's in the box.
  • Working days mean Monday to Saturday. Sunday and bank holidays don't count at all.
  • The last collection time on the postbox is the real deadline - miss it and your card starts its clock tomorrow.

What the other services do

  • Signed For 1st and 2nd: the same speed as the underlying class, with a signature on delivery.
  • Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm: next working day, with compensation if it misses.
  • Tracked 24 and Tracked 48: parcel services, one and two working days, with tracking.
  • International Standard: roughly 3-5 working days to Europe, 6-7 worldwide, with no tracking and customs delays on top.

What slows post down

  • Weekends and bank holidays, which simply don't count as working days.
  • December, when volumes roughly double and everything drifts.
  • Strike action, which historically hits Second Class hardest because it has no deadline to protect.
  • Bad addresses - a missing postcode adds days, a wrong one loses it entirely.
  • Underpaid postage, which parks the item and sends the recipient a card asking for money.

Which one to buy

  • A dated card with under a week to go: First Class.
  • A dated card with over a week: Second Class is fine and cheaper.
  • Anything valuable or irreplaceable: Special Delivery.
  • A thank you, a note, or anything undated: Second Class, every time.

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Prints that post flat

A5, A4 and A3 art prints, drawn in house and printed in the UK.

All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) £8.00 Dancing On The Ceiling Music Print (A5 - A3) Dancing On The Ceiling Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Devils Roll The Dice, Angels Roll Their Eyes Poster Devils Roll The Dice, Angels Roll Their Eyes Poster £12.00 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics Print 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics Print £6.00 Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00

How to write it so it lands

  • Treat First Class as two days and Second Class as five.
  • Saturdays count. Sundays and bank holidays don't.
  • Tracking only exists on Signed For, Special Delivery and Tracked services.

Where to shop next

Frequently asked questions

How long does First Class post take in the UK?

Usually the next working day, including Saturdays, but it is a target rather than a guarantee. Allow two working days if the date matters.

How long does Second Class post take?

It is supposed to take two working days, but in practice it can take up to five days anywhere in the UK. Post a week ahead of any date you care about.

Does post arrive on Saturdays?

Yes, Saturday is a working day for letters. Sunday and bank holidays are not, so anything posted on a Friday afternoon effectively pauses until Monday.

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