When to Post a Birthday Card

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.

Most late cards aren't late because someone forgot. They're late because Second Class was treated as a two day service when it can quietly take five.

Here are the days to aim for, and the rules of thumb we use ourselves.

How long each class actually takes

• 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.

When to post it

• First Class: post two working days before the birthday. One day is the target, the second is your buffer.
• Second Class: post a full week before. Two days is the promise, five is the realistic worst case.
• Signed For: same speed as the class you pay for - it buys proof, not speed.
• Special Delivery Guaranteed: next day by 1pm, genuinely guaranteed, and worth it only for something valuable or unrepeatable.
• Posting to Northern Ireland, the Highlands or the islands: add two days to whatever you were going to do.
• Posting abroad: allow a week for Europe and two to three weeks for the rest of the world.

The bits that catch people out

• A Friday Second Class post has the whole weekend against it before it moves.
• Bank holiday weekends eat two or three working days in one go.
• Square cards and anything thicker than 5mm cost more than a standard letter - underpay and it's held, and the recipient gets asked for the fee.
• A card with a badge or a keyring in it is a large letter, not a letter.
• Postboxes with a 9am last collection are common in villages. Check the plate before you rely on it.

If you're already too close

• Post First Class today and send a text saying it's coming - the warning is worth more than the day.
• A late card is normal and forgiven. A missing card is what people remember.
• Don't write an apology on the front of an otherwise nice card. Put it inside, in one line.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• First Class: post two working days ahead.
• Second Class: post a week ahead.
• Check the last collection time on the box, not the opening hours of the shop.

Where to shop next

• Royal Mail last posting dates
• How long does first and second class take?
• What to do when a card is going to be late
• How to post a card so it arrives properly
• What to write in a birthday card
• Wall art and prints
• All guides
• Hen party decorations
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• Birthday badges & party pins
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

How many days before a birthday should I post a card?

Two working days ahead for First Class, a full week for Second Class. First Class is usually next working day; Second Class is meant to be two working days but can take up to five in the UK.

Is First Class post guaranteed next day?

No. First Class aims for the next working day, including Saturdays, but it is a target rather than a guarantee. Only Special Delivery Guaranteed comes with a promised time.

Can Second Class arrive next day?

Sometimes it does, but you can't plan on it. Second Class is a two working day service that can stretch to five days, so post a week ahead if the date matters.