If you are a business that sends regular shipments to the UK or are planning to expand your business there, then this article is for you. In this article, we detail pertinent information about Royal Mail parcel sizes along with letters, as depending on certain factors, the pricing and protocols will change.
This article will explain parcels and how they differ from letters. Finally, we will also discuss Royal Mail parcel prices according to size. Therefore, let’s continue and consider the best option for a business like yours.
Part 1. Royal Mail Parcel Sizes
Please see the comparison table below, which details all the parcel sizes according to their weight and dimensions.
| Type of Parcel | Weight | Length | Width | Thickness or Depth |
| Small | Up to 2 kg | Up to 45cm | Up to 35cm | Up to 16cm |
| Medium | Up to 20 kg | Up to 61cm | Up to 46cm | Up to 46cm |
| Parcelforce | Up to 30 kg | Up to 1.5m | N/A | The length and depth added together shouldn’t be higher than 3m |
| Parcelforce Large | Up to 30 kg | Up to 2.5m | N/A | The length and depth added together shouldn’t be higher than 4m |
| Tubes | For tubes, the maximum dimension should not be more than 2 times the diameter. This dimension should be less than 104cm, and any dimension <90cm. | |||
Let’s parse through this information in terms of each category.
Small Parcels
The dimensions for parcels falling under the small size distribution cannot be higher than 450mm x 350mm x 160mm. The limit for weight is only 2kg, and in terms of thickness, it shouldn’t be higher than 160mm.
For example, if you are sending a gift candle in a complete box measuring 152 x 152 x 102mm, it will fall under the ‘0201 single wall box.’ Similarly, you can also look into a ‘0426 die cut box,’ which is common for a subscription box with a gift box size no higher than 250 x 200 x 100mm.
Please look into the Royal Mail website and get different parcel sizes premade, which you can use for packaging and delivery.
Medium Parcels
Similarly to small parcels, the maximum you can go is 610mm x 460mm x 460mm in terms of size. When it comes to weight and thickness, it cannot be higher than 20kg and 460mm.
So, if you are planning to import a laptop for your customers, the typical laptop that fits under will be a 13″ one, which shouldn’t weigh more than 2kg.
Large Parcels – Parcelforce
These parcels will be either more than 20kg in weight or, in terms of dimensions, higher than 610mm x 460mm x 460mm.
Part 2. Royal Mail Letter Sizes
Please see the comparison table below, which details all the letter sizes according to their weight and dimension.
| Letter Type | Weight | Length | Width | Thickness and Depth |
| Regular Letter | No more than 100g | < 24cm | < 16.5cm | Max 5mm |
| Large Letter | No more than 750g | < 35.3cm | < 25cm | Max 2.5cm |
Similar to what we explained for parcels, here we share some details about letters.
In Terms of Letter Sizes
When it comes to letters, the dimensions should be, at most, 240mm x 165mm x 5mm. The maximum weight allowed is 100g. It doesn’t matter if it is in the 1st or 2nd class, as the limit remains the same. More details on what is considered in letters are mentioned below in Part 3.
Size for Large Letters
To be charged under large letters, the dimension should be above the normal letter size but shouldn’t exceed 353mm x 250mm x 25mm. Here, the weight is much higher than regular letters, which is the limit of 750 g.
For example, the most common consideration here for large letters can be used for mobile phone packages or even a DVD. The best approach here is to use bubble wrap for protection, especially because it is much cheaper to send this way instead of a large box, which can cost a lot more.
Part 3. How to Choose the Royal Mail Size Suits Me?
When it comes to choosing the right size of package you can start by looking at the tables we shared above for Royal Mail parcel sizes. The 2nd thing you must consider is the Royal Mail parcel prices for different packages.
Furthermore, the official information guide is on the ‘Personal Customers Help Centre’ on the Royal Mail website, where you can use the ‘Price Finder’ feature to get more details.
Sending Books
When it comes to sending books, including pamphlets, they should be below 5kg and must be marketed as such in ‘Printed Papers.’ In certain cases, such as in Ireland, a book can only be above 2kg, while in Canada, books cannot be above 2kg.
Basic Categories
The following are also some categorizations that will help you understand which item falls under which category.
- Letter – Greetings cards, personal letters, postcards, bills.
- Large Letter – A4 documents, certificates, magazines, CD or DVD in cases*, some large greeting cards.
Keep in mind that: *Due to new rules imposed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in July 2020, items such as CDs or DVDs in cases sent to the USA must be sent as Parcels.
Small parcel – Shoes, portable speakers, mobile phones
Part 4. Royal Mail Parcels and Letters Prices
In this section, we share the pricing breakdown for letter and parcel shipping in the UK. The following is the pricing breakdown for local UK shipping.
| Package Type | Pricing (Class and Signed) | |
| Letter | From £1.65 (1st class and unsigned) | From 85p (2nd class and unsigned) |
| From £3.35 (1st class and signed) | From £2.55 (2nd class and signed) | |
| Parcel | From £4.09 (1st class and unsigned) | From £3.25 (2nd class and unsigned) |
| Tracking done from £4.25 (1st class and signed) | Tracking done from £3.39 (2nd class and signed) | |
The following table shows the same information, but it is for international delivery.
| Package Type | Pricing (Class and Signed) | |
| Letters | International Standard Starting with £2.80 | International tracking that is beginning at £7.90 |
| International Standard and tracking starting with £8.15 | ||
| Parcels | International Standard Starting with £5.55 | International tracking that starts with £8.0 |
| International Standard and tracking starting with £9.70 | ||
And finally, here is the breakdown of pricing if you are sending a parcel such as Parcelforce.
| Parcelforce | Pricing | |
| Parcel | With express shipping ‘24’ starting from £10.15If you choose ExpressAM, then it begins from £13.70 | With express shipping ‘48’ starting from £9.65If you choose Express ‘48’ Large, then it begins from £44.20 |
If you need more detailed information, then you can visit the official Royal Mail website and get pricing detail guides.
Here are some important points that you must consider when it comes to mail pricing.
- Always consider packing smaller items in small parcels, such as candles, jewelry and accessories, and finally, books.
- To get the best bang for your buck for medium parcels, you can easily fit laptops, shoes, some kitchen appliances, and even clothes. But make sure they aren’t bigger than 33cm or weigh no more than 2kg.
- Anything bigger will fall under large boxes, such as furniture, sports goods, etc. You can also use large parcels for irregular shapes.
- Finally, things like canvas and even paper in reams are better sent in the tube category
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As you can see, there are different pricing models for different sizes. Furthermore, some other rules and regulations may delay your delivery if the information is incorrect.
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Conclusion
Royal Mail is one of the oldest mailing institutions in the world and has one of the most reliable letter and parcel shipping networks in the UK. So, if you want to expand your business there, you need to have all the information we shared learned.
Once you know how much it will cost, why not try NextSmartShip? For an affordable service fee, you can get better rates and logistic operations. Contact one of their experts today and experience the difference.
