Royal Mail is the UK's designated universal postal service provider and one of Britain's most iconic institutions, founded by King Henry VIII in 1516 and operating as a public company since 2013. Delivering to over 31 million addresses across the UK six days per week, Royal Mail handles more than 8 billion pieces of mail and over 500 million parcels annually. From standard 1st and 2nd Class letters to tracked parcels and international services, Royal Mail remains the backbone of UK postal logistics. Track at royalmail.com/track-your-item or call 03457 740 740.
Track Royal Mail Package
Royal Mail, the UK's trusted postal service, offers reliable mail and parcel delivery across the UK and globally.
How Royal Mail shipment updates work
Key facts about Royal Mail
Royal Mail Tracked items
Royal Mail Tracked items use a 13-character UPU S10 format (e.g., JD123456785GB).
Special Delivery Guaranteed delivers
Special Delivery Guaranteed delivers by 1 PM or 9 AM next working day with full scan tracking.
Royal Mail delivers six
Royal Mail delivers six days per week (Monday-Saturday); no standard Sunday delivery.
International items use the
International items use the same UPU format but with a GB country suffix.
What each Royal Mail status actually means
Use the last visible scan to decide whether to wait, track more closely, or escalate.
| Status | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Accepted at Post Office | Royal Mail has received the item from the sender. | Monitor the next scan event. |
| In Transit | The item is moving between Royal Mail facilities. | Monitor the next scan event. |
| Out for Delivery | The item is with a postman/postwoman for delivery today. | Monitor the next scan event. |
| Delivered | The item has been delivered to the address. | Monitor the next scan event. |
| Delivered to Neighbour | Left with a neighbouring address as instructed or when recipient was absent. | Monitor the next scan event. |
| Attempted Delivery | A delivery attempt was made but no one was home. | A 'Something for you' card was left. |
Which Royal Mail tracking number format do you have?
Identify your tracking number type before entering it into the search box above.
Format
2 alpha service letters + 8 numeric digits + 1 Mod-11 check digit + 'GB' country code
Example
JD123456785GB, SD123456789GB, RM123456781GB
How to track a Royal Mail shipment
Follow these steps to get real-time status on any Royal Mail shipment.
Find the tracking reference on your Royal Mail receipt, shipping label, or confirmation email (13 characters ending in GB)
Find the tracking reference on your Royal Mail receipt, shipping label, or confirmation email (13 characters ending in GB).
Open https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item
Go to https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item.
Enter the tracking reference and click 'Track your item.'
Enter the tracking reference and click 'Track your item.'
View the delivery status, scan events, and estimated delivery date
View the delivery status, scan events, and estimated delivery date.
Sign up for email notifications by entering your email on the tracking results page
Sign up for email notifications by entering your email on the tracking results page.
Why Royal Mail scans stall and what to do
Expand each issue for the cause, what to do, and when to call Royal Mail directly.
Item not delivered
Cause
If tracking shows 'Attempted Delivery' but no card was left, report at royal
What to do
Standard 1st and 2nd Class items are not tracked. If you have a Tracked item, allow 24 hours for the first scan.
Escalate when
Tracking not updating
Which Royal Mail service fits this shipment?
Compare Royal Mail service tiers and their typical delivery windows side by side.
Service options
1st Class
Aims to deliver the next working day
Everyday shipping Transit times vary by route
2nd Class
Aims to deliver within 3 working days
Everyday shipping Transit times vary by route
Royal Mail Tracked 24
Next working day tracked delivery
Everyday shipping Transit times vary by route
Royal Mail Tracked 48
2-day tracked delivery
Everyday shipping Transit times vary by route
Special Delivery Guaranteed
Next day by 1 PM or 9 AM with compensation guarantee
Everyday shipping Transit times vary by route
Royal Mail delivery windows by service
1st Class
Varies by route
Next working day (aim; not guaranteed)
2nd Class
Varies by route
2-3 working days (aim; not guaranteed)
Tracked 24
Varies by route
Next working day
Tracked 48
Varies by route
2 working days
Special Delivery Guaranteed 9 AM
Varies by route
Next working day by 9 AM
Special Delivery Guaranteed 1 PM
Varies by route
Next working day by 1 PM
Common questions about Royal Mail shipments
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Royal Mail tracking and delivery.
01 How do I track a Royal Mail parcel?
Go to royalmail.com/track-your-item and enter the 13-character reference ending in GB. Only Tracked, Special Delivery, and Signed For items can be tracked.
02 What is the Royal Mail tracking number format?
Royal Mail tracking numbers follow the UPU S10 format: 2 letters + 8 digits + 1 check digit + 'GB' (e.g., JD123456785GB or SD123456789GB).
03 Can I track a 1st or 2nd Class letter?
No. Standard 1st and 2nd Class letters do not include tracking. You need Tracked, Special Delivery, or Signed For service for tracking.
04 How do I rebook a Royal Mail delivery?
Book a free redelivery at royalmail.com/redelivery up to 5 times, or collect from your local delivery office with the 'Something for you' card and ID.
05 What is Royal Mail Special Delivery?
Special Delivery Guaranteed delivers next working day by 1 PM or 9 AM with full tracking, signature on delivery, and compensation if it does not arrive on time.
06 How long does Royal Mail Tracked 24 take?
Tracked 24 aims to deliver the next working day. It is not guaranteed but includes full end-to-end tracking.
More Royal Mail help guides
Need direct help from Royal Mail?
If the latest scan still does not make sense, contact Royal Mail directly with your tracking number ready.
Support hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-6 PM, Sat 8 AM-1 PM
What to know about Royal Mail
Royal Mail was established by royal decree in 1516 under Henry VIII as the Master of the Posts. It was opened to the public in 1635 and introduced the world's first adhesive postage stamp -- the Penny Black -- in 1840. Royal Mail became a public limited company in 2013 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It operates through its two primary businesses: Royal Mail (UK domestic and international parcels and letters) and GLS (General Logistics Systems), a major European parcel carrier.
- Official site
- http://www.royalmail.com/
- Track packages
- https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item
- Support portal
- Open support →
- Network type
- National Post
- Country
- GB
- Region
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland); international service to 230+ countries
- Coverage
- Royal Mail delivers to every address in the UK -- England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and major UK overseas territories. International service covers 230+ countries via its international tracked and untracked products. Royal Mail's GLS subsidiary covers European parcel delivery.
- Support hours
- Mon-Fri 8 AM-6 PM, Sat 8 AM-1 PM
- Last verified
- Apr 1, 2026
Referenced sources