How long does special delivery take

Letters and parcels sent by special delivery should arrive on a specific day, while first-class post should arrive the next working day after it is sent, and second-class post within three working days.

Compensation for delays kicks in when your post is three or more working days late, or 24 hours late if it was sent by special delivery. You can lodge a compensation claim for lost post 10 working days after it was due to arrive, or five days for special delivery. The person due to receive the post can make the claim, or the sender. Our guaranteed delivery for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm the next working day will be by 4.

This includes items where a Saturday guarantee has been purchased. When we deliver your item we will collect a signature from the recipient or someone at their address. Much like tracked delivery, special delivery ensures the mailer will be sent a receipt when the item has been delivered to the recipient and also includes a timed delivery feature. The main difference between special delivery and recorded delivery is the guarantee of delivery between specified times.

The change came into effect on Monday and impacts the 9am and 1pm guaranteed services. Royal Mail will be delivering Special Delivery letters and parcels later in the day.

No longer will a Special Delivery arrive by 1pm, but with the new Special Delivery guarantee delivery times might be as late as 4pm. You can also get important or valuable items — such as those weighing over 20kg — to UK destinations the next working day with Parcelforce Worldwide services.

The length and girth combined should not exceed 3m. Parcelforce Worldwide services: express9 arrives by 9am, express10 by 10am and expressAM by noon the next working day. Express24 within 24 hours.

Next working day includes Saturdays. Parcelforce Worldwide also offers you a choice of next working day delivery services: express9 by 9am , express10 by 10am , expressAM by noon and express24 within 24 hours. Skip to main content. Trending searches Where is my nearest branch? Other services. Guaranteed next day UK delivery. Perfect when your letter or parcel has to be there in a hurry. Please note. Postcodes We deliver throughout the UK. However, there are certain delivery restrictions in particular areas: We deliver by 5.