Royal Mail Tracking

Please enter the Royal Mail tracking number to check the latest shipping status.

https://www.royalmail.com/

TRACK

About Royal Mail

Royal Mail is the United Kingdom postal operator for letters and parcels, providing domestic delivery, tracked parcels, signed services, special delivery, international postal export and inbound UK delivery for many postal imports. Royal Mail tracking should be read by transport stage: electronic label data, acceptance, sorting, export or import processing, handoff, delivery attempt, collection, delivered scan, exception or return.

Royal Mail Overview

Field	Verified information
Official name	Royal Mail Group Limited, trading to consumers under the Royal Mail brand.
Official website	https://www.royalmail.com/
Carrier type	Postal operator, collection carrier, sorting network, international postal exchange participant and UK last-mile delivery operator.
Primary region	United Kingdom, with international outbound and inbound postal flows through partner postal operators.
Tracking page	Royal Mail Track your item
Parent organization	International Distribution Services plc is the listed parent group that includes Royal Mail and GLS.
Founded	Royal Mail traces its postal heritage to the Royal Mail service founded under Henry VIII; current corporate form and services should be checked in current Royal Mail documents.
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom, as stated in corporate group materials.

Carrier Entity Relationships

Entity

Relationship to Royal Mail

Royal Mail

Royal Mail is the canonical consumer postal carrier brand used for UK letters, parcels and international postal services.

View all details for Royal Mail

Entity type	Canonical carrier.
Why it matters to tracking	Users should track Royal Mail references on Royal Mail or through 17TRACK, not on unrelated similarly named sites.
Official evidence	Royal Mail official website and Track your item page.

Tracked 24, Tracked 48, Special Delivery Guaranteed and Signed services

These are Royal Mail-operated service products with different tracking depth, delivery standards and compensation conditions.

View all details for Royal Mail services

Entity type	Operated services.
Why it matters to tracking	The service determines whether scans are end-to-end tracking, signature confirmation, delivery confirmation only or untracked.
Official evidence	Royal Mail sending and parcel services pages.

Royal Mail Track your item

Royal Mail Track your item is the official consumer tracking tool for eligible Royal Mail references.

View all details for Royal Mail tracking products

Entity type	Tracking product.
Why it matters to tracking	The official page is the authority for scans, proof of delivery where available and delivery management options.
Official evidence	Royal Mail Track your item and tracking help pages.

Royal Mail Mail Centres, delivery offices and Heathrow-area international processing

Royal Mail facilities process domestic mail, prepare outbound international items and receive inbound postal items for UK delivery.

View all details for Royal Mail network entities

Entity type	Network and facility entities.
Why it matters to tracking	A scan at a processing centre means the item is moving through the postal network; it does not necessarily mean it is out for delivery.
Official evidence	Royal Mail tracking events and international help resources.

Destination and origin postal operators

Foreign postal operators may issue S10 numbers, transport the item internationally or deliver Royal Mail exports after handoff.

View all details for postal partners

Entity type	International or last-mile partners.
Why it matters to tracking	After handoff, the destination post may hold the parcel even if Royal Mail remains the origin carrier shown to the sender.
Official evidence	UPU S10 addressing conventions and Royal Mail international tracking guidance.

17TRACK

17TRACK aggregates available tracking events for Royal Mail and other carriers but does not transport, reroute, refund or approve claims.

View all details for the 17TRACK relationship

Entity type	Independent tracking platform.
Why it matters to tracking	17TRACK helps users follow multi-carrier handoffs, but service changes and claims must be handled by Royal Mail, the seller or the responsible carrier.
Official evidence	17TRACK carrier tracking and API documentation.

Quick Answer

To track a Royal Mail package, enter the tracking reference from the sender, receipt, label, dispatch email or Royal Mail card on Royal Mail Track your item or track the same number with 17TRACK for consolidated multi-carrier visibility. If no result appears, first check spaces, hyphens, similar characters, whether the sender has only created a label, and whether the parcel is actually with a partner or marketplace carrier.

Pro Tip: 17TRACK is an independent tracking platform. 17TRACK can show available Royal Mail events and partner events, but 17TRACK cannot change an address, book a redelivery, release customs, refund an order or approve a Royal Mail claim.

How to Track Royal Mail Packages

Use the official Royal Mail tracking page when you need the carrier’s own latest scan, delivery photo or signature where available; use 17TRACK when you need one view across Royal Mail, origin posts, destination posts, marketplaces and other carriers.

Tracking Path Comparison

Path

Best use

Royal Mail Track your item

Check official Royal Mail events, delivery attempt information, collection options and proof of delivery where the service provides it.

View all details for Royal Mail official tracking

Steps	Open the Royal Mail tracking page, enter the tracking reference exactly as supplied, remove unnecessary spaces if needed, then review the most recent event and available delivery actions.
Where to find the number	Post Office receipt, Royal Mail online postage label, seller dispatch email, marketplace order page or delivery notification card.
Limitations	Untracked Royal Mail services may not show full item-level tracking. Some references only confirm delivery or signature rather than every network scan.

17TRACK

Track Royal Mail together with other carriers when the shipment crosses borders, changes postal operator or comes from an ecommerce platform.

View all details for 17TRACK tracking

Steps	Enter the tracking number on 17TRACK, let carrier auto-detection suggest Royal Mail or a partner, and compare events across carriers if the item is international.
Where to find the number	Use the carrier tracking number, not the merchant order number, invoice number or internal reference unless the seller explicitly says that reference is trackable.
Limitations	17TRACK displays available carrier data. Royal Mail, the seller or the current postal operator remains responsible for delivery decisions and after-sales actions.

A tracking number identifies a postal item or parcel movement. An order number identifies a purchase. A reference number may be a merchant reference, and a delivery notice number may only identify a local delivery attempt. If the number is not active, ask the sender whether Royal Mail has physically accepted the item or only received electronic label data.

Tracking Number Formats and Examples

Royal Mail tracking references can be Royal Mail-issued, origin-post-issued, marketplace-supplied or partner-linked. Being searchable on Royal Mail does not always mean Royal Mail issued the number; for inbound international mail, Royal Mail may continue using a foreign postal S10 identifier after the parcel enters the UK.

Tracking Number Format

Identifier family

Normalized pattern

Royal Mail domestic tracked parcel reference

Often alphanumeric or numeric; Royal Mail advises users to enter the reference exactly as supplied and commonly accepts references within a broad length range.

View all details for Royal Mail domestic tracked parcel references

Length/structure	Royal Mail public help does not publish one complete consumer rule for every domestic product; examples may include long alphanumeric references printed on labels and receipts.
Issued by	Royal Mail or an approved Royal Mail shipping system.
Typical service/use	Tracked 24, Tracked 48 and some business parcel services.
Who sees it and where	Senders see it on the postage label, Click & Drop record or receipt; buyers see it in dispatch emails or marketplace tracking pages.
Tracking scope	Usually item-level scans from acceptance or first processing through delivery.
Important caveat	Do not infer the exact service from the first characters alone because Royal Mail and business systems may use overlapping reference families.

UPU S10 international postal number ending GB

Two letters, nine digits, country code GB, shown as AA ######### GB with spaces optional.

View all details for S10 numbers ending GB

Length/structure	13 characters: service indicator letters, 8 serial digits plus check digit, and the ISO country code GB.
Issued by	Royal Mail when Royal Mail is the origin postal operator for the international item.
Typical service/use	International Tracked, International Signed, International Tracked & Signed and some postal parcel or registered flows.
Who sees it and where	UK senders see it on an international label or receipt; overseas recipients see the same number in seller messages and destination post tracking.
Tracking scope	Visible through Royal Mail during UK acceptance and export; visibility after handoff depends on destination postal operator participation.
Important caveat	Prefixes such as R, L, C or E families indicate broad UPU mail categories, but the consumer service name should be verified by the label or official tracking result.

Inbound international S10 number not ending GB

Two letters, nine digits and the origin country code, such as LX ######### CN or RR ######### US.

View all details for inbound S10 numbers

Length/structure	13-character UPU S10 structure with the issuing postal operator’s country code at the end.
Issued by	The origin postal operator, not Royal Mail, even if Royal Mail scans it in the UK.
Typical service/use	Cross-border ecommerce parcels, registered letters, packets and postal parcels entering the UK.
Who sees it and where	Marketplace buyers often see the origin post number in seller dispatch messages; UK recipients may see Royal Mail delivery events under the same number after import.
Tracking scope	Origin post events, line-haul visibility gaps, UK import scans and Royal Mail last-mile events where exchanged.
Important caveat	Royal Mail can track or deliver an inbound number without having issued that number.

Signed For or Special Delivery reference

Royal Mail reference printed on receipt or label; structure varies by product and channel.

View all details for signed and special delivery references

Length/structure	May be alphanumeric or numeric depending on channel; enter without decorative spaces or hyphens if the first attempt fails.
Issued by	Royal Mail counter, online postage or business shipping system.
Typical service/use	Royal Mail Signed For and Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed services.
Who sees it and where	The sender sees it on the receipt; the recipient may receive it from the sender or seller.
Tracking scope	Special Delivery generally has richer tracking and guarantee rules; Signed For focuses on delivery confirmation and signature evidence.
Important caveat	A signature or proof of delivery does not by itself prove the item was handed to the named person unless the service and delivery evidence support that conclusion.

Merchant order ID or marketplace reference

Order numbers, invoice numbers and internal references do not follow Royal Mail tracking rules.

View all details for merchant references

Length/structure	Varies by retailer or marketplace.
Issued by	Seller, marketplace or order management system.
Typical service/use	Purchase lookup and customer service, not postal item tracking unless mapped by the merchant.
Who sees it and where	Buyers see it on order confirmations and account pages.
Tracking scope	Not trackable on Royal Mail unless the seller links it to a true carrier reference.
Important caveat	Ask the seller for the Royal Mail tracking reference if only an order number is shown.

Tracking Statuses and Meanings

Royal Mail status wording can vary by product and scan source, but the responsibility boundary is consistent: electronic advice does not mean physical acceptance, an export or import scan does not always mean customs release, and an out-for-delivery scan means the local delivery operation is attempting the final mile.

Status Quick Lookup

Status

What it means

Sender preparing item / advice received

Royal Mail has electronic information, but the item may not yet be physically in the Royal Mail network.

View all details for sender preparing item

Lifecycle stage	Pre-shipment.
Current responsible party	Sender, seller or fulfilment partner until Royal Mail acceptance is scanned.
What happens next	The item should be handed to Royal Mail or collected.
What you should do	Check the dispatch date and ask the seller if the status does not progress after the expected handoff time.

Accepted at Post Office / collected

Royal Mail or a retail acceptance point has received the item.

View all details for accepted items

Lifecycle stage	Accepted.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail for transport after acceptance.
What happens next	Sorting at a mail centre or parcel hub.
What you should do	No action unless the item exceeds the service’s official claim or delay guidance.

Item received at mail centre / in transit

The item is moving through Royal Mail sorting or transport.

View all details for in transit items

Lifecycle stage	In transit.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail or its contracted transport leg.
What happens next	Arrival at the destination mail centre or delivery office.
What you should do	Monitor for the next scan; occasional scan gaps can occur between facilities.

Leaving the UK / handed to delivery partner

Royal Mail has prepared the international item for export or handed it to the next postal or transport partner.

View all details for international handoff status

Lifecycle stage	Customs/Handover.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail until export handoff, then airline, postal exchange or destination postal operator depending on stage.
What happens next	Line-haul, destination country arrival and import handling.
What you should do	Track with 17TRACK or the destination post if Royal Mail events pause after export.

Out for delivery

The local Royal Mail delivery office has assigned the item for delivery.

View all details for out for delivery

Lifecycle stage	Out for delivery.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail local delivery operation.
What happens next	Delivery, attempted delivery, collection card or safe-place event.
What you should do	Watch for delivery instructions, access requirements and collection card information.

Delivered

Royal Mail recorded a delivery scan; proof of delivery may be available for eligible services.

View all details for delivered status

Lifecycle stage	Delivered.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail for delivery evidence; sender or seller for order support.
What happens next	No further transport scan is expected unless a dispute or correction occurs.
What you should do	Check safe place, household, reception and neighbours before escalating with evidence.

Attempted delivery / available for collection

Royal Mail could not complete delivery and may hold the item for collection or redelivery according to current rules.

View all details for collection status

Lifecycle stage	Pickup.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail delivery office or collection point.
What happens next	Recipient books redelivery, collects the item or the item is returned after the holding period.
What you should do	Use the Royal Mail card or tracking page for redelivery or collection instructions.

Exception / unable to deliver / returned to sender

The shipment has a problem such as address issue, access issue, refusal, unpaid charge, customs issue or expired holding period.

View all details for exception and return status

Lifecycle stage	Exception or Return.
Current responsible party	Royal Mail, customs, recipient or sender depending on the stated reason.
What happens next	Redelivery, collection, payment, information request or return processing.
What you should do	Follow the event-specific instruction and contact the sender if only the sender can change or claim the shipment.

Services and Delivery Times

Royal Mail service choice determines tracking depth and delivery standard. Delivery standards are not the same as a guaranteed delivery date unless Royal Mail explicitly sells a guaranteed service such as Special Delivery Guaranteed.

Service Comparison

Service

Best for

Royal Mail Tracked 24

UK parcels needing tracked delivery with a faster service aim than Tracked 48.

View all details for Royal Mail Tracked 24

Service type	Domestic tracked parcel.
Coverage	United Kingdom, subject to Royal Mail service availability and exclusions.
Tracking level	End-to-end tracked events with delivery confirmation.
Key size/weight condition	Depends on parcel size, weight and current Royal Mail product limits.
Included protection/extra service	Compensation and options depend on current Royal Mail terms.
Main limitation	Service aim is not the same as a money-back guarantee unless stated by Royal Mail.

Royal Mail Tracked 48

UK parcels where tracking matters more than fastest delivery.

View all details for Royal Mail Tracked 48

Service type	Domestic tracked parcel.
Coverage	United Kingdom, subject to product availability.
Tracking level	Tracked events and delivery confirmation.
Key size/weight condition	Depends on parcel format and current Royal Mail limits.
Included protection/extra service	Compensation depends on the selected product and terms.
Main limitation	May have fewer urgency protections than guaranteed services.

Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed

Time-sensitive UK items needing a guaranteed delivery promise under Royal Mail terms.

View all details for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed

Service type	Domestic premium tracked and signed service.
Coverage	United Kingdom, with exceptions and timing variations for some locations.
Tracking level	Detailed tracking with delivery confirmation and signature evidence where applicable.
Key size/weight condition	Subject to Royal Mail’s current Special Delivery size, weight and contents rules.
Included protection/extra service	Compensation and refund rules are product-specific.
Main limitation	Guarantee conditions, exclusions and posting deadlines must be checked before sending.

Royal Mail Signed For 1st Class and 2nd Class

Letters or parcels needing signature or delivery confirmation rather than full tracking.

View all details for Royal Mail Signed For

Service type	Domestic signed confirmation service.
Coverage	United Kingdom.
Tracking level	Usually acceptance and delivery/signature evidence rather than full network tracking.
Key size/weight condition	Subject to letter, large letter and parcel limits.
Included protection/extra service	Signature evidence where available and compensation according to terms.
Main limitation	Not suitable when the buyer expects detailed scan-by-scan tracking.

International Tracked, Signed or Tracked & Signed

Cross-border postal parcels where export and destination visibility are needed.

View all details for Royal Mail international tracked services

Service type	International postal service.
Coverage	Destination-country availability varies by service and postal partner.
Tracking level	Tracking and/or signature depends on destination and chosen product.
Key size/weight condition	Subject to international size, weight, destination and customs rules.
Included protection/extra service	Compensation and signature options vary by product.
Main limitation	Customs and foreign postal handoffs can create visibility gaps.

Delivery Time

Service

Published delivery standard

Tracked 24

Royal Mail describes Tracked 24 as a next working day aim for many UK items, subject to posting time and service conditions.

View all timing details for Tracked 24

Business or calendar days	Working-day service aim unless Royal Mail states otherwise.
Guarantee status	Service aim, not the same as Special Delivery Guaranteed.
Starts counting from	Posting, collection or acceptance according to Royal Mail rules and cut-off time.
Main delay factors	Late posting, service disruption, address quality, weather, peak volume and missed scans.
Official source date/validity	Current Royal Mail service page should be checked before purchase.

Tracked 48

Royal Mail describes Tracked 48 as a two-to-three working day aim for many UK items.

View all timing details for Tracked 48

Business or calendar days	Working-day service aim.
Guarantee status	Service aim, not a general money-back guarantee.
Starts counting from	Acceptance or collection according to current Royal Mail rules.
Main delay factors	Origin cut-off, network disruption, remote delivery area, incomplete address and seasonal volume.
Official source date/validity	Current Royal Mail service page should be checked before purchase.

Special Delivery Guaranteed

Royal Mail publishes guaranteed delivery options such as by 1pm or other current variants, subject to postcode and service conditions.

View all timing details for Special Delivery Guaranteed

Business or calendar days	Working-day guarantee rules depend on selected product, posting day and destination.
Guarantee status	Guaranteed only under Royal Mail Special Delivery terms and exclusions.
Starts counting from	Accepted posting before the relevant cut-off.
Main delay factors	Posting after cut-off, excluded contents, exceptional disruption and locations with special delivery arrangements.
Official source date/validity	Current Royal Mail Special Delivery terms should be checked before purchase.

International services

Varies by origin, destination, customs, destination postal operator and selected service.

View all timing details for international services

Business or calendar days	Usually described as working-day estimates or destination-specific aims.
Guarantee status	Not a customs clearance guarantee unless Royal Mail explicitly states a product guarantee.
Starts counting from	Acceptance and export processing, with destination-country handling after handoff.
Main delay factors	Customs, security checks, incomplete customs data, restricted goods, line-haul capacity, destination postal delays and local holidays.
Official source date/validity	Royal Mail international service and destination guide pages should be checked for the chosen country.

Common Tracking Problems and Solutions

Most Royal Mail tracking problems fall into one of three groups: the item has not been physically handed to Royal Mail, the item is between scan points, or the shipment needs an action from the recipient, sender, customs authority or seller.

Problem & Solution

Problem/status shown

Likely cause

Invalid tracking number

The number is mistyped, is an order reference, or belongs to another carrier.

View all solutions for invalid tracking number

Check first	Remove spaces, check letters O/I against digits 0/1, and confirm the seller supplied a Royal Mail reference.
Immediate action	Try official Royal Mail tracking and 17TRACK carrier auto-detection.
When to escalate	Escalate to the seller if only an order number is available.
Who to contact	Seller or sender first; Royal Mail if the number is a valid Royal Mail reference.

No tracking updates / label only

Electronic label data exists, but Royal Mail may not have physically received the item.

View all solutions for no tracking updates

Check first	Dispatch email time, seller handling time and whether a collection scan has appeared.
Immediate action	Wait for first acceptance scan if dispatch is recent.
When to escalate	Use Royal Mail’s current help and claims guidance if the item passes the relevant service delay threshold.
Who to contact	Sender or seller before acceptance; Royal Mail after acceptance where eligible.

Stuck in transit

The item is between facilities, missed a scan, is delayed by disruption, or is waiting for international handoff.

View all solutions for stuck in transit

Check first	Service type, last scan location, service updates and whether the shipment is domestic or international.
Immediate action	Continue monitoring and compare Royal Mail with 17TRACK for partner events.
When to escalate	Escalate when Royal Mail’s official lost, delayed or damaged mail timing for that service is reached.
Who to contact	Royal Mail for accepted domestic items; sender or destination post for some international flows.

Delivery exception or address problem

Access failed, address is incomplete, item is refused, charge is due or local delivery could not be completed.

View all solutions for delivery exceptions

Check first	Tracking page instructions, delivery card, address spelling and whether fees are due.
Immediate action	Book redelivery, collect from the stated location or follow payment instructions only through official Royal Mail pages.
When to escalate	Escalate before the item’s holding period expires or when tracking shows return processing.
Who to contact	Recipient for redelivery or collection; sender if address correction or reshipment is needed.

Delivered but not received

The item may be in a safe place, with another person, at a reception point, misdelivered or scanned before final handover correction.

View all solutions for delivered but not received

Check first	Delivery photo or signature, safe place, porch, bins area, household members, building reception and neighbours.
Immediate action	Contact the local Royal Mail delivery office or customer service with the tracking number and delivery evidence.
When to escalate	Escalate quickly if evidence conflicts with your address or the seller’s delivery promise.
Who to contact	Royal Mail for delivery evidence; seller for order refund or replacement obligations.

Customs hold

Import authorities, customs data, duty and tax assessment or restricted-goods checks are delaying movement.

View all solutions for customs hold

Check first	Destination-country tracking, payment notices, customs requests and seller customs declaration accuracy.
Immediate action	Pay official charges or provide requested information only through official carrier or customs channels.
When to escalate	Escalate if customs asks the sender for missing documents or the item is being returned.
Who to contact	Recipient or importer for taxes; sender for missing commercial information; current postal operator for delivery handling.

Lost or damaged package

The item has exceeded official delay guidance, arrived damaged or contents are missing.

View all solutions for lost or damaged packages

Check first	Service used, proof of posting, value evidence, packaging, photos and Royal Mail claim eligibility.
Immediate action	Keep packaging and evidence; ask the sender to start the correct Royal Mail claim if the sender bought postage.
When to escalate	Use the filing windows and deadlines on Royal Mail claims pages for the specific service.
Who to contact	Sender, seller or Royal Mail according to who purchased the postage and who owns the claim rights.

International Shipping, Customs and Carrier Handoffs

Royal Mail exports UK postal items to destination postal operators and delivers many inbound postal items after the origin operator sends them to the UK. A tracking gap after export or before import is common because physical transport, customs and postal data exchange are separate events.

International Flow

Stage

What is happening

Origin acceptance

The sender posts the item and the origin postal operator accepts it.

View all details for origin acceptance

Physical custodian/responsible entity	Royal Mail for UK exports, or foreign origin post for UK imports.
Typical tracking event	Accepted, item received, posted or sender has dispatched item.
Can the tracking number change?	Usually the S10 number continues, but some commercial flows may map to another last-mile reference.
Normal visibility gap	Short gap may occur before first sorting scan.
What the customer should do	Confirm the carrier reference and service from the sender.

Export processing and security

The origin postal operator prepares the item for international dispatch and required security screening.

View all details for export processing

Physical custodian/responsible entity	Origin postal operator and export processing facility.
Typical tracking event	Leaving the UK, leaving overseas, handed to delivery partner or item leaving international processing centre.
Can the tracking number change?	The original postal number normally remains valid.
Normal visibility gap	Gap may occur while awaiting flight, dispatch or data exchange.
What the customer should do	Do not treat export processing as customs release in the destination country.

Line-haul and postal handoff

The item moves between countries and may be handed from airline or transport partner to the destination postal operator.

View all details for line-haul and handoff

Physical custodian/responsible entity	Transport partner, international exchange office and destination post depending on exact point.
Typical tracking event	Dispatched, in transit to destination, arrived in destination country or received by overseas postal operator.
Can the tracking number change?	S10 numbers are designed for international postal exchange; some destination posts add an internal reference but may still search the S10 number.
Normal visibility gap	Several days can pass without a scan because the parcel is physically moving or awaiting exchange.
What the customer should do	Check 17TRACK and the destination post once the item reaches the destination country.

Import customs

The destination country assesses customs data, duties, taxes and admissibility.

View all details for import customs

Physical custodian/responsible entity	Customs authority, border agency and destination postal operator.
Typical tracking event	Presented to customs, customs cleared, charges due or held by customs.
Can the tracking number change?	The postal number usually remains searchable, but local systems may add a payment or delivery reference.
Normal visibility gap	No fixed clearance time should be assumed.
What the customer should do	Provide requested information and pay official charges through trusted official channels only.

Last-mile delivery

The destination carrier delivers the parcel locally; for inbound UK postal items, Royal Mail often performs this role.

View all details for last-mile delivery

Physical custodian/responsible entity	Royal Mail in the UK or destination postal operator outside the UK.
Typical tracking event	Received at delivery office, out for delivery, delivered, attempted delivery or available for collection.
Can the tracking number change?	Usually no for postal S10 tracking, but some ecommerce partners may expose an additional last-mile ID.
Normal visibility gap	Gap may occur between import release and local delivery office scan.
What the customer should do	Follow local delivery instructions, redelivery options and collection deadlines.

Delivery Management and Post-shipment Options

Royal Mail delivery management depends on the service, delivery stage and eligibility. Recipients can usually act on missed-delivery and collection options; senders control many order, address and claim decisions.

Delivery Management

Option

Who can request

Book a redelivery

Recipient with the missed-delivery card or tracking details.

View all details for Royal Mail redelivery

Eligibility	Available when Royal Mail attempted delivery and offers redelivery for that item.
Deadline/available stage	After attempted delivery and before the item is returned or holding period ends.
Fee	Check the current Royal Mail redelivery page for any conditions.
Guaranteed?	No absolute guarantee if address, access or service restrictions prevent delivery.
Official action link	Royal Mail redelivery

Collect from delivery office or collection point

Recipient named on the item, usually with required identification and delivery card.

View all details for Royal Mail collection

Eligibility	Available when tracking or a card says the item is held for collection.
Deadline/available stage	Before the published holding period expires.
Fee	Collection rules and charges depend on the service and location.
Guaranteed?	Collection requires the item to be physically at the stated location and identification to match requirements.
Official action link	Royal Mail services near you

Safeplace or delivery preference

Recipient where the product and delivery stage allow instructions.

View all details for Royal Mail delivery preferences

Eligibility	Depends on sender restrictions, service type, signature requirement and item size.
Deadline/available stage	Before final delivery attempt where the tracking page offers the option.
Fee	Check current Royal Mail terms for any service-specific charge.
Guaranteed?	Not guaranteed; the delivery person may decide the location is unsafe or unsuitable.
Official action link	Royal Mail Track your item

Lost, Damaged, Claims, Insurance and Refunds

A Royal Mail tracking enquiry, compensation claim, postage refund and marketplace refund are different processes. The person who bought postage normally has the strongest evidence for a Royal Mail claim, while a buyer’s refund request normally belongs with the seller or marketplace.

Claims and Refunds

Process

Use when

Loss or delay claim

Use when a Royal Mail item has not arrived and the official delay or loss guidance for the specific service has been met.

View all details for Royal Mail loss or delay claims

Who files	Usually the sender or postage purchaser, although recipients may provide evidence.
Earliest/latest filing time	Use the current Royal Mail claims page because windows differ by service and destination.
Required evidence	Tracking number, proof of posting, value proof, recipient details and correspondence.
Possible outcome	Investigation, compensation under product terms, rejection or request for more evidence.
Official link	Royal Mail lost items help

Damage or missing contents claim

Use when the item arrives damaged, contents are missing or packaging shows transport damage.

View all details for Royal Mail damage claims

Who files	Sender or postage purchaser normally files; recipient should keep packaging and photos.
Earliest/latest filing time	Check Royal Mail’s current damaged item claim deadlines for the selected service.
Required evidence	Photos of contents and packaging, value evidence, proof of posting, tracking reference and description of damage.
Possible outcome	Compensation under product terms, denial for insufficient packaging or request for inspection.
Official link	Royal Mail compensation policy

Postage refund for guaranteed service failure

Use when a guaranteed Royal Mail service misses its guarantee and the terms allow a refund.

View all details for Royal Mail postage refunds

Who files	The person who paid Royal Mail for the service.
Earliest/latest filing time	Follow Royal Mail’s current refund and compensation deadlines for Special Delivery and other eligible services.
Required evidence	Postage receipt, tracking number, service purchased and delivery scan evidence.
Possible outcome	Postage refund, compensation decision or denial due to exclusions.
Official link	Royal Mail help

Marketplace or seller refund

Use when the purchase contract is with a seller and you need a refund, replacement or order dispute.

View all details for seller refunds

Who files	Buyer files with the seller or marketplace; seller may separately claim against Royal Mail.
Earliest/latest filing time	Depends on seller and marketplace buyer-protection rules.
Required evidence	Order number, tracking result, delivery address, photos and messages with the seller.
Possible outcome	Refund, replacement, seller investigation or marketplace dispute outcome.
Official link	Use the seller or marketplace order-help page, not 17TRACK.

17TRACK cannot approve Royal Mail compensation, refund postage or change the outcome of a Royal Mail investigation.

Shipping Restrictions and Special Handling

Royal Mail restrictions affect whether an item can be accepted, whether it can travel by air, whether customs will hold it and whether compensation applies. Always use the current Royal Mail prohibited and restricted goods guide before posting.

Shipping Restrictions

Customer Service

For the fastest Royal Mail support route, start with tracking, then use the relevant help form or service page. Prepare the tracking number, posting date, service, sender and recipient addresses, last scan, contents description, value proof and photos if damage is involved.

Customer Service

Channel

Verified contact/link

Tracking page

Royal Mail Track your item

View all details for Royal Mail tracking support

Best for	Latest scan, delivery attempt, proof of delivery where available and redelivery prompts.
Region/language	United Kingdom; English.
Hours and time zone	Online page availability; delivery actions depend on service stage.
Information to prepare	Tracking reference and postcode where requested.
Important limitation	Not all Royal Mail services have full tracking.

Help and contact centre

Royal Mail Help

View all details for Royal Mail help

Best for	Delayed, lost, damaged, redelivery, customs, complaints and account questions.
Region/language	United Kingdom; English.
Hours and time zone	Use the official help page for current opening hours and channel availability.
Information to prepare	Tracking number, proof of posting, address, service, dates and evidence.
Important limitation	Royal Mail may require the sender or postage purchaser to file a compensation claim.

Redelivery

Royal Mail redelivery

View all details for Royal Mail redelivery contact

Best for	Missed delivery cards and items held after attempted delivery.
Region/language	United Kingdom; English.
Hours and time zone	Online request page; collection office hours vary by location.
Information to prepare	Card details, name, address, tracking number and preferred redelivery details.
Important limitation	Not every item can be redirected or redelivered to every address.

Services near you

Royal Mail services near you

View all details for Royal Mail locations

Best for	Finding delivery offices, customer service points, postboxes and local service availability.
Region/language	United Kingdom; English.
Hours and time zone	Location-specific hours shown on the official locator.
Information to prepare	Postcode, town or delivery card information.
Important limitation	Opening hours and services can vary; verify before travel.

Ecommerce and Business Tracking

Retailers should distinguish customer-facing tracking, Royal Mail shipping or tracking integrations, and 17TRACK multi-carrier visibility. Royal Mail systems are best for Royal Mail-specific labels and services; 17TRACK is useful when a store ships with multiple carriers or cross-border postal handoffs.

Developer/API Comparison

Option

Provider

Official Royal Mail business integrations

Royal Mail

View all details for Royal Mail official integrations

Carrier coverage	Royal Mail services and eligible Royal Mail business account workflows.
Primary use	Label creation, shipping data, manifests, business account operations and service-specific integration.
Authentication	Requires Royal Mail business access, credentials and current developer or account setup.
Tracking/batch/webhook capability	Capabilities depend on the current Royal Mail developer product and account eligibility.
Current developer documentation	Royal Mail developer portal
Migration/deprecation note	Use the current developer portal because Royal Mail integration products, endpoints and authentication can change.

17TRACK Tracking API

17TRACK

View all details for 17TRACK API

Carrier coverage	Multi-carrier tracking, including Royal Mail where 17TRACK supports the carrier code.
Primary use	Batch tracking registration, normalized status monitoring, ecommerce shipment visibility and exception monitoring.
Authentication	17token header from a 17TRACK API account.
Tracking/batch/webhook capability	Register tracking numbers through API and use available 17TRACK API features according to plan and documentation.
Current developer documentation	17TRACK API documentation
Migration/deprecation note	Use the current 17TRACK documentation for version, quota and endpoint changes.

FAQ

1. How do I track my Royal Mail package?

Enter the tracking reference on Royal Mail Track your item or use 17TRACK to view available Royal Mail and partner events in one place.

2. Where is my Royal Mail tracking number?

The Royal Mail tracking number is usually on the Post Office receipt, Royal Mail label, Click & Drop record, seller dispatch email, marketplace order page or delivery card.

3. What does a Royal Mail tracking number look like?

A Royal Mail international number often follows the UPU S10 pattern of two letters, nine digits and GB, while domestic references vary by service and shipping system.

4. When will the first Royal Mail tracking update appear?

The first meaningful Royal Mail update usually appears after physical acceptance or first processing, not merely when the sender creates a label.

5. Why is my Royal Mail tracking not updating?

Royal Mail tracking may pause because the parcel is between scan points, awaiting handoff, delayed by disruption, held by customs or using a service with limited tracking.

6. How long does Royal Mail delivery take?

Royal Mail delivery time depends on the product, posting cut-off, destination and disruption; Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 are service aims, while Special Delivery Guaranteed has separate guarantee terms.

7. What should I do after a Royal Mail delivery attempt?

Use the Royal Mail delivery card or tracking page to book redelivery, check collection options or follow payment instructions if charges are due.

8. What if Royal Mail says delivered but I have not received it?

Check safe places, household members, reception, neighbours and proof of delivery first, then contact Royal Mail for delivery evidence and the seller for order support.

9. How do I report a lost or damaged Royal Mail item?

Use Royal Mail’s current lost, delayed or damaged item guidance and keep proof of posting, tracking, value evidence, photos and packaging.

10. How do I contact Royal Mail customer service?

Start with Royal Mail Help, Track your item, redelivery or Services near you, and prepare the tracking number, address, dates, service and evidence before contacting support.

11. Can Royal Mail track an international package from another country?

Royal Mail can often show UK delivery events for inbound postal items, but the tracking number may have been issued by the origin postal operator rather than Royal Mail.

12. Does Royal Mail tracking mean customs has cleared my parcel?

A Royal Mail or partner arrival scan does not automatically mean customs clearance; look for a specific customs release, charges due or delivery-office event.

13. Can the Royal Mail tracking number change during international delivery?

Postal S10 numbers usually remain searchable across postal operators, but some ecommerce or local delivery systems may add a separate last-mile reference.

14. Can a Royal Mail service be inferred from the tracking prefix alone?

A prefix can suggest a broad identifier family, especially for S10 international mail, but the exact Royal Mail service should be verified from the label, receipt or official tracking result.

15. Can businesses track Royal Mail shipments through an API?

Businesses can review Royal Mail developer resources for official account integrations and use the 17TRACK API for multi-carrier tracking workflows that include Royal Mail where supported.

Tracking API

// 1. Royal Mail official tracking API
// Current public official Royal Mail tracking API endpoint, HTTP method and authentication
// are not confirmed here for unauthenticated public use. Businesses should use the
// current Royal Mail developer portal and account documentation before implementing
// any Royal Mail-specific API integration.

// 2. 17TRACK API: register a Royal Mail tracking number
// Endpoint: POST https://api.17track.net/track/v2.4/register
// Headers:
//   17token: YourKey
//   Content-Type: application/json
// Body:
//   CARRIER_CODE is kept as a placeholder unless your 17TRACK account confirms
//   the current carrier code for Royal Mail.

curl -X POST "https://api.17track.net/track/v2.4/register" \
  -H "17token: YourKey" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '[{"number":"TRACKING_NUMBER","carrier":"CARRIER_CODE"}]'