For many of our smaller and giftable parcels we mainly use Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48®. These services give you full tracking and other benefits that you should familiarise yourself with particularly to take advantage of delivery preferences.
The ultimate service used will depend on the delivery choice you made at the checkout and we will also use DPD or other services if the final packed size isn't suitable for Royal Mail.
We DO NOT use some of the well known 'hedge chuckers' who seem to be in the news 'every' time poor delivery services are in the news. Whilst our delivery partners do not get always get it right either, they have leading edge technology and experienced personnel.
How fast are Royal Mail Tracked 24 & 48?
Royal Mail Tracked 24®
Royal Mail aims to deliver Tracked 24 parcels on the next working day, including Saturdays in many areas. This isn’t a guaranteed next-day service, but in normal conditions it’s usually very quick.
Royal Mail Tracked 48®
Tracked 48 parcels aim to arrive in around 2–3 working days. Again, this is a delivery aim rather than a guarantee, but it’s designed to be a reliable, fully-tracked option for slightly less urgent deliveries.
Peak times (such as Christmas or major sales periods) and local issues can occasionally add an extra day or two.
What you get with Royal Mail Tracked services
- Tracking all the way to your door
-
Photo on delivery, where available
-
Email and/or SMS updates when Royal Mail has your parcel and when it’s out for delivery
- The option to change your delivery preferences while the parcel is on its way (for eligible items)
We’ll send you your tracking details as soon as your order has been dispatched.
Leaving your parcel in a Safeplace
Royal Mail allows you to nominate a Safeplace at your address – a secure spot where parcels can be left if you’re not in.
This might be, for example:
- Inside a porch
- Behind a side gate
- In a weather-sheltered storage box
- With a clearly-named neighbour
When a Safeplace is set and Royal Mail can safely leave the parcel there, they will:
- Leave your parcel in the location you’ve chosen
- Update the tracking to show it has been delivered
- Usually leave a card through your door to confirm where it was left
Important: The Safeplace must be part of your property, secure, and sheltered from the elements. Royal Mail cannot leave items in unsafe or very visible spots (for example, on the pavement or in full view of the street).
Postie-chosen Safeplace
If you haven’t nominated a Safeplace, your postie may still choose to leave the parcel in a location they consider suitably safe. This is based on Royal Mail’s delivery guidelines and their assessment of your property on the day.
Opting out of Safeplace deliveries
If you prefer not to have parcels left in any Safeplace, you can opt out through the Royal Mail App. Opting out removes Safeplace as a delivery option, meaning Royal Mail will not leave tracked parcels unattended and will instead attempt delivery or return the item to the Delivery Office if you are not available.
How to set or change your Safeplace
Using the Royal Mail App
For most customers, the easiest way is via the Royal Mail App:
- Download the Royal Mail App and create/log into your account.
- Go to Account → Manage account.
- Select your address and delivery preferences.
- Add or edit your Safeplace (and any accessibility requirements if needed).
- Save your changes – they’ll then be used for future eligible parcels to that address.
Safeplace tips & things to avoid
To help keep your order safe, please choose a Safeplace that is:
- Dry and sheltered – to protect your parcel from rain and damp
- Out of obvious sight from the street
- Easy for the postie to find based on a short description
- Accessible (no locked gates, aggressive pets, or hazards)
Examples of less suitable Safeplaces:
- Front step in full view
- On top of a wheelie bin that might be moved or emptied
- Somewhere that requires climbing or is unsafe to access
If Royal Mail decides a Safeplace is not suitable on the day (for example due to weather or security), they may instead take the parcel back to the Delivery Office and leave you a card.
Accessibility needs
If you or someone in your household needs a little more time to get to the door, or requires a louder knock, you can record this in the Royal Mail App under accessibility preferences. These instructions apply to your whole household and may also be followed by Parcelforce Worldwide.