Recorded delivery in the UK currently costs £2.91 for Royal Mail Signed For 2nd Class and £3.80 for Signed For 1st Class when sending a standard letter weighing up to 100g.
The final price depends on the letter or parcel’s dimensions, weight, delivery class and whether postage is purchased online or at a Post Office.
Royal Mail revised several parcel charges on 5 October 2026, making it important to check the latest prices before sending documents, business correspondence or customer orders.
Although recorded delivery is an older postal term, it remains widely used by individuals and businesses looking for proof that important mail has reached its destination.
Understanding the charges, delivery times, tracking limitations and compensation arrangements can help avoid unnecessary postage costs.
What Is Recorded Delivery Called Now in the UK?
Recorded Delivery is now commonly known as Royal Mail Signed For, a postal service offering a signature upon delivery and online confirmation that an item has been delivered.
It is particularly useful when sending documents or correspondence where evidence of delivery matters.
Royal Mail provides two main options:
- Signed For 1st Class: Aims to deliver on the next working day, including Saturdays.
- Signed For 2nd Class: Aims to deliver within two to three working days.
- Signature Confirmation: Provides evidence that someone accepted delivery at the address.
- Compensation: Includes cover of up to £20 for eligible loss or damage.
Importantly, Signed For is not a fully tracked delivery service. Its primary purpose is to confirm delivery rather than provide continuous updates throughout the postal journey.
How Much Is Recorded Delivery in 2026?
The cheapest recorded delivery option is Royal Mail Signed For 2nd Class, starting at £2.91 for a standard letter.
For faster delivery, Signed For 1st Class starts at £3.80.
The following table compares Royal Mail’s published prices as of November 2026.
| Item Type | 1st Class Branch Price | 2nd Class Branch Price |
| Standard Letter up to 100g | £3.80 | £2.91 |
| Large Letter up to 100g | £5.30 | £3.55 |
| Large Letter up to 250g | £5.60 | £3.90 |
| Large Letter up to 500g | £5.60 | £4.40 |
| Large Letter up to 750g | £5.60 | £4.70 |
| Small Parcel up to 2kg | £7.50 | £6.20 |
| Medium Parcel up to 2kg | £10.30 | £9.10 |
| Medium Parcel over 2kg to 10kg | £12.50 | £11.10 |
| Medium Parcel over 10kg to 20kg | £18.50 | £15.80 |
Prices are exempt from VAT. Online postage may be cheaper for certain formats. Parcel prices reflect the changes introduced on 5 October 2026.
The difference between 1st and 2nd Class is relatively small for standard letters but becomes more significant for larger envelopes and heavier parcels.
For businesses sending customer correspondence regularly, choosing the appropriate class can deliver measurable savings without removing signature confirmation.
How Much Is 1st Class Recorded Delivery?
Royal Mail Signed For 1st Class costs £3.80 for a standard letter weighing up to 100g.
The price includes the delivery service and the requirement for a signature.
For larger items, the charge increases according to postal dimensions and weight.
A large letter weighing 250g costs £5.60 at a Post Office or £5.30 when postage is bought online.
A small parcel weighing up to 2kg costs £7.50 at a branch or £7.30 online.
Royal Mail aims to deliver 1st Class Signed For items on the following working day, but this is not a guaranteed delivery deadline.
Customers can check the published charges through the official Royal Mail Signed For 1st Class service.
How Much Is 2nd Class Recorded Delivery?
Royal Mail Signed For 2nd Class starts at £2.91 for a standard letter.
It is generally the more economical choice for non-urgent documents requiring a signature.
A large letter weighing up to 100g costs £3.55, while a small parcel weighing up to 2kg costs £6.20 at a branch or £6.00 online.
Both delivery classes provide signature confirmation and the same standard £20 compensation limit.
The main distinction is delivery speed rather than the level of compensation.
How Much Extra Does Recorded Delivery Cost Compared With Normal Post?
For standard letters, adding Signed For costs £2 more than the equivalent ordinary 1st or 2nd Class postage.
| Standard Letter Service | Postage Cost | Extra Cost for Signed For |
| Ordinary 1st Class | £1.80 | — |
| Signed For 1st Class | £3.80 | £2.00 |
| Ordinary 2nd Class | £0.91 | — |
| Signed For 2nd Class | £2.91 | £2.00 |
This additional charge provides delivery confirmation and a signature, rather than simply upgrading postal speed.
For example, a business sending 50 standard letters using Signed For 2nd Class would pay £145.50.
The equivalent ordinary 2nd Class postage would cost £45.50, making the additional signature service cost £100.
Our cost comparison indicates that businesses should use Signed For selectively, particularly for correspondence requiring an auditable record of delivery.
Does the Size and Weight of a Letter Affect Recorded Delivery Prices?
Yes. Royal Mail calculates recorded delivery prices using the item’s postal format and weight.
Even a relatively lightweight envelope may become a large letter if it exceeds the standard-letter thickness limit.
| Postal Format | Maximum Dimensions | Maximum Weight |
| Standard Letter | 24 × 16.5 × 0.5cm | 100g |
| Large Letter | 35.3 × 25 × 2.5cm | 750g |
| Small Parcel | 45 × 35 × 16cm | 2kg |
| Medium Parcel | 61 × 46 × 46cm | 20kg |
Consider a business sending a contract in a thick document wallet.
If the envelope measures more than 0.5cm thick, it no longer qualifies for standard-letter pricing, even if its weight remains below 100g.
The 1st Class Signed For charge could therefore increase from £3.80 to £5.30 at a branch.
We recommend measuring envelopes after inserting all documents rather than relying on the envelope’s empty dimensions.
How Long Does Recorded Delivery Take?
Delivery times depend on which Signed For service is selected.
Royal Mail aims to deliver 1st Class Signed For items on the next working day, including Saturdays.
Second Class Signed For generally has a delivery aim of two to three working days.
However, these are estimated delivery times and not guaranteed deadlines.
Royal Mail’s ongoing changes to Second Class letter deliveries also mean the delivery-day pattern can vary as the alternate-weekday system is introduced.
Businesses should review the Royal Mail Second Class changes before scheduling time-sensitive correspondence.
For example, a contract posted on Friday using 2nd Class Signed For should not be assumed to arrive on Monday.
When a specific delivery deadline is essential, Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed is generally more appropriate.
Can Recorded Delivery Be Tracked Throughout Its Journey?
Royal Mail Signed For provides online delivery confirmation, but it does not offer the same end-to-end tracking as Royal Mail Tracked 24 or Tracked 48.
The distinction matters when customers expect regular updates.
With Signed For, the sender can use the reference number to check whether delivery has been completed.
However, intermediate tracking information may not be available.
For ecommerce businesses, limited tracking can create additional customer-service enquiries when an item takes longer than expected.
A fully tracked service may therefore be better for parcels, particularly when customers expect notifications or delivery-progress updates.
The signature confirms delivery at the address, but it does not necessarily prove that the named addressee personally received the item.
How Do You Send Something by Recorded Delivery?
Sending a letter or parcel using Royal Mail Signed For is straightforward.
Step 1: Prepare the Letter or Parcel
Place the documents or contents inside suitable packaging.
Ensure the recipient’s full address and postcode are correct and clearly visible.
Step 2: Measure and Weigh the Item
Check the fully packaged dimensions and weight to identify the correct Royal Mail postal category.
Step 3: Select the Delivery Class
Choose Signed For 1st Class for the faster delivery aim or Signed For 2nd Class when the item is less urgent.
Step 4: Purchase the Postage
Postage can be purchased at a participating Post Office branch or through Royal Mail’s online service.
Online purchasing can reduce the price for certain formats.
Step 5: Obtain Proof of Posting
When posting at a branch, request and retain the Certificate of Posting.
This helps establish that the item entered the postal network and can support a compensation claim.
Step 6: Check Delivery Confirmation
Use the postal reference number to check Royal Mail’s delivery confirmation service.
Retain the confirmation if the document is commercially or legally important.
What Happens if Nobody Is Available to Sign for Recorded Delivery?
If nobody can accept a Signed For item, Royal Mail may follow its normal missed-delivery procedure.
Depending on the delivery circumstances, this can involve returning the item to a delivery office and providing instructions for redelivery or collection.
The sender should not assume that a missed delivery means the item has been lost.
Customers should check the delivery reference and any notification left by Royal Mail.
For important correspondence, keeping the tracking reference is particularly useful because it allows the sender to investigate whether delivery was completed or further action is required.
Is Recorded Delivery Safe for Important Documents?
Royal Mail Signed For can be suitable for contracts, signed forms, business letters and other documents where evidence of arrival is useful.
However, the service has limitations.
Compensation for eligible loss or damage is restricted to £20 or the item’s value, whichever is lower.
Certain valuable contents, including money and jewellery, are excluded from Signed For compensation.
Furthermore, a delivery signature does not establish what was inside the envelope or guarantee personal receipt by the intended individual.
For legal notices, the required method of service may be specified in a contract or applicable legal procedure. Recorded delivery should not automatically be treated as sufficient legal proof of service.
Where documents are irreplaceable, high-value or subject to strict deadlines, a more secure delivery service may be appropriate.
Is Recorded Delivery Better Than Tracked or Special Delivery?
The most suitable postal service depends on whether the sender prioritises price, delivery visibility, signature confirmation or guaranteed timing.
| Service | Delivery Evidence | Main Advantage |
| Signed For 1st Class | Signature and delivery confirmation | Faster delivery aim |
| Signed For 2nd Class | Signature and delivery confirmation | Lower letter postage cost |
| Tracked 24 | End-to-end tracking and delivery confirmation | Better parcel visibility |
| Tracked 48 | End-to-end tracking and delivery confirmation | Economical tracked parcels |
| Special Delivery Guaranteed | Tracking and proof of delivery | Guaranteed delivery deadline, subject to terms |
Royal Mail’s advertised online starting prices for Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 parcels are £4.65 and £3.65 respectively.
This demonstrates why Signed For is not automatically the cheapest option for parcels requiring delivery evidence.
However, tracking confirmation should not be confused with a guaranteed recipient signature. Senders must check whether a signature is included or available with their selected service.
Businesses comparing alternative couriers can also examine how to send a parcel with Evri to understand the differences in parcel weights, collection methods and delivery tracking.
How Can UK Businesses Reduce Recorded Delivery Costs?
Businesses can reduce postal expenditure by reviewing how often Signed For delivery is genuinely necessary.
Using the cheapest postage option for every item is not always commercially sensible, but neither is paying for signature confirmation on routine correspondence.
A practical mailing policy can distinguish between:
- Routine Correspondence: Ordinary postage where delivery evidence is unnecessary.
- Important Business Documents: Signed For when confirmation of delivery is required.
- Customer Parcels: Tracked delivery where shipment visibility is important.
- Urgent or Valuable Documents: Special Delivery Guaranteed where stronger protection or a delivery deadline is necessary.
For example, a company sending 100 standard letters monthly would spend £380 using Signed For 1st Class.
Using Signed For 2nd Class instead would cost £291, saving £89 monthly or £1,068 annually at the stated rates.
These figures exclude packaging, collection charges and any business-specific discounts.
For companies managing ecommerce returns, signed delivery can also be relevant when determining whether returned goods have reached the correct destination.
The importance of obtaining proof of posting and retaining delivery records is also discussed in the QVC returns through Evri process.
What Common Mistakes Increase Recorded Delivery Costs?
Several avoidable mistakes can result in unnecessary charges or delivery difficulties.
One common problem is selecting the wrong postal size. An envelope exceeding the thickness limit can move into a more expensive category.
Another is choosing 1st Class when the recipient does not require faster delivery.
Businesses sometimes also confuse Signed For with fully tracked services, creating expectations that the product cannot meet.
Other issues include using outdated parcel prices, failing to retain proof of posting and sending excluded valuables under insufficient compensation arrangements.
Royal Mail’s October 2026 parcel price changes reinforce the importance of checking current rates before purchasing postage.
FAQs About Recorded Delivery
How Much Is Recorded Delivery for a Normal Letter?
A standard letter weighing up to 100g costs £2.91 using Signed For 2nd Class or £3.80 using Signed For 1st Class.
Is Recorded Delivery Guaranteed Next Day?
No. Signed For 1st Class aims for next-working-day delivery but does not guarantee arrival by a particular deadline.
Does Recorded Delivery Include Insurance?
Signed For includes compensation of up to £20 for eligible loss or damage, subject to Royal Mail’s terms and exclusions.
Can You Send Recorded Delivery Without Visiting a Post Office?
Yes. Royal Mail allows online postage purchases and eligible collection or Parcel Postbox options. For a Certificate of Posting, handing the item over at a Post Office remains a straightforward choice.
Is Recorded Delivery Worth Paying For?
Recorded delivery is useful when signature confirmation is important. For ordinary correspondence without a delivery-evidence requirement, standard postage may be sufficient.
