Last Updated on 21.09.2026
The Royal Mail Special Delivery cost currently starts from £9.45 online or £9.95 at a Post Office for an item weighing up to 100g with £750 compensation and Guaranteed by 1pm delivery. The premium Guaranteed by 9am service starts from £53.95 and can only be purchased at a Post Office.
However, Royal Mail has confirmed new prices from 5 October 2026. From that date, the 1pm service will start at £9.85 online or £10.35 at a Post Office, while the 9am service will start at £58.95.
Prices in this article were checked on 21 September 2026, so businesses sending urgent or valuable items should pay particular attention to the October price change.
What Is Royal Mail Special Delivery?
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed is designed for valuable, confidential or time-sensitive letters and parcels that need a guaranteed delivery time.
The main services are Guaranteed by 1pm, Guaranteed by 9am and optional Saturday Guaranteed delivery. Special Delivery includes full tracking, a photo and signature on delivery and compensation for loss or damage.
Guaranteed by 1pm accepts parcels weighing up to 20kg, with a maximum medium-parcel size of 61 × 46 × 46cm. The 9am service has a much lower maximum weight of 2kg and is only available to buy at a Post Office.
The service can be useful for legal documents, passports, financial paperwork, expensive products and other shipments where a normal delivery aim is not sufficient.
Royal Mail Special Delivery Cost By 1pm
The following prices apply before the announced 5 October 2026 change.
| Weight | £750 Cover PO / Online | £1,000 Cover PO / Online | £2,500 Cover PO / Online |
| 100g | £9.95 / £9.45 | £12.95 / £12.45 | £19.95 / £19.45 |
| 500g | £10.95 / £10.45 | £13.95 / £13.45 | £20.95 / £20.45 |
| 1kg | £11.95 / £11.45 | £14.95 / £14.45 | £21.95 / £21.45 |
| 2kg | £15.95 / £15.45 | £18.95 / £18.45 | £25.95 / £25.45 |
| 10kg | £22.95 / £21.95 | £25.95 / £24.95 | £32.95 / £31.95 |
| 20kg | £27.95 / £26.95 | £30.95 / £29.95 | £37.95 / £36.95 |
Buying the 1pm service online is therefore cheaper. The saving is normally 50p, increasing to £1 for 10kg and 20kg parcels.
These weekday 1pm prices are exempt from VAT.
New 1pm Prices From 5 October 2026
Royal Mail’s published October price guides confirm the following rates.
| Weight | £750 PO / Online | £1,000 PO / Online | £2,500 PO / Online |
| 100g | £10.35 / £9.85 | £13.35 / £12.85 | £20.35 / £19.85 |
| 500g | £11.35 / £10.85 | £14.35 / £13.85 | £21.35 / £20.85 |
| 1kg | £12.45 / £11.95 | £15.45 / £14.95 | £22.45 / £21.95 |
| 2kg | £16.55 / £16.05 | £19.55 / £19.05 | £26.55 / £26.05 |
| 10kg | £23.95 / £22.95 | £26.95 / £25.95 | £33.95 / £32.95 |
| 20kg | £28.95 / £27.95 | £31.95 / £30.95 | £38.95 / £37.95 |
This makes the October change particularly important for businesses budgeting postage over the final quarter of 2026.
How Much Does Saturday Special Delivery Cost?
Saturday Guaranteed is useful when Friday-to-Saturday delivery is essential rather than waiting until the next normal working day.
Current Guaranteed by 1pm Saturday prices are:
| Weight | £750 Cover | £1,000 Cover | £2,500 Cover |
| 100g | £14.94 | £18.54 | £26.94 |
| 500g | £16.14 | £19.74 | £28.14 |
| 1kg | £17.34 | £20.94 | £29.34 |
| 2kg | £22.14 | £25.74 | £34.14 |
| 10kg | £30.54 | £34.14 | £42.54 |
| 20kg | £36.54 | £40.14 | £48.54 |
Unlike the normal weekday 1pm price, Saturday prices include VAT. In practical terms, the Saturday rate currently corresponds to the weekday Post Office price with VAT applied plus the Saturday premium.
From 5 October 2026, the equivalent £750 Saturday prices rise to £15.42 for 100g, £16.62 for 500g, £17.94 for 1kg, £22.86 for 2kg, £31.74 for 10kg and £37.74 for 20kg.
Anyone relying on weekend postage should also check how Royal Mail deliveries operate on Saturdays, as not every destination can accept a Saturday Guaranteed item.
Banks, building societies, travel agents, jewellers and Post Office branches are among the businesses that may not accept Saturday deliveries. Royal Mail also does not guarantee Saturday delivery to the Isle of Man, Jersey, Herm, Sark or Alderney.
Royal Mail Special Delivery By 9am Cost
Guaranteed by 9am is significantly more expensive because it provides an earlier delivery deadline. It is Post Office only, so it cannot be bought online.
Current prices are:
| Weight | £50 Cover | £1,000 Cover | £2,500 Cover |
| 100g | £53.95 | £60.95 | £68.95 |
| 500g | £59.95 | £66.95 | £74.95 |
| 1kg | £59.95 | £66.95 | £74.95 |
| 2kg | £74.95 | £81.95 | £89.95 |
The basic compensation level is only £50, not £750 as with the standard 1pm service. These prices include VAT.
Current Saturday 9am prices start from £56.95 for 100g, £62.95 for 500g or 1kg and £77.95 for 2kg. Increasing cover to £1,000 adds £7 compared with the £50 tier, while £2,500 cover adds £15.
From 5 October 2026, weekday 9am prices rise to:
| Weight | £50 Cover | £1,000 Cover | £2,500 Cover |
| 100g | £58.95 | £65.95 | £73.95 |
| 500g | £65.95 | £72.95 | £80.95 |
| 1kg | £65.95 | £72.95 | £80.95 |
| 2kg | £82.95 | £89.95 | £97.95 |
Royal Mail’s October guide lists the Saturday Guarantee as a £3 add-on for the 9am service.
What Will You Actually Pay?
For a 1kg parcel sent before 5 October, buying Guaranteed by 1pm online with standard £750 compensation costs £11.45. Raising the cover to £1,000 makes the online cost £14.45.
If that same 1kg item needs Saturday Guaranteed delivery with £1,000 compensation, the current cost is £20.94.
A 1kg parcel requiring the much earlier weekday 9am guarantee costs £59.95 with £50 compensation, or £66.95 with £1,000 protection. Saturday delivery with the £50 level currently costs £62.95.
This is why choosing the correct guarantee and compensation level matters more than looking only at the headline starting price.
Standard Compensation Vs Consequential Loss
Normal compensation protects against the value of an item if it is lost or damaged. Consequential loss is different because it can cover additional financial loss caused by the delivery problem.
For example, losing an ordinary document may have little physical value, but failing to deliver a legal document or tax return could potentially result in a financial penalty.
Current consequential loss add-ons are:
| Maximum Consequential Loss | Add-On |
| £1,000 | £2.28 |
| £2,500 | £3.90 |
| £5,000 | £5.82 |
| £7,500 | £7.14 |
| £10,000 | £9.72 |
Consequential loss cover is available through the Post Office. Claims must normally be made within 14 days of posting, with the postage receipt and evidence demonstrating the indirect financial loss.
For a valuable physical product, increasing the normal compensation limit may be sufficient. For a document where late or failed delivery could create a separate financial penalty, consequential loss may be more relevant.
Cut-Off Times, Postcodes And Parcel Collect
Posting before the correct cut-off is essential. Royal Mail advises customers using a Post Office to arrive at least one hour before closing, no later than 4.30pm, or no later than 11am where the branch has half-day closing.
Branch arrangements vary, so businesses dealing with urgent shipments should check local Royal Mail next-day delivery cut-off times before travelling.
There is another important limitation with Parcel Collect. Having a Special Delivery by 1pm item collected from your home or office adds an extra working day to the delivery guarantee.
If next-working-day delivery is essential, buy the postage online but take the item to a Post Office before the acceptance deadline.
Some remote postcodes also have extended delivery times.
| Area | Special Delivery 1pm Timing |
| Parts of AB, HS, IV, KA, KW, PA, PH and ZE1 | By 5.30pm next working day |
| HS2, IM, JE, PA60–75, PA78, ZE2 and ZE3 | Within two working days |
| KW16 outside Stromness Town, KW17, PH30 and PH41–44 | Within three working days |
The 9am service has its own much larger postcode exception list. Depending on the destination, the guarantee may instead be 9.30am, 10am, 1pm or unavailable, so postcode eligibility should be checked before paying for the premium service.
How To Send A Special Delivery Item?
You can buy Guaranteed by 1pm either online or at a Post Office. Online customers can print the label themselves or use a QR code so an eligible Post Office can print it when the parcel is dropped off.
A practical process is:
- Check The Item – Confirm its weight, dimensions, value and whether it is permitted in Royal Mail’s network.
- Choose The Guarantee – Select 1pm, 9am or Saturday delivery according to the actual deadline.
- Select Appropriate Cover – Match compensation to the value of the item and consider consequential loss where relevant.
- Post Before The Cut-Off – Allow enough time for the branch to issue a certificate of posting.
- Keep Your Receipt – Retain the tracking reference and evidence of the item’s value until delivery is completed.
Batteries, aerosols, perfumes, aftershaves, nail varnish and similar goods can be prohibited or restricted depending on their type and packaging, so businesses should check the applicable rules before sending.
If tracking does not update as expected, common causes and practical checks are covered in this information on Royal Mail tracking problems.
Special Delivery Vs Tracked 24 And Signed For
Special Delivery is not automatically the most cost-effective option for every parcel.
| Service | Current Starting Price | Delivery | Compensation | Guarantee |
| Special Delivery 1pm | £9.45 online | Next working day by 1pm | £750 | Yes, exceptions apply |
| Tracked 24 | £4.65 online for small parcel | Next-working-day aim | £75 | No |
| Signed For 1st Class | £3.80 letter | Next-working-day aim | £20 | No |
| Courier Services | Varies | Varies | Varies | Depends on service |
Tracked 24 provides tracking and photo confirmation but has a delivery aim rather than a timed guarantee. Signed For is cheaper but provides much lower compensation and does not offer the same end-to-end service as Special Delivery.
Current Royal Mail retail pricing confirms Tracked 24 compensation of up to £75 and Signed For compensation of up to £20.
For routine low-value e-commerce orders, paying the Special Delivery premium may therefore be unnecessary. It becomes much more useful when a missed deadline or lost item would create a substantially bigger problem.
Is Royal Mail Special Delivery Worth The Cost For Businesses?
Special Delivery is particularly useful for solicitors, accountants, online sellers and other businesses sending important originals, valuable products, contracts or time-critical documents.
It can also suit high-value marketplace sales where standard parcel compensation would be inadequate.
Businesses sending substantial volumes should compare retail prices with Royal Mail business-account arrangements rather than assuming the consumer tables represent their final cost.
The main reasons to pay the premium are the timed guarantee, full tracking, photo and signature evidence and higher compensation. For ordinary stock that does not require a fixed arrival time, Tracked 24 or another parcel service may provide better value.
Conclusion
The Royal Mail Special Delivery cost depends on weight, delivery time, compensation and whether postage is purchased online or at a Post Office.
As of 21 September 2026, Guaranteed by 1pm starts from £9.45 online or £9.95 at a branch, while Guaranteed by 9am starts at £53.95. Saturday delivery and higher compensation increase the total.
Crucially, new Royal Mail prices take effect on 5 October 2026, raising the starting 1pm price to £9.85 online and £10.35 at a branch, and the 9am starting price to £58.95.
Businesses that send Special Delivery items regularly should therefore update postage budgets and published delivery charges before the October change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Royal Mail Special Delivery For A 1kg Parcel?
Before 5 October 2026, a 1kg Guaranteed by 1pm parcel costs £11.45 online or £11.95 at a Post Office with £750 compensation.
Is Royal Mail Special Delivery Cheaper Online?
Yes. Guaranteed by 1pm is cheaper online, normally by 50p and by £1 for the current 10kg and 20kg bands.
Can I Buy Royal Mail Special Delivery By 9am Online?
No. Guaranteed by 9am can only be purchased at a Post Office branch.
What Is The Maximum Weight For Special Delivery?
Guaranteed by 1pm accepts parcels up to 20kg. Guaranteed by 9am has a maximum weight of 2kg.
Does Parcel Collect Keep The Next-Day Guarantee?
No. Royal Mail states that using Parcel Collect adds an extra working day to the 1pm delivery guarantee.
Is Royal Mail Special Delivery VAT Exempt?
Standard weekday Guaranteed by 1pm prices are VAT exempt. The 9am service and Saturday Guaranteed prices shown by Royal Mail include VAT.
What Is The Latest Time To Post Special Delivery?
The exact acceptance time depends on the branch. Royal Mail advises arriving at least an hour before closing, no later than 4.30pm, or by 11am at half-day-closing branches.
Can Special Delivery Be Sent For Saturday Arrival?
Yes, Saturday Guaranteed delivery is available for an additional charge, although destination and recipient restrictions apply.
