# Royal Mail Tracking: Complete Guide > Royal Mail, the UK's trusted postal service, offers reliable mail and parcel delivery across the UK and globally. - **URL**: https://trackingadvice.com/carriers/royal-mail/ - **Carrier website**: http://www.royalmail.com/ - **Region**: europe - **Last verified**: 2026-04-02 Royal Mail is the UK's designated universal postal service provider and one of Britain's most iconic institutions, founded by King Henry VIII in 1516 and operating as a public company since 2013. Delivering to over 31 million addresses across the UK six days per week, Royal Mail handles more than 8 billion pieces of mail and over 500 million parcels annually. From standard 1st and 2nd Class letters to tracked parcels and international services, Royal Mail remains the backbone of UK postal logistics. Track at royalmail.com/track-your-item or call 03457 740 740. ## Quick facts | Fact | Detail | | --- | --- | | Royal Mail Tracked items | Royal Mail Tracked items use a 13-character UPU S10 format (e.g., JD123456785GB). | | Special Delivery Guaranteed delivers | Special Delivery Guaranteed delivers by 1 PM or 9 AM next working day with full scan tracking. | | Royal Mail delivers six | Royal Mail delivers six days per week (Monday-Saturday); no standard Sunday delivery. | | International items use the | International items use the same UPU format but with a GB country suffix. | ## Royal Mail Tracking Number Formats | Service | Format | Example | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | character alphanumeric | 2 uppercase letters + 9 digits + 'GB' | | UPU S10 format. Common prefixes: EE (EMS/Special Delivery International), RR (Registered), SD (Special Delivery Guaranteed). Check digit uses Mod-11 with weights [8,6,4,2,3,5,9,7]. | | Royal Mail Tracked 24 / Tracked 48 (domestic barcode) | 21-character alphanumeric starting with 2 letters, e.g. JD followed by digits | JD014600004GB | Domestic tracked services use a mix of 13-char and longer formats depending on label generation method. | | Royal Mail door tag / redelivery reference | Variable alphanumeric; may appear as 'WC 068 047 876 GB' (spaced) or 20+ digit numeric | WC068047876GB | Space-separated format appears on delivery notifications; remove spaces when entering online. | ## How to Track a Royal Mail Package 1. **Find the tracking reference on your Royal Mail receipt, shipping label, or confirmation email (13 characters ending in GB)**: Find the tracking reference on your Royal Mail receipt, shipping label, or confirmation email (13 characters ending in GB). 2. **Open https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item**: Go to https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item. 3. **Enter the tracking reference and click 'Track your item.'**: Enter the tracking reference and click 'Track your item.' 4. **View the delivery status, scan events, and estimated delivery date**: View the delivery status, scan events, and estimated delivery date. 5. **Sign up for email notifications by entering your email on the tracking results page**: Sign up for email notifications by entering your email on the tracking results page. ## Royal Mail Tracking Statuses Explained | Status | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | | Sender preparing item | A tracking number has been assigned but the item has not yet been submitted to Royal Mail. | | | Item received | Royal Mail has scanned and accepted the parcel at a collection centre or post office. | | | Item leaving the UK | The package has been processed for export and loaded for international transport. | | | In transit to the destination | The package is en route to the destination country by air or surface transport. | | | Ready for delivery | The item has arrived at the local delivery office and is being prepared for the day's delivery round. | | | Out for delivery | The item is with the delivery postman and is expected to arrive today. | | ## Royal Mail Shipping Services Compared | Option | Best for | Main tradeoff | Typical cost | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1st Class | Everyday shipping | Transit times vary by route | Quote-based | | 2nd Class | Everyday shipping | Transit times vary by route | Quote-based | | Royal Mail Tracked 24 | Everyday shipping | Transit times vary by route | Quote-based | | Royal Mail Tracked 48 | Everyday shipping | Transit times vary by route | Quote-based | | Special Delivery Guaranteed | Everyday shipping | Transit times vary by route | Quote-based | ## Royal Mail Delivery Times by Service | Service | Time | Geography | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1st Class | | | Next working day (aim; not guaranteed) | | 2nd Class | | | 2-3 working days (aim; not guaranteed) | | Tracked 24 | | | Next working day | | Tracked 48 | | | 2 working days | | Special Delivery Guaranteed 9 AM | | | Next working day by 9 AM | | Special Delivery Guaranteed 1 PM | | | Next working day by 1 PM | ## Common Royal Mail Tracking Problems | Issue | Cause | What to do | When to escalate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Tracking number not recognised | The tracking number may not be registered in Royal Mail's system yet (common immediately after label creation), or may have been entered incorrectly. | Wait 24 hours after the sender posts the item, then try again. Remove all spaces from the tracking number before entering. | If the number still isn't found 48 hours after confirmed posting, contact the sender and then Royal Mail on 03457 740 740. | | No tracking updates for multiple days | Some Royal Mail services only scan at receipt and delivery, causing multi-day gaps with no intermediate updates. This is normal for 2nd class and some economy services. | Wait up to 5 business days for standard services. Check the Royal Mail service standards for expected delivery windows. | Raise a 'Where's my parcel?' enquiry at royalmail.com if the item is past the expected delivery date. | | Item shown as delivered but not received | May have been left with a neighbour, in a safe place, or at a local post office. A 'Something for you' card should have been left. | Check with neighbours, your building's communal areas, and look for a red 'Something for you' card. Wait 24 hours in case of a scan timing error. | If not found after 24 hours, submit a formal enquiry at royalmail.com. | | Fee to pay before delivery | Customs or unpaid postage fees are owed on an international inbound item. Royal Mail handles HMRC customs processing on behalf of UKBF. | Pay the stated fee via the Royal Mail online payment portal. Do not ignore - unclaimed items are returned after 18 days. | If the fee seems incorrect, contact Royal Mail to dispute before payment. | ## Royal Mail Tracking FAQs ### How do I track a Royal Mail parcel? Go to royalmail.com/track-your-item and enter the 13-character reference ending in GB. Only Tracked, Special Delivery, and Signed For items can be tracked. ### What is the Royal Mail tracking number format? Royal Mail tracking numbers follow the UPU S10 format: 2 letters + 8 digits + 1 check digit + 'GB' (e.g., JD123456785GB or SD123456789GB). ### Can I track a 1st or 2nd Class letter? No. Standard 1st and 2nd Class letters do not include tracking. You need Tracked, Special Delivery, or Signed For service for tracking. ### How do I rebook a Royal Mail delivery? Book a free redelivery at royalmail.com/redelivery up to 5 times, or collect from your local delivery office with the 'Something for you' card and ID. ### What is Royal Mail Special Delivery? Special Delivery Guaranteed delivers next working day by 1 PM or 9 AM with full tracking, signature on delivery, and compensation if it does not arrive on time. ### How long does Royal Mail Tracked 24 take? Tracked 24 aims to deliver the next working day. It is not guaranteed but includes full end-to-end tracking. ### What does 'Held at Delivery Office' mean? Royal Mail could not deliver your item (no one home, no safe place, too large for letterbox) and it is being held at your local delivery office. Collect with ID within 18 days. ### How do I claim for a lost Royal Mail item? Report at royalmail.com/help/claim. For tracked items, wait 10 working days from the expected delivery date before claiming. Include proof of value and postage. ### Does Royal Mail deliver on Saturdays? Yes, Royal Mail delivers 1st and 2nd Class mail, tracked parcels, and Special Delivery items on Saturdays. There is no standard Sunday delivery. ### What is Royal Mail Tracked 48? Tracked 48 delivers within 2 working days with full parcel tracking -- an economical option for senders who do not need next-day delivery. ## Get Help from Royal Mail - **Phone**: 03457 740 740 - **Hours**: Mon-Fri 8 AM-6 PM, Sat 8 AM-1 PM - **Help**: http://www.royalmail.com/ ## About Royal Mail Royal Mail was established by royal decree in 1516 under Henry VIII as the Master of the Posts. It was opened to the public in 1635 and introduced the world's first adhesive postage stamp -- the Penny Black -- in 1840. Royal Mail became a public limited company in 2013 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It operates through its two primary businesses: Royal Mail (UK domestic and international parcels and letters) and GLS (General Logistics Systems), a major European parcel carrier. ## Sources - [Royal Mail official website](http://www.royalmail.com/), Royal Mail - [Royal Mail Help Centre](https://help.royalmail.com/s/), Royal Mail