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With the advancement in logistics and distribution around the globe, Royal Mail has been a landmark that has transformed the British postal system. It serves as one of the most reliable courier services facilitating several local businesses, international clientele, and e-commerce stores. Just with the tracking number, you can track your Royal Mail packages without any difficulty.
Tracking parcels sent through Royal Mail is quite simple. Here are two recommended methods.
You can use the official method for tracking your shipment by following the steps below.
Go to the Royal Mail tracking page.
Get the Royal Mail tracking or your reference number in the confirmation email.
Enter the tracking number in the Track Your Item section.
Hit the Track Your Delivery button to get the complete details of your package, current status, and estimated delivery date.
TrackingMore is an all-in-one e-commerce order tracking solution that can track the parcel statuses of 1322 couriers and has served world-famous brands like Shein, and DJI. It offers automated order tracking and post-purchase features for businesses big and small, regardless of sector. So, if you need bulk shipment tracking and shipment visibility dashboards for centralized management, then TrackingMore is the way forward.
For tracking your Royal Mail packages through TrackingMore, follow the steps below.
Visit the TrackingMore website.
Go to the Royal Mail tracking page.
Enter your Royal Mail tracking number or reference number.
Click the Track button, and you’ll get all the information about your package.
If you want to find out the current whereabouts of your parcel, then you’ll need a Royal Mail-authorized tracking number to locate it.
A Royal Mail tracking number is needed to track your parcel after placing an order.
It is sent to the recipient after an online purchase with the confirmation email or when you’ve been sent a shipment through Royal Mail. The tracking number is printed on the shipping label or the receipt.
The Royal Mail tracking number contains 9 to 27 characters, depending on the type of service chosen by the merchant or sender.
For shipments sent from the UK, the tracking ID usually starts with 2 capital letters and then a 9-digital number with the letters GB.
Following are some examples of Royal Mail tracking numbers.
- WC 068 047 876 GB
- LG 123 456 789 GB
- 050 111 C31 F4
- 32048619500001B3A6F40
Royal Mail Tracking Status |
Description |
Sender preparing item |
The parcel has a tracking number but hasn’t been submitted to the Royal Mail collection center. |
Sender dispatching item |
It shows the time stamp when Royal Mail collected the parcel from the sender. |
Accepted at the post office |
It showed the time stamp when the sender submitted the parcel to their nearest Royal Mail office. |
Item received |
The parcel is currently at the Royal Mail collection center. |
Prepared for export |
The parcel has been labeled and is ready to be loaded for export. |
Item leaving the UK |
The item has been loaded on the plane or ship leaving the country. |
Item has left overseas international processing centre |
The parcel is scanned and ready to get loaded on the plane or ship. |
In transit to the destination |
The shipment is currently on its way to the destination country by air or sea route. |
Item arrived at the destination country |
Your parcel is at the airport in the destination country. |
Item is with customs |
Your parcel is held by the customs at the destination country and will be held until the issue is resolved. |
Delivered by |
It shows the time stamp till when you’ll receive the parcel on that day. |
Dispatched |
Your parcel is loaded into the delivery truck reaching your address. |
Delivered & Signed |
The parcel is successfully received and signed by the consignee. |
We’re expecting it / Item despatched to Royal Mail |
The sender has informed Royal Mail that their item has been dispatched. The tracking information will be updated once the item has been processed. |
We’ve got it |
Your item is within the network. The information will be updated as it progresses through the network. If the service used only provides delivery confirmation, the status will be updated upon delivery.
|
Your item was posted at the Royal Mail Customer Service Point |
Their item was dropped off at one of the Customer Service Points, with the location, date, and time included in the message. The information will be updated as the item moves through the network. If the service used only provides delivery confirmation, the status will be updated once the item has been delivered. |
Internal exception occurred |
|
On its way or In transit |
Your item is on its way through the network. This message may cover several stages of its journey. More details about its location and status can be viewed by entering the reference number. |
Request received |
|
Fee to pay |
There are two reasons you may have received a Fee to Pay card – the sender did not pay the full postage or a customs charge has been applied to the item. |
Ready for redelivery or collection |
Royal Mail attempted to deliver the item and have left a ‘Something for you’ card with details on how the item can be collected or redelivered. |
Ready for collection |
Your item is now available for collection. |
In customs |
The item is passing through customs. |
Forwarded to Returns Centre |
This item has been passed to the National Returns Centre. |
Pending |
This may refer to several different stages in the item's journey, including situations where the item hasn't been received yet. More specific details will be available when the reference number is entered. Learn about more common Pending message meanings. |
Ready for delivery |
Your item has arrived at the local delivery office. Delivery will be attempted as soon as possible unless a service like Keepsafe or Redirection is in place. The status will be updated when the item is delivered or an attempt is made to deliver it. |
Your item was delivered
|
Royal Mail has either delivered the item to the address provided, which could be a home address, work/business address, or a designated collection point, or they have left the item with a neighbor. |
Your item was delivered to your requested Safeplace
|
Royal Mail has left the item in the designated Safeplace and have also left a card confirming the details. |
Proof of delivery is not available
|
This could mean:
|
Retention Item
|
Some business addresses have a Retention Service for days when they are not open. On these days, delivery will not be attempted. Instead, the item will be held and delivered on the next working day, or according to the business's specific instructions.
|
We could not retrieve your details
|
Royal Mail is currently experiencing system issues. Please try again later. |
Collected |
The recipient has picked up the item. |
Some unfamiliar abbreviations in Royal Mail tracking messages. The following are the most common:
Please note:
Royal Mail tracking API allows eCommerce stores to efficiently track their parcels sent through either airways or sea routes. It keeps you updated about your shipment with every possible information from real-time location to estimated delivery date.
However, TrackingMore offers a more powerful universal parcel tracking API that is integrated with 1322 carriers worldwide,
such as:
Express: UPS tracking, FedEx tracking, TNT tracking
Postal: USPS tracking, DHL tracking, China Post Tracking, etc.
With the TrackingMore API, you can track and monitor all your shipments in one place, providing a comprehensive and efficient solution for managing your logistics operations and improving customer service.
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Royal Mail offers systematic delivery services for every sender’s convenience. You can have your parcel delivered domestically and internationally.
For sending your shipments within the UK, Royal Mail offers the following services.
Royal Mail Tracked 24 and 48
Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 are two of Royal Mail's reliable and convenient delivery services designed to meet different speed and budget needs. Tracked 24 aims to deliver parcels within 24 hours after dispatch, making it ideal for time-sensitive shipments, while Tracked 48 provides a more cost-effective option with delivery typically within 48 hours.
Both services include end-to-end tracking, allowing customers to follow their parcels' journey in real-time, and come with SMS or email notifications to keep recipients informed.
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am® and 1pm®
If you need to ensure your valuable items arrive the next working day, Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed offers two options: delivery by 9 a.m. or 1 p.m., depending on the weight of the package.
For items up to 2 kg, delivery is guaranteed by 9 a.m., providing a fast and secure solution. For heavier parcels, up to 20 kg, delivery is guaranteed by 1 p.m., offering a reliable option for larger shipments. Both options provide peace of mind with guaranteed delivery times and secure handling of your important items.
Royal Mail Sameday
Royal Mail Sameday delivery service is the best for urgent parcels or confidential letters. It can take up to 1350 kg parcels in a day with real-time satellite tracking. It includes compensation in case of lost or damaged items and is available on demand every day of the year.
Royal Mail 1st and 2nd Class
If you run a new store or have a strict budget, then Royal Mail 1st and 2nd class service is for you. Get the best value for your money and send deliveries within 2 days, including 20 kg in 1st class and 1 kg parcels in 2nd class.
This service enables senders to schedule their deliveries even on Saturdays.
Royal Mail uses its subsidiary for specific destinations in Europe.
To track your International Tracked & Signed shipment sent to countries including Austria, Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, and Romania, you can use the GLS tracking service.
If your parcel is sent to a destination other than these, then once it leaves the UK, it is the responsibility of the destination country’s postal authorities. Those authorized postal services keep Royal Mail updated with your parcel details and the progress in delivery.
The following are the Royal Mail services for international shipments.
International Business Tracked and Signed
If you want to send your parcel with complete security and guarantee it reaches the receiver abroad, then this shipping service is the way to go.
It offers to deliver a maximum of 2 kg packages within 3 to 5 days, with proper tracking from the distribution center to the shipment address. Moreover, the “delivered” status will only appear after the signature.
International Business Standard Priority
For businesses sending parcels to remote countries, this service offers the best worldwide coverage of up to 231 destinations. It can deliver a maximum of 2 kg within 3 to 5 days. It can provide up to 5 kg of printed paper for some countries.
International Business Standard Economy
For common parcels, this service yields a great value. It aims to deliver within 10 to 15 days after parcel submission.
Royal Mail is a UK-based courier service dealing with customers and businesses nationwide and internationally. Its history dates back to 1516, connecting it to the Master of the Posts founded by Henry VIII. It is now officially the universal postal service provider designated as the universal postal service provider by the UK government, under the Postal Services Act 2011.
Headquartered in London, and employing over 100,000 individuals, Royal Mail operates a vast network of 37 mail centers and 1,356 delivery offices, delivering 80 million parcels daily. Royal Mail is known for its round-the-clock service and affordability. It sends parcels and letters six days a week at a fixed rate for any location. With a widespread delivery system around Europe, Royal Mail has introduced a subsidiary, General Logistics Systems (GLS), for effective cross-border parcel management.
Contact Method |
Details |
Operation Hour |
Telephone (Personal) |
03457 740 740 |
Monday to Friday 8 am-6:30 pm Saturday 8 am-3 pm and Sunday 9 am-2 pm. |
Telephone (Business) |
03457 950 950 |
You can find the tracking number on the parcel shipping label or the receipt given by the Post Office as a barcode.
Following are a few reasons why your tracking number was unrecognized by the Royal Mail tracking.
- The sender has created a tracking number but didn’t submit the parcel to the Royal Mail Centre
- System error or delay in updates
- Mistake in entering the tracking number
- Wrong tracking number
The tracking number is usually presented on the confirmation email or the order invoice. In case you’ve deleted the email, you can ask the sender or the e-commerce store to resend the reference number.
Your seller may have created the tracking number for your item immediately after your order was placed, but the item might not have been dispatched to the Royal Mail collection center yet.
It is recommended that the tracking details be checked again within 48 hours. The status will be updated once Royal Mail has received the item at their collection center.
If the issue persists after one day, you should contact the sender to verify that the correct tracking number was provided and to confirm whether the package has been dispatched.
Different types of services have different systems of updates or scanning. For some services, the parcel is only scanned twice, when received and when delivered. Thus, the status may not change even after a few days. Other reasons may include:
- Systems need an update
- Incorrect number entered
- The number entered is not for your parcel
Royal Mail has a vast transportation network and a systematic way of distributing every parcel. Your parcel will not be sent to you straight from the transportation facility; it’ll first reach the nearest distribution center and then the local mail center.
However, they make sure to take the most hassle-free route to your address.
Royal Mail uses GLS to deliver international shipments, so your parcel may get scanned in other countries before reaching the destination.
What can be the reasons behind inaccurate tracking information?
Despite the generally routine and seamless operations at Royal Mail, there is always the potential for technical issues or human errors.
If you're receiving inaccurate tracking information, it may be due to a delay in scanning or a lag in the system updates.
You can check if the item is sent through the service that needs a signature on delivery. If yes, check the receiver’s name to know who might have accepted it. You should also recheck your shipping address and check the postal room to see if it is your work address.
Royal Mail's tracking status indicates that your item has been delivered, but you still can't find it, this could be due to a scanner error. In such a case, we recommend waiting for one day before taking action, as the item may still turn up.
If the item hasn't arrived after a day, please contact the sender. The sender can then get in touch with Royal Mail if the delivery destination is within the UK.
If the item was supposed to be delivered internationally, the sender should contact the postal office of the destination country.
Royal Mail sends deliveries six days a week from Monday to Saturday. They even make scheduled shipments on Sunday evenings. The delivery is suspended on all public holidays and bank holidays.
The scheduled deliveries are completed in urban areas by 3 p.m. and the rural regions by 4 p.m., depending on remote and transport restrictions. Mail volume and the route can decide when the shipment will be sent to any specific address.
What’s the reason behind Royal Mail parcel delays?
Royal Mail has a proper procedure and system for delivering packages to every part of the UK. However, there can be a few reasons why there may be a delay, including:
- Weather conditions
- Public holidays
- Strikes
- Road closures
- Didn’t accept the parcel
- The address was not safe to deliver
- International restrictions
- Held at Customs
The fastest way is to contact the sender and ask them to file a claim online through Royal Mail. They can even submit multiple claims for up to 10 parcels.
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