Royal Mail Tracking

Royal Mail Tracking

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.

How To Track My Royal Mail Parcels?

Tracking parcels sent through Royal Mail is quite simple. Here are two recommended methods.

1. Via Royal Mail's website

You can use the official method for tracking your shipment by following the steps below.

1. Go to the Royal Mail tracking page.

2. Get the Royal Mail tracking or your reference number in the confirmation email.

3. Enter the tracking number in the Track Your Item section.

4. Hit the Track Your Delivery button to get the complete details of your package, current status, and estimated delivery date.

2. Via TrackingMore

TrackingMore is an all-in-one e-commerce order tracking solution that can track the parcel statuses of 1324 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.

1. Visit the TrackingMore website.

2. Go to the Royal Mail tracking page.

3. Enter your Royal Mail tracking number or reference number.

4. Click the Track button, and you’ll get all the information about your package.

Royal Mail Tracking Number

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.

What Is the Royal Mail Tracking Number?

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.

What Is the Royal Mail Tracking Number Format?

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

What Do Royal Mail Tracking Statuses Mean?

Some unfamiliar abbreviations in Royal Mail tracking messages. The following are the most common:

• DO - Delivery Office
• EO - Enquiry Office
• MC - Mailing Centre
• NRC - National Returns Centre
• OE - Office of Exchange. On international deliveries, this means the item has arrived at the import customs office.
• POL - Post Office Limited
• PSC - Postal Sort Centre
• RDC - Regional Distribution Centre

Please note:

• The status in Track your item will reflect the most up-to-date information available.
• The number of times your item is scanned depends on the service used. For some services, such as Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For® 2nd Class, items are scanned only twice: once when received and again when delivered. As a result, the status of your item may not be updated for a few days.

Royal Mail Tracking API

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 1324 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.

Sign up for a 14-day free trial>>>

Royal Mail Shipping & Tracking

Royal Mail offers systematic delivery services for every sender’s convenience. You can have your parcel delivered domestically and internationally.

Royal Mail UK Shipping & Tracking

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 International Shipping & Tracking

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.

What Is Royal Mail?

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.

How To Contact Royal Mail Customer Service?

FAQs on Royal Mail Shipping & Tracking

Where to find the tracking number for the Royal Mail package?

You can find the tracking number on the parcel shipping label or the receipt given by the Post Office as a barcode.

Why is my tracking number unrecognized by the Royal Mail tracking system?

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

What can I do if I’ve lost my 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.

Why can’t I find the tracking details on my item?

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.

Why isn’t there any change in the tracking status even after two days?

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

What do you do when real-time tracking shows your shipment is going the wrong way?

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.

What to do when the Royal Mail tracking status shows delivered but my item isn’t received?

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.

What should I do if my shipping address is correct, but the item can’t be found?

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.

What is the delivery schedule for Royal Mail?

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

What does submitting a claim for a lost or damaged parcel entail?

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.