Royal Mail has announced a major overhaul of its 2nd class delivery service, permanently scrapping Saturday deliveries and moving to an alternate weekday schedule from 2026. The change, part of a broader reform of the Universal Service Obligation, will see 2nd class letters and cards delivered every other weekday instead of six days a week.
New Delivery Schedule
Under the new system, 2nd class mail will be delivered on alternate weekdays, for example Monday, Wednesday, Friday one week, followed by Tuesday, Thursday the next. Saturday deliveries have been abolished permanently. The delivery target remains “three working days”, but weekend intervals mean a letter posted on a Thursday may not arrive until the following Tuesday.
Royal Mail has distributed leaflets to UK households explaining the changes. The leaflet states: “Over the coming months, you may notice a change to how we deliver 2nd class letters. It's part of our effort to offer a more reliable and sustainable service shaped around how our customers send today.”
Expected Delivery Timetable
Royal Mail has published a new expected delivery timetable based on posting day:
- Posted Monday: Expected Thursday
- Posted Tuesday: Expected Friday
- Posted Wednesday: Expected Monday
- Posted Thursday: Expected Tuesday
- Posted Friday or Saturday: Expected Wednesday
- Posted Sunday: Expected Thursday
A standard 2nd class letter stamp is priced at 91p, and maximum standard compensation for loss or damage stands at £20.
Reasoning Behind the Changes
On its website, Royal Mail states: “Royal Mail plays a vital role in connecting the nation through its one-price-goes-anywhere service. For many years, the Universal Service Obligation has required us to collect and deliver letters to every UK address six days a week.”
“Following an extensive consultation process involving many stakeholders, Ofcom announced reforms to the Universal Service in July 2025. Letters remain an important means of keeping us connected, but fewer are being sent these days. These changes to the Universal Service will help us deliver a more reliable and sustainable service for you in the future.”
Ofcom’s reforms to the Universal Service encompass modifications to how letters are delivered. Royal Mail explains: “Your 2nd class letters and cards will be delivered every other weekday. While we'll no longer deliver your 2nd class mail on Saturdays, we'll aim to get it to you within three weekdays.”
What Remains Unchanged
Royal Mail is keeping its one-price-goes-anywhere service across the UK, continuing to deliver 1st class letters six days a week (Monday to Saturday). The offering of 1st and 2nd class options for letters and parcels remains unchanged, and parcels will continue to be delivered up to seven days a week.
“We understand the important role mail plays in keeping you connected with the people and organisations in your life,” Royal Mail said. “These changes to our 2nd class service, as fewer letters are being sent these days, will help us focus on delivering for you in a more consistent and dependable way. Thank you for your patience while we make these crucial changes.”
The transition is being phased in across the UK network in 2026.
