Shippo supports Royal Mail shipping services for UK-based merchants. This guide explains how to use Royal Mail within Shippo, including available services, label handling, claims and refund policies, shipping restrictions, and common support topics.
Royal Mail Services Available Through Shippo
Domestic Services:
- Tracked 24
- Tracked 24 with Signature
- Tracked 48
- Tracked 48 with Signature
(Supported formats: Large Letter, Small Parcel, Medium Parcel)
| Note: All services include tracking. Return labels are not supported. |
Weight and Size Limitations
All Royal Mail shipments must adhere to their maximum weight and dimension rules:
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Large Letters
- Maximum weight: 1 kg (tracked services)
- Maximum size: 35.3 cm x 25 cm x 2.5 cm
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Small Parcels
- Maximum weight: 2 kg
- Maximum length: 45 cm
- Maximum width: 35 cm
- Maximum thickness/depth: 16 cm
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Medium Parcels
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
- Maximum length: 61 cm
- Maximum width: 46 cm
- Maximum thickness/depth: 46 cm
Sending Books and Printed Papers
Royal Mail allows books and pamphlets (papers bound together) to be sent up to 5 kg, with some important conditions:
- Items between 2–5 kg containing books/pamphlets must be clearly marked “Printed Papers” in the top-left corner of the parcel’s front.
- Personal correspondence cannot be included with these shipments
Prohibited and Restricted Items
All Royal Mail shipments must comply with its rules regarding prohibited and restricted goods. If a prohibited item is discovered in transit, Royal Mail will destroy the package and no refund or compensation will be issued.
Below is a list of commonly restricted or prohibited items:
Prohibited Items (Not accepted under any circumstances):
- Aerosols (certain types)
- Ammunition
- Animals (alive or dead)
- Asbestos
- Batteries (loose lithium)
- Lighters and matches
- Clinical and Medical waste
- Corrosives (e.g., acid)
- Explosives or fireworks
- Flammable liquids and solids
- Toxic liquids, solids and compressed gases
- Gas cylinders
- Drugs and controlled substances
- Knives (certain types)
- Magnetized materials
- Paints and varnishes
- Pesticides
- Perfumes containing alcohol (when not properly packaged)
- Radioactive materials
- Oxidizing materials / Organic peroxides
- Weapons, ammunition, and replicas
Restricted Items (May require special packaging or declarations):
- Alcohol (depending on ABV and quantity)
- Aerosols (cosmetic or medicinal, small quantities only)
- Batteries (lithium batteries have specific packaging and labeling requirements)
- Cash, cheques, and securities
- Electronic devices with lithium batteries
- Fragile or perishable goods
- Perfumes or aftershaves
- Nail varnish, polish or gel
- Live animals (only specific types of insects and other small creatures under certain conditions)
- Sharp instruments (e.g., scissors, tools)
- Tobacco products
| Note: Customers are responsible for ensuring compliance with all Royal Mail shipping guidelines. |
More details:
Shipping to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man
When sending goods or gifts to the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm) or the Isle of Man, customers must complete and attach a customs declaration form. This is not required for shipments that contain only documents.
Additional considerations:
- Deliveries may be delayed due to customs checks.
- Consequential loss cover is not available for these destinations.
Label Creation and Format
- Royal Mail labels created in Shippo require the ‘4 x 6 in PDF’ label format (Go to Settings → Labels & Packing Slips).
- Labels are billed at the time of purchase.
- Labels must be used within 7 calendar days from the date of creation.
- After 7 days, labels are no longer valid and cannot be refunded unless they meet the conditions below.
Refund Policy
- Refunds must be requested within 7 calendar days of label creation.
- For a refund to be granted:
- The label must not have been scanned by Royal Mail.
- The label must remain unused for 5 additional calendar days after the 7-day window.
- If a label is refunded and then scanned, Royal Mail will rebill Shippo, and Shippo will bill the cost back to your account.
To learn more about how to request a refund in Shippo, please visit: Refund a Label Created in Shippo
Claims for Lost or Damaged Shipments
To learn more about filing a lost, damaged, or missing shipment claim, please visit: Filing a Claim for a Lost or Damaged Shipment
Complaints (Non-Claims)
If you have a general complaint about Royal Mail service that is not related to a damaged or lost shipment, you may contact Royal Mail directly here: Royal Mail Customer Support Portal
Carrier Adjustments
- Royal Mail may issue carrier adjustments if the actual package weight or dimensions exceed what was declared during label creation.
- These adjustments are billed at the higher rate and passed through to your Shippo account.
To learn more about carrier adjustments, please see: Understanding Carrier Adjustments in Shippo
Service Levels and Delivery Times
| Service | Estimated Delivery Time | Guaranteed Delivery |
| Tracked 24 | 1 business day* | No |
| Tracked 48 | 2 business days* | No |
| Note: Delivery speeds may be affected by postal code exclusions. Late deliveries are not eligible for refund or compensation due to Royal Mail’s non-guaranteed service model. |
Drop-Off and Delivery Exceptions
- Parcels can be dropped off at any Royal Mail collection location: Find a Parcel Drop-off Location
- Delivery exceptions and conditions are detailed here: Royal Mail Delivery Exceptions
Other Common Questions
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How do I enable Royal Mail on my account?
To enable Royal Mail on your account, please reach out to our support team here.
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Can shipments be intercepted or rerouted?
No. This functionality is not available for shipments created in Shippo.
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Does Shippo support Royal Mail pickups?
No. Pickups cannot be scheduled in Shippo for Royal Mail shipments.
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Is address validation available through Shippo or Royal Mail?
No. Addresses are not validated through either platform.
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If a customer contacts Royal Mail directly, will they be redirected to Shippo?
If Royal Mail can identify that the shipment was purchased through Shippo, they will attempt to redirect the customer. Otherwise, they may handle the issue directly.