Santa letter posting dates 2026 (UK): when to order for Christmas
By the Claus Post team · Updated 26 October 2026
The short answer: to get a Claus Post letter from Santa or Father Christmas in time for Christmas 2026, order, fill in the short form and approve your letter by Wednesday 16 December. We post it with Royal Mail Tracked 48, free, within 1–2 working days of your approval. Royal Mail's own last recommended posting date for Tracked 48 is Saturday 19 December.
Below are Royal Mail's published Christmas dates for 2026, how they fit with our own deadline, and when to order for the moment you have in mind.
Royal Mail last posting dates for Christmas 2026 (UK)
These are Royal Mail's last recommended posting dates for delivery before Christmas Day, for UK addresses. Royal Mail says they are provisional and may change, so check the Royal Mail Christmas posting dates page nearer the time. We'll update this guide if they move.
| Royal Mail service | Last recommended posting date |
|---|---|
| 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For | Friday 18 December |
| Tracked 48 | Saturday 19 December |
| 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For | Monday 21 December |
| Tracked 24 | Monday 21 December |
| Special Delivery | Wednesday 23 December |
There are no Royal Mail collections or deliveries on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December.
Why our deadline is earlier: 16 December
A posting date is the last day a finished letter can go in the post. A personalised letter has a few steps before that:
- You order, and we email you a link to a short private form.
- You tell us about your child: their name, a proud moment, a pet, a favourite toy.
- We write the letter and send you the proof. You read every word and approve it, or ask for a change.
- We print it and post it within 1–2 working days of your approval.
Nothing is printed until you approve. So the date that matters is when your letter is approved, not when you paid. If the form comes back late, the letter is posted later. 16 December leaves room for printing and for Tracked 48 to do its job before Royal Mail's 19 December cut-off.
Blank certificates and pre-written sets need no form or proof. A named certificate needs only the name you type at checkout. The 16 December order date still applies.
When should I order? It depends on the moment
For a Christmas Eve box
The letter comes through your letterbox, so you can keep it back until Christmas Eve. Aim to order by the end of November. That gives time for the form, the proof and the post, with days to spare if a change is needed.
To arrive before school breaks up
Many families like the letter to land while there is still a school run to talk about it on. Check your school's last day, then order by the end of November or the first days of December. Approve the proof the day it arrives.
Before a Lapland trip or a grotto visit
Our Lapland invitation from Santa reveals a trip with a gold scratch ticket. Work back from your travel date, not from Christmas. Tell us the date and the place in the form, approve quickly, and we suggest ordering at least two weeks before you go.
For the first week of December
A letter that arrives early starts the season and sits on the mantelpiece for weeks. Order in November. There are more ideas in our guide on when to give a letter from Santa.
Tips so it arrives in time
- Fill in the form the day you order. Look in your junk folder if the email hasn't arrived.
- Approve the proof promptly. Every day you wait is a day less for the post.
- Check the delivery address at checkout. That is where we post the letter.
- Buying for a grandchild? Forward the form to their parent, and we can post it straight to the child.
We can't promise an exact delivery date, because that depends on Royal Mail. If we haven't heard from you near your deadline, we'll email you first.
Which letter?
- Personalised letter from Santa or Father Christmas: four editions, from the North Pole Letter to Deluxe.
- Letter from Father Christmas: for families who say Father Christmas. Not sure which name to use? Read Santa or Father Christmas?
- Comparing free and paid options? See letters from Santa in the UK, compared. Royal Mail's free Letters to Santa scheme asks children to post by 9 December.
- Wondering what Santa will say? See Santa letter ideas by age.
Questions about Christmas posting dates
What is the last day to order a Santa letter for Christmas 2026?
16 December 2026. By then, please order, fill in the short form and approve your letter. We print only once it is approved.
What is Royal Mail's last posting date for Christmas 2026?
Royal Mail's provisional dates for UK mail are Friday 18 December for 2nd Class, Saturday 19 December for Tracked 48, Monday 21 December for 1st Class and Tracked 24, and Wednesday 23 December for Special Delivery.
How will my letter be posted?
We post it from the UK with Royal Mail Tracked 48, free, within 1–2 working days of your approval. You can follow it with the tracking. We can't promise an exact delivery date.
Why should I order early if the deadline is 16 December?
Your letter is written about your child and you approve it first. Ordering early leaves time to fill in the form, ask for a change and still have the letter arrive on the day you want.
Do you deliver to Northern Ireland and the UK islands?
Yes. Delivery is free and tracked to all UK addresses, including Northern Ireland and the islands.
Next step
Order by 16 December, then approve your letter promptly. Choose their letter.
See our personalised letter from Santa, or, if your family says Father Christmas, a letter from Father Christmas.