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How to send international letters

Our international letters guide has all the information you need to send a letter anywhere in the world. If you would like to send an international parcel, please see our International Parcels Guide.

What international letter services are there and how much do they cost?

Royal Mail offer 5 different services to send international letters at varying price points, delivery speeds and options. Note that the prices for signed, tracked and both signed & tracked letters differ only slightly.

All the international letter service options offer:

  • Free returns for undelivered items
  • Buy online and print the label at home or go to a Post Office
  • Compensation cover

Data in the table below correct as of January 2021

1. International economy

The cheapest but slowest options for letters that don’t need to arrive in a hurry
  • From £1.45
  • Europe: <5 weeks
  • Worldwide: <12 weeks
  • Compensation cover up to £20 included

Available outside Europe only:

20g£1.45
100g£1.55

Everywhere:

100g£3.00
250g£4.00
500g£4.90
750g£5.90

2. International standard

An standard service for everyday international mail
  • From £1.70
  • Europe: <5 working days
  • Worldwide: <7 working days
  • Compensation cover up to £20 included

Europe:

10g£1.70
20g£1.70
100g£1.70

World Zones 1, 2 & 3

10g£1.70
20g£1.70
100g£2.55

Europe (both EU and Non-EU):

100g£3.25
250g£4.25
500g£5.25
750g£6.25

World Zone 1:

100g£4.20
250g£5.70
500g£8.00
750g£10.65

World Zone 2:

100g£9.80
250g£11.55
500g£14.10
750g£16.90

 

World Zone 3:

100g£9.75
250g£10.65
500g£12.60
750g£14.60

3. International signed

A signature on delivery but additional cost
  • From £8.75
  • Europe: <5 working days
  • Worldwide: <7 working days
  • Compensation cover up to £50 included
  • Signature on delivery

Europe:

10g£6.85
20g£6.85
100g£6.85

World Zones 1&2

10g£6.85
20g£6.85
100g£7.85

Europe:

100g£8.75
250g£9.20
500g£9.95
750g£10.35

World Zone 1:

100g£9.70
250g£10.50
500g£12.30
750g£14.15

World Zone 2:

100g£9.80
250g£11.55
500g£14.10
750g£16.90

4. International tracked

End-to-end tracking for peace of mind
  • From £8.65
  • Europe: <5 working days
  • Worldwide: <7 working days
  • Compensation cover up to £50 included
  • Online delivery confirmation

Europe:

10g£6.75
20g£6.75
100g£6.75

World Zones 1, 2 & 3

10g£6.75
20g£6.75
100g£7.75

Europe:

100g£8.65
250g£8.85
500g£9.85
750g£10.25

World Zone 1:

100g£9.60
250g£10.35
500g£12.20
750g£14.05

World Zone 2:

100g£9.65
250g£11.45
500g£14.00
750g£16.80

World Zone 3:

100g£9.65
250g£10.55
500g£12.50
750g£14.50

4. International tracked and signed

For added peace of mind
  • From £6.85
  • Europe: <5 working days
  • Worldwide: <7 working days
  • Compensation cover up to £50 included
  • Signature and online delivery confirmation

Europe:

10g£6.85
20g£6.85
100g£6.85

World Zones 1, 2 &3

10g£6.85
20g£6.85
100g£7.85

Europe:

100g£8.75
250g£9.20
500g£9.95
750g£10.35

World Zone 1:

100g£9.70
250g£10.50
500g£12.30
750g£14.15

World Zone 2:

100g£9.80
250g£11.55
500g£14.10
750g£16.90

World Zone 3:

100g£9.75
250g£10.65
500g£12.60
750g£14.60

Where can I send send international letters?

Royal Mail divides the world into four zones for pricing international letters – Europe EU, Europe Non-EU, World Zone 1 and World Zone 2. The countries included in each zone are summarised below:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria (EU), Azerbaijan, Azores (EU), Balearic Islands (EU), Belarus, Belgium (EU), Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria (EU), Canary Islands, Corsica (EU), Croatia (EU), Cyprus (EU), Czech Republic (EU), Denmark (EU), Estonia (EU), Faroe Islands, Finland (EU), France (EU), Georgia, Germany (EU), Gibraltar (EU), Greece (EU), Greenland, Hungary (EU), Iceland, Irish Republic (EU), Italy (EU), Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia (EU), Liechtenstein, Lithuania (EU), Luxembourg (EU), Macedonia, Madeira (EU), Malta (EU), Moldova, Monaco (EU), Montenegro, Netherlands (EU), Norway, Poland (EU), Portugal (EU), Romania (EU), Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia (EU), Slovenia (EU), Spain (EU), Sweden (EU), Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and The Vatican City State

Generally covers countries in North America (excluding the USA), South America, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and South East Asia.

Australia, Christmas Island (Pacific Ocean), Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Norwegian Antarctic Territory, Republic of Singapore, Tonga, Belau, Cocos Islands, French Polynesia, Macao, New Zealand Antarctic Territory, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cook Island, French South Antarctic Territory, Nauru Island, Niue Island, People’s Democratic Republic of Laos, Tahiti, US Samoa, Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), Coral Sea Island, Keeling, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Pitcairn Island, Tokelau Islands and Western Samoa

The USA

What size is the different between a Letter and a Large Letter?

Letters come in two sizes, a (small) Letter and a Large Letter and there is a different international parcel postage pricing for each type of letter. See our envelope guide for more information on purchasing envelopes for letters.

Letter / Small Letter

  • Max length: 24cm
  • Max width: 16.5cm
  • Max thickness: 0.5cm
  • Max weight: 100g

 

Suitable fo greetings cards, personal letters and postcards

Large Letter

  • Max length: 35.3cm
  • Max width: 25cm
  • Max thickness: 2.5cm
  • Max weight: 750g

 

Suitable for items like Magazines, CDs and DVDs

Where can I purchase international postage?

BUY STAMPS ONLINE FOR DELIVERY

Multiple online retailers offer Royal Mail stamps at cost price as well as options for free delivery with large orders. We’ve found the best way of buying stamps online at ‘cost price’ is from Staples UK (£4.68 delivery / free delivery if non-stamp items total over £36) or Office Stationery (£4.99 delivery / free delivery if non-stamp items total over £40) of Paperchase (£2.99 delivery / free delivery over £25).

Alternatively, you can save up to 35% of the cost of second class stamps if you post a letter with Whistl instead – click here for more information via Parcel2Go

BUY ONLINE, PRINT AT HOME​

You can buy international postage online and print the postage label at home – then just drop the letter off at a Post Office branch or at a post box. Alternatively, if you can’t print at home, scan a QR code at a Royal Mail Delivery Office to post your letter. Find out more here.

Contact us

@parcelguide