Royal Mail Online Postage: Prices, Delivery & Guide for Ireland

Sending a parcel to Ireland from the UK doesn’t have to mean a trip to the Post Office. Royal Mail’s online postage service lets you buy labels, print them at home, and drop off at thousands of locations — often at a lower price than counter rates, with over 130,000 drop-off points and online savings of up to 20%.

Drop-off points: 130,000+ ·
Letter postage online from: £0.91 ·
Small parcel (up to 2kg) from: £1.55 ·
Standard delivery to Ireland: 3-5 working days

Six key facts at a glance, showing how online postage compares with traditional counter service.

How does Royal Mail online postage work?

What is Click & Drop?

• Click & Drop is Royal Mail’s online platform for buying postage, printing labels, and managing shipments (Royal Mail official price list).
• You can print labels at home or generate a QR code to scan at a drop-off point.
• The service supports both domestic UK and international destinations, including Ireland.

What are the steps to buy postage online?

1. Go to the Royal Mail Click & Drop portal (send.royalmail.com).
2. Enter the recipient’s address and choose the service (e.g., 1st Class, International Tracked).
3. Pay online – prices are typically lower than counter rates.
4. Print the label (or save a QR code).
5. Drop off at any of 130,000+ locations (Royal Mail official price list).

The implication: once you’ve set up a Click & Drop account, the whole process takes under five minutes. No more filling out paper forms or waiting in line.

Is Royal Mail available in Ireland?

Can I send parcels from the UK to Ireland?

• Yes – Royal Mail delivers to every address in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (Royal Mail Ireland country guide).
• International services include Standard, Tracked, and Tracked & Signed.
• Maximum dimensions for a small parcel to Ireland: length 60cm, with total L+W+D less than 90cm.

Does Royal Mail deliver to Northern Ireland?

• Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so domestic Royal Mail services apply – 1st and 2nd Class, with 1-2 day delivery.
• No customs forms needed for Northern Ireland addresses.
• Online postage works the same as for any UK destination.

The pattern: Ireland is fully covered by Royal Mail, but the Republic is treated as an international destination. That means higher postage rates and customs paperwork for parcels over certain values.

How long does Royal Mail to Ireland take?

What are the different service speeds for Ireland?

• International Standard (economy): 3-5 working days (Royal Mail Ireland country guide).
• International Tracked: 3-5 working days with full tracking.
• International Tracked & Signed: 3-5 working days with signature on delivery.

Tracking options for Ireland deliveries

• International Tracked includes online tracking from dispatch to delivery.
• International Signed provides a signature but limited online tracking.
• Standard has no tracking – use for low-value items.

Why this matters: if you’re sending time-sensitive documents, choose Tracked. For non-urgent gifts or low-value items, Standard at £3.40 is the most economical option.

Is it cheaper to post Royal Mail online?

Price comparison: online vs counter

Four services, one clear pattern: online is always cheaper, often by 10-20%.

Sources: Royal Mail official price list for online prices; Wise e-commerce guide for counter comparisons.

Do I save by using Click & Drop?

• Yes – business accounts get volume discounts on top of standard online rates (Royal Mail official price list).
• Even one-off users save because online prices are set lower than Post Office counter rates.
• No minimum order: you can buy a single label.

The trade-off: you need internet access and a printer (or a mobile for QR codes). For occasional senders, the savings are modest on letters but become significant on parcels – especially to Ireland.

How to get UK only delivery to Ireland?

Understanding UK-only delivery restrictions

• “UK only delivery” means the sender is in the UK and the recipient is in a UK address – that includes Northern Ireland but excludes the Republic of Ireland (Royal Mail Ireland country guide).
• If you see a product list “UK only”, you cannot ship it to the Republic via standard domestic services.
• Royal Mail treats the Republic as an international destination, so you must use International services.

Alternative services for cross-border shipping

• Royal Mail International Standard or Tracked – available online.
• Parcelforce Worldwide – for larger/heavier parcels. 2kg parcel from £14.70 at branch.
• An Post (Ireland’s postal service) – for inbound shipments from Irish senders.

The catch: if a retailer offers “UK only delivery” and you’re in the Republic, you’ll need to use a parcel forwarding service or choose a seller that ships internationally.

Steps to buy and print Royal Mail postage online

1. Visit Royal Mail Click & Drop portal (send.royalmail.com) and sign up for Click & Drop (free).
2. Enter the recipient’s address and select your service (e.g., UK 2nd Class or International Tracked).
3. Pay via debit/credit card or PayPal – you’ll see the online price.
4. Choose to print the label or generate a QR code for in-store scanning.
5. Attach the label to your parcel or show the QR code at the drop-off point.
6. Hand the parcel over at any of 130,000+ Royal Mail locations (Royal Mail official price list).
7. Track your shipment online using the unique tracking number.

Quotes from official sources

“Buy your postage online and print labels in minutes – no queues, no fuss.”

— Royal Mail official website (Royal Mail official price list)

“Online postage offers substantial savings compared to counter rates, especially for international parcels to Ireland.”

— Wise e-Commerce Guide (Wise e-commerce guide)

“Standard delivery to Ireland aims for 3-5 working days, with tracked and signed options for faster, secure delivery.”

— Royal Mail Ireland country guide (Royal Mail Ireland country guide)

For UK senders posting to Ireland, the implication is clear: adopting online postage reduces costs, saves time, and gives you control over your shipment. Whether you’re sending a birthday gift or a business document, the digital route is the efficient one.

Related reading: Royal Mail postage online guide comparison cost Ireland · Royal Mail postage online guide comparison cost Ireland

For those sending parcels abroad, checking the Royal Mail international shipping rates can help compare costs and delivery times to Ireland and other destinations.

Frequently asked questions