Post and parcels
Deliveries on Bank Holidays: Post and Couriers
Royal Mail does not deliver on bank holidays. Couriers vary: some run a reduced service and some none. Here is what to expect, and the last and next delivery days around each bank holiday.
Is there post on bank holidays?
No. Royal Mail does not deliver or collect letters and parcels on bank holidays, and post boxes are not emptied. Its normal delivery days are Monday to Saturday, so a bank holiday Monday means no post from Saturday's delivery until Tuesday.
Because the calendars differ, a bank holiday in one nation only affects post there. Royal Mail publishes the arrangements for Scottish and Northern Irish bank holidays on its website.
Parcels sent just before a bank holiday
Delivery promises are counted in working days. Something posted first class on the Friday before a bank holiday weekend may arrive on Saturday; if it misses that, the next chance is the day after the bank holiday. Allow an extra day and post early.
Couriers on bank holidays
Private couriers are not bound by the bank holiday and set their own schedules, which can change from one holiday to the next. Most run fewer rounds; around Christmas and Easter several stop altogether for a day or two.
The reliable answer is always the tracking page for your own parcel, or the carrier's holiday notice. Retailers also adjust their cut-off times, so the delivery date shown when you order is the one to trust.
Royal Mail delivery days around each bank holiday
Worked out from Royal Mail's normal Monday to Saturday pattern with bank holidays removed. Royal Mail publishes its own schedule for Christmas and New Year, which can differ, so check it for that period. Choose your nation.
| Bank holiday | No post on | Last post before | Post resumes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Thu 24 Dec | Tue 29 Dec | |
| Boxing DaySubstitute day | Thu 24 Dec | Tue 29 Dec | |
| New Year's Day | Thu 31 Dec | Sat 2 Jan | |
| Good Friday | Thu 25 Mar | Sat 27 Mar | |
| Easter Monday | Sat 27 Mar | Tue 30 Mar | |
| Early May bank holiday | Sat 1 May | Tue 4 May | |
| Spring bank holiday | Sat 29 May | Tue 1 Jun | |
| Summer bank holiday | Sat 28 Aug | Tue 31 Aug | |
| Christmas DaySubstitute day | Fri 24 Dec | Wed 29 Dec | |
| Boxing DaySubstitute day | Fri 24 Dec | Wed 29 Dec |
| Bank holiday | No post on | Last post before | Post resumes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's Day | Sat 28 Nov | Tue 1 Dec | |
| Christmas Day | Thu 24 Dec | Tue 29 Dec | |
| Boxing DaySubstitute day | Thu 24 Dec | Tue 29 Dec | |
| New Year's Day | Thu 31 Dec | Tue 5 Jan | |
| 2nd JanuarySubstitute day | Thu 31 Dec | Tue 5 Jan | |
| Good Friday | Thu 25 Mar | Sat 27 Mar | |
| Early May bank holiday | Sat 1 May | Tue 4 May | |
| Spring bank holiday | Sat 29 May | Tue 1 Jun | |
| Summer bank holiday | Sat 31 Jul | Tue 3 Aug | |
| St Andrew's Day | Mon 29 Nov | Wed 1 Dec |
| Bank holiday | No post on | Last post before | Post resumes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Thu 24 Dec | Tue 29 Dec | |
| Boxing DaySubstitute day | Thu 24 Dec | Tue 29 Dec | |
| New Year's Day | Thu 31 Dec | Sat 2 Jan | |
| St Patrick's Day | Tue 16 Mar | Thu 18 Mar | |
| Good Friday | Thu 25 Mar | Sat 27 Mar | |
| Easter Monday | Sat 27 Mar | Tue 30 Mar | |
| Early May bank holiday | Sat 1 May | Tue 4 May | |
| Spring bank holiday | Sat 29 May | Tue 1 Jun | |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) | Sat 10 Jul | Tue 13 Jul | |
| Summer bank holiday | Sat 28 Aug | Tue 31 Aug |
Evri, DPD, Yodel, DHL, UPS, InPost and Amazon
Where to check each carrier. Arrangements are announced holiday by holiday, so we link to the source instead of guessing.
| Carrier | On bank holidays | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Mail | No deliveries or collections on bank holidays. Normal delivery days are Monday to Saturday. | Official site ↗ |
| Parcelforce | Part of the Royal Mail group; publishes its holiday schedule before each bank holiday. | Official site ↗ |
| Evri | Varies by holiday. Evri announces which days its couriers deliver before each one; lockers stay available. | Official site ↗ |
| DPD | Check the tracking page for your parcel: delivery days depend on the service the sender bought. | Official site ↗ |
| Yodel | Check the tracking page for your parcel. | Official site ↗ |
| DHL | Check the tracking page for your parcel. | Official site ↗ |
| UPS | Publishes a UK holiday schedule each year. | Official site ↗ |
| InPost | Lockers can be used at any time; courier collections follow the holiday schedule. | Official site ↗ |
| Amazon | The delivery date shown at checkout already allows for bank holidays. | Official site ↗ |
Bank holiday deliveries: questions
Do Royal Mail deliver on bank holidays?
No. Royal Mail does not deliver or collect post on bank holidays. Deliveries resume on the next working day.
Is there post on bank holidays?
No. The next bank holiday in England and Wales is Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026, so there will be no post that day. Post resumes on Tuesday 29 December 2026.
Do Evri deliver on bank holidays?
It depends on the bank holiday and the service. Evri publishes its arrangements before each one, so check its website or your parcel's tracking page for the confirmed date.
Do DPD deliver on bank holidays?
It depends on the bank holiday and the service. DPD publishes its arrangements before each one, so check its website or your parcel's tracking page for the confirmed date.
Do Amazon deliver on bank holidays?
Amazon delivers on many bank holidays, but not on every route. The date quoted at checkout already takes the bank holiday into account, so rely on that.
Does Yodel deliver on bank holidays?
It depends on the bank holiday and the service. Yodel publishes its arrangements before each one, so check its website or your parcel's tracking page for the confirmed date.
Do DHL deliver on bank holidays?
It depends on the bank holiday and the service. DHL publishes its arrangements before each one, so check its website or your parcel's tracking page for the confirmed date.
Do InPost deliver on bank holidays?
InPost lockers are available on bank holidays, but parcels may not be collected from or delivered to them until the next working day.
Is there post on Saturday of a bank holiday weekend?
Yes. Saturday is a normal Royal Mail delivery day unless the Saturday is itself a bank holiday.
Will my next-day parcel arrive if I post it before a bank holiday?
A next-day service counts working days. A parcel sent the day before a bank holiday is normally delivered on the first working day after it.
Related
Sources: Citizens Advice guidance on post collection and delivery times, and each carrier's own notices. This site is not affiliated with any carrier. About our data.