2nd Class is Royal Mail's economy letter and small parcel service, aiming for delivery in two to three working days. It's the cheapest way to send non-urgent post, but the price you pay depends on three things: the size band, the weight, and how you buy postage. Understanding how those interact is the fastest way to stop overpaying.
How 2nd Class pricing actually works
Like all Royal Mail services, 2nd Class is priced by format rather than a flat rate. Letters, Large Letters and Small Parcels each have their own weight steps, and the price rises as weight increases within each band. A standard Letter up to 100g costs one amount, while a Large Letter of the same weight costs more, and a Small Parcel more again. The key is knowing which band your item genuinely falls into before you buy, which our Large Letter vs Small Parcel guide walks through.
Stamps vs online postage: the price gap
You'll almost always pay more at the counter or with stamps than you will buying online. Online postage through Royal Mail's Click & Drop or a marketplace integration is discounted relative to the over-the-counter rate, and the difference grows as parcels get heavier. For businesses sending even a handful of items a week, buying online is the single simplest saving, which is why we cover it in our 1st and 2nd Class business prices guide.
Franking and Account rates for 2nd Class
Businesses that frank mail or hold a Royal Mail Online Business Account (OBA) get 2nd Class rates below the standard online price. Franking adds a small machine and licence cost, so it only pays for itself at consistent volume. OBA is the better fit for most growing sellers because it bills postage monthly rather than upfront, without the hardware.
When 2nd Class makes sense for a business
2nd Class is genuinely the right choice for anything with no delivery deadline: returns paperwork, invoices, back-ordered items and low-value customer letters. If a parcel doesn't need tracking and the customer hasn't paid for speed, 2nd Class keeps your fulfilment cost down without any real downside beyond the extra day or two in transit.
When to pay for something faster instead
2nd Class has no guaranteed delivery window and, in its basic form, no tracking or signature. For anything the customer is waiting on, anything valuable, or anything you'd need to prove arrived, step up to Tracked 24 or Tracked 48 or Signed For. The cost difference is modest relative to the protection and customer trust it buys.
Weight bands and the 'step' pricing trap
Royal Mail's price steps mean a parcel that's 1g over a band boundary jumps to the next price tier. Weighing every item before you buy postage is the single most effective way to avoid paying for a band you don't need. A small set of digital scales pays for itself within a week of consistent shipping.
Where to check the current 2nd Class prices
Royal Mail publishes a full rate card each year, and prices update from 1 July. Because the July 2026 changes shifted several bands, it's worth checking the live rate card rather than relying on memory or an old printout. Click & Drop always shows the current price for the exact item you're sending at the point of purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2nd Class tracked? Basic 2nd Class is not tracked. You can add a Certificate of Posting at the counter as proof of sending, but for proof of delivery you need a tracked service such as Tracked 48 or Signed For.
How long does 2nd Class take to arrive? Royal Mail aims to deliver 2nd Class within two to three working days, but this is a delivery aim rather than a guarantee. Busy periods can extend it.
Is 2nd Class cheaper online or at the Post Office? Online postage is cheaper than the over-the-counter rate for the same item. The saving is small on a single letter but adds up quickly on parcels and at volume.
2nd Class parcels still need a clean label
Whatever band your parcel falls into, a sharp 100 × 150mm direct thermal label prints the barcode and address cleanly every time.
Shop 4×6 Labels