Franked Mail Collection: 5 Ways To Get Post To Royal Mail (2026)

You've franked the post. Now it needs to get to Royal Mail. Most people know you can't just hand franked mail to anyone, but the actual rules are less well known. Get them wrong and your post can be delayed.

Here are the five ways to get franked mail into the system, and when each one makes sense.

The 5 options

Option	Best for	Cost
1. Post box	Small volumes	Free
2. Post Office drop off	Small to mid volumes	Free
3. Delivery office drop off	Mid volumes	Free
4. Royal Mail business collection	Regular higher volumes	Collection charge
5. Hand to your postie	Small volumes, by arrangement	Free

1. Post box

Franked letters can go in an ordinary post box as long as they fit. That's the simplest option for a small office posting a handful of letters a day.

A few things to watch:

• Large letters and bundles often won't fit through the slot.
• Check the last collection time printed on the box. Post after that goes the next working day.
• Don't post franked mail dated for a future day.

Our guide to franked mail in a post box has more detail, and our postbox location map helps you find your nearest.

2. Post Office drop off

Many Post Office branches accept franked mail over the counter. It's handy if you're passing anyway and your post won't fit in a box. Ask your local branch first, because practices vary and some smaller branches may not take large quantities.

3. Delivery office drop off

Your local Royal Mail delivery office will often accept franked mail. It's a good option for bigger batches, and posting at the office can mean your mail enters the network sooner than a post box collection.

4. Royal Mail business collection

If you post regularly in decent volumes, Royal Mail can collect from your premises. There's a charge for the service, which depends on the type of collection and how often you need it. Prices change, so check the current Royal Mail Business Price Guide or ask your account manager.

A collection makes sense when:

• You post every day and it takes staff time to drop it off.
• Your mail is too bulky for a post box.
• You want a fixed daily collection time to plan around.

5. Hand it to your postie

Some posties will take franked mail when they deliver, by local arrangement. This isn't a guaranteed service, so don't rely on it for anything urgent.

How to present franked mail

Royal Mail asks businesses to present franked mail properly. In short:

1. Face the envelopes the same way. Address side up, franking mark top right.
2. Separate classes. Keep 1st and 2nd Class in separate bundles.
3. Separate formats. Keep letters and large letters apart.
4. Use the right date. The franking date should match the posting date.
5. Use the bags or trays your supplier provides for larger volumes.

Our full guide to presenting franked mail explains the rules in more detail.

What about delivery times?

Royal Mail aims to deliver 1st Class the next working day and 2nd Class within two to three working days. In practice, its own reported figures fall short of that. In 2025/26, Royal Mail reported delivering 75.7% of 1st Class mail within one working day of collection, against a target of 93%, and 90.2% of 2nd Class within three working days, against a target of 98.5% (Ofcom, June 2026).

If something is urgent, post early in the day and consider Special Delivery. Read our Royal Mail delivery statistics for the full picture.

Common mistakes

• Posting after the last collection. The franking date then doesn't match the day it's processed.
• Mixing classes. It can slow down sorting.
• Franking in advance. Only frank post you're sending that day, unless your machine is set for the next posting day.
• Overstuffing post boxes. Items left on top of the box can go missing.

Planning your posting routine

A simple routine stops franked mail sitting in the office overnight. Most businesses that post every day pick a cut off time, frank everything in one batch before it, and drop it off or hand it to the collection straight after. If the post room is busy, split the batch: frank 1st Class first so it goes out first, then 2nd Class.

Keep a tray for anything that arrives after the cut off and set the machine date to the next posting day before franking it. That way nothing goes out with the wrong date and nothing gets forgotten.

FAQs

Can franked mail go in any post box?

Yes, as long as it fits and is dated for the day of posting.

Does Royal Mail charge to collect franked mail?

Yes, business collections carry a charge. Dropping it off yourself is free.

Can I post franked mail the day after franking?

Ideally not. If you miss the last collection, most machines let you change the date to the next posting day before you frank.

Looking for a franking machine?

Compare machines and get quotes from approved suppliers. Compare franking machine prices.