How to Send a Letter Online in the UK (2026 Guide)

Sending a physical letter used to mean finding a printer, buying stamps, and making a trip to the Post Office. In 2026, you can post a real, physical letter to anyone in the UK or abroad without any of that. This guide explains exactly how online letter posting works, what it costs, and when to use it.

Ready to put the guide into practice? send letters online with Send Letters Online.

What is online letter posting?

Online letter posting is a service where you write or upload your letter content in a web browser, enter a postal address, pay a fee, and a fulfilment centre prints, folds, envelopes, franks and hands the letter to Royal Mail on your behalf. The recipient receives a real, physical letter through their letterbox. Nothing about the envelope or the letter reveals it was sent this way.

It is not email. It is not a digital greeting card. It is a genuine Royal Mail letter, handled by the same postal network that has delivered UK mail since 1635.

Step-by-step: how to send a letter online

Step 1: Write or upload your letter

Most online letter services offer two methods. You can type your letter directly into a rich-text editor (similar to Word or Google Docs) and the service formats it automatically. Alternatively, you can upload an existing PDF if you have already prepared the document in another application.

Letters must be in A4 format. The service will automatically position the recipient address in the window of a standard DL or C5 envelope, so you do not need to design anything.

Step 2: Enter the recipient address

Type the recipient name and UK or international address. UK addresses are verified against Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF), which helps catch typos before the letter is printed. For international letters, enter the full postal address in the format required by the destination country.

Step 3: Choose a postal service

You will typically be offered three or four Royal Mail service options:

• Second Class (2 to 3 working days) - the most affordable option, suitable for non-urgent correspondence
• First Class (next working day aim) - faster delivery for time-sensitive letters
• Tracked 24 (next day with tracking) - provides a tracking number and delivery confirmation, essential for important documents
• Tracked 48 (2 days with tracking) - a tracked alternative at Second Class speed

For legal notices, complaint letters, or any correspondence where proof of delivery matters, always choose a Tracked service.

Step 4: Pay and submit

Pay by card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) or via Stripe. Once payment clears, the order enters the fulfilment queue immediately. Letters submitted before 1:30 pm on weekdays are despatched the same day. Orders after 1:30 pm or on weekends are despatched the next business day.

You will receive an email confirmation with an order reference. If you chose a Tracked service, you will receive a Royal Mail tracking number once the letter is accepted.

What does it cost?

At Send Letters Online, prices start at £2.99 for a standard single-page letter via Royal Mail Second Class. Multi-page letters cost slightly more, as do First Class, Tracked and international options. There is no monthly subscription or membership fee. You pay per letter, only when you send one.

For comparison, a Royal Mail Second Class stamp bought at a Post Office costs £0.85. However, a stamp only covers postage, not printing, paper, envelope, folding or the time to print and post. When you factor in convenience, online letter posting typically makes economic sense if you value your time at more than a few pounds per hour.

When should you send a letter online?

Online letter posting is particularly useful in the following situations:

• You are travelling or living abroad and need to send a UK-addressed letter
• You do not own a printer or have run out of ink
• You need to send a formal or legal letter and want a timestamped confirmation of dispatch
• You are a business or sole trader sending the same letter template to multiple recipients
• You are sending to HMRC, the DVLA, Companies House, a court or another government body that requires physical post
• You want to surprise someone with a handwritten-looking personal letter but are not near them

Is it safe?

Established online letter services use HTTPS encryption for data in transit and are subject to UK GDPR. Your letter content should only be kept for a limited, disclosed period after dispatch (for example, to allow a reprint), not indefinitely. Before using any service, read its privacy policy to confirm how long your data is retained and whether it is shared with third parties.

Send Letters Online is a UK-registered service that prints and posts from its UK facility. Letters are handled by UK staff and handed to Royal Mail directly.

International letters

Most online letter services also support international delivery. Letters to Europe typically take 3 to 5 working days. Rest of the world destinations can take 5 to 10 working days. International letters must include the destination country on the last line of the address. Some destinations may be subject to customs inspection.

Tips for a successful letter

• Keep the letter to A4 size and standard margins (at least 25mm on the left)
• Use a clear, readable font at 11pt or 12pt minimum
• Double-check the postcode using the Royal Mail postcode finder before submitting
• For important documents, always choose a Tracked service for proof of delivery
• Submit before 1:30 pm on a weekday for same-day dispatch