Royal Mail Signed For: Prices, Tracking, and How It Works

Few things feel as uncertain as dropping an important letter into a postbox and hoping for the best. Royal Mail Signed For takes the guesswork out: every item gets a signature on delivery, giving you proof of arrival. With 1st Class aiming for next working day delivery and 2nd Class within 2-3 days, it’s a middle-ground option that balances cost and peace of mind. We’ll lay out the prices, compare it to Tracked 24, and look at the real security it offers.

Service type: Royal Mail Signed For ·
Delivery aim (1st class): Next working day ·
Delivery aim (2nd class): 2-3 working days ·
Maximum weight: 20 kg ·
Signature required: Yes ·
Compensation (1st class): Up to £20

Six key facts about Royal Mail Signed For, all backed by official sources, give a clear baseline for the service.

What is Royal Mail Signed For?

Royal Mail Signed For is a UK postal service that provides a signature on delivery. It’s available in two speeds: 1st Class (next working day including Saturdays) and 2nd Class (2-3 working days). The service handles items up to 20 kg and offers compensation up to £20 for 1st Class and £20 for 2nd Class. Unlike basic post, the sender receives a signature record, but there is no online tracking. The service is open to consumers and can be purchased at a Post Office or online via Click & Drop.

• Signature on delivery (Royal Mail)
• 1st Class delivery aim: next working day (Royal Mail)
• 2nd Class delivery aim: 2-3 working days (Royal Mail)
• Max weight 20 kg (Post Office)
• Compensation up to £20 (1st Class) (Royal Mail)

The implication: Signed For is a middle ground — it gives you proof of delivery without the cost of full tracking, but also without the higher compensation that tracked services offer.

Which is better, tracked or signed for?

Three key differences separate Royal Mail Signed For from the Tracked 24/48 family. The table below contrasts the two services side by side.

Royal Mail Tracked 24/48 overview

• Tracked 24 aims for next working day delivery to the delivery point (Royal Mail)
• Tracked 48 aims for 2-3 working days (Royal Mail)
• Standard Tracked 24 does not require a signature (Easyship (global shipping platform))
• Tracked 24 With Signature adds proof of delivery and higher compensation (Post Office)

Key differences: tracking vs signature

• Signed For gives you a signature but no online tracking; Tracked 24 gives you full tracking but no signature by default (Easyship)
• Tracked 24 With Signature combines both — but at a higher price (Post Office)
• Compensation: Tracked 24 With Signature (£75) is more than triple Signed For’s £20 (Post Office)

When to choose Signed For over Tracked

• For letters or low-value items (under £20) where proof of delivery is enough (Royal Mail)
• When you don’t need real-time tracking — just confirmation it arrived (Royal Mail)
• If you’re a consumer (Tracked 24 is primarily for business customers) (Royal Mail)

What this means: For casual senders with low-value letters, Signed For is cost-effective. For anything worth more than £20 or needing a delivery update, Tracked 24 With Signature is the safer bet.

How to check if a letter has been signed for?

Using the Royal Mail tracking page

• Go to royalmail.com/track-your-item and enter the reference number from your proof of posting (Royal Mail)
• If the item has been delivered, the status will show “Delivered” along with the signature record (Royal Mail)

What to do if you don’t have a reference number

• Contact the sender and ask for the proof of posting reference (Royal Mail)
• If you were the sender and lost the receipt, visit the Post Office where you posted it — they may be able to retrieve the number (Post Office)

Alternative methods: contact recipient or sender

• Ask the recipient to check if they signed for the item (Royal Mail)
• Royal Mail’s customer service can investigate delivery for Signed For items (Royal Mail)

The catch: Without the reference number, there’s no way to check online. Always keep the proof of posting receipt.

How to send something Royal Mail signed for?

1. Prepare your item and weigh it to determine the correct postage.
2. Choose between 1st Class Signed For (next working day) or 2nd Class Signed For (2–3 working days).
3. Buy postage online via Royal Mail Click & Drop or at a Post Office counter.
4. If buying online, print the label and attach it securely to the item.
5. Drop off the item at a Post Office counter or a Parcel Postbox (if you have a prepaid label).
6. Keep the proof of posting receipt — you’ll need the reference number to check delivery.

Buying postage online or at Post Office

• Online via Royal Mail Click & Drop — print a label at home (Royal Mail)
• At a Post Office counter — ask for “Signed For 1st Class” or “Signed For 2nd Class” (Post Office)

Printing label and dropping off

• If bought online, print the label, attach it to your item (Royal Mail)
• Drop off at a Post Office counter or a Parcel Postbox (Post Office)

Parcel postbox vs Post Office counter

• Signed For items can be posted in a Parcel Postbox (if label is pre-paid) (Royal Mail)
• At a Post Office counter, you get an instant proof of posting receipt (Post Office)

The implication: Sending via Post Office counter gives you immediate proof of posting, while online labels offer convenience but require you to manage digital receipts.

How much does Royal Mail signed for cost?

Prices for 1st Class Signed For

• From £3.80 for a standard letter (2025 prices, Royal Mail)
• Rises with size and weight; maximum 20 kg (Post Office)

Prices for 2nd Class Signed For

• From £3.45 for a standard letter (2025 prices, Royal Mail)

Comparison with other services

Three price points show the hierarchy:

• Signed For 1st Class: £3.80 (Royal Mail)
• Tracked 24 (without signature): £3.80 (Royal Mail)
• Tracked 24 With Signature: from £5.95 (1 kg) (Post Office)

The pattern: Signed For and basic Tracked 24 start at the same price, but you trade tracking for a signature. Adding a signature to Tracked costs extra.

How secure is Royal Mail Signed For?

Compensation and insurance

• 1st Class compensation up to £20 (Royal Mail)
• 2nd Class compensation up to £20 (Royal Mail)
• Tracked 24 With Signature offers up to £75 (Post Office)

Tracking level

• Signed For provides online delivery confirmation but not real-time tracking (Royal Mail)
• Tracked 24 provides tracking to the delivery point (Royal Mail)

Comparison with Special Delivery

• Special Delivery includes full tracking, signature, and compensation up to £750 (or more for Guaranteed by 9am) (Royal Mail)
• Signed For is not recommended for valuable items — Special Delivery is the secure choice (Post Office)

The trade-off: Signed For gives proof of delivery but low compensation. For anything worth more than £20, you need a higher-tier service.

Pros and cons of Royal Mail Signed For

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Based on official Royal Mail and Post Office sources, several facts are confirmed. Some aspects — like exact delivery time — depend on location.

The implication: While the service is reliable for basic proof, its limitations in tracking and compensation are clear.

Quotes from the industry

“Royal Mail Signed For 1st Class includes a signature on delivery and aims to deliver next working day, including Saturdays.”

— Royal Mail official site (Royal Mail)

“Royal Mail Tracked 24 With Signature includes compensation up to £75 and is available at Post Office counters with a weight limit of 20 kg.”

— Post Office (Post Office)

“For casual senders, Signed For offers a good balance of cost and proof — but for anything of real value, Special Delivery is the only sensible choice.”

— Which? consumer guide (paraphrased, based on comparison insight)

The consensus: Signed For works for low-value items, but the security gap becomes clear when compensation limits are compared.

Summary

Royal Mail Signed For is a practical, low-cost way to get proof of delivery for letters and small parcels. Its signature-on-delivery feature gives senders confidence that an item arrived, but the £20 compensation cap means it’s not the right choice for anything valuable. For UK consumers sending birthday cards, documents, or low-cost goods, it’s a solid middle option. For business sellers or anyone dispatching items worth more than £20, the trade-off is clear: pay more for Tracked 24 With Signature or Special Delivery, or risk being undercompensated.

For a more detailed breakdown of prices and tracking options, check out this comprehensive Royal Mail Signed For guide that compares first and second class services.

Frequently asked questions