Everything we make is engraved to order, so the date you order matters a little more than with a gift taken from a shelf. This page explains how long we take, how Royal Mail's Christmas deadlines work, and when to order to be safe. We will update it as soon as Royal Mail confirms its dates for Christmas 2026.
How long we take
Orders placed before 3pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), are engraved and dispatched the same working day. Orders placed after 3pm are dispatched the next working day. In the busiest weeks before Christmas, processing can take longer, and express orders are always engraved first.
After dispatch:
- Standard UK delivery (Royal Mail Tracked 24, free on every UK order) usually takes 1 to 2 working days.
- Express UK delivery (£2.50) usually takes 1 to 2 working days.
- International delivery (£9.95) usually takes 5 to 10 working days.
Full details are on our Delivery & Returns page.
Royal Mail last posting dates for Christmas 2026
Royal Mail publishes its recommended last posting dates each autumn. At the time of writing (October 2026) the official dates for Christmas 2026 have not yet been confirmed on Royal Mail's website. We will update this table as soon as they are.
| Royal Mail service | Last recommended posting date, Christmas 2026 |
|---|---|
| 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For | To be confirmed |
| Tracked 48 | To be confirmed |
| 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For | To be confirmed |
| Tracked 24 | To be confirmed |
| Special Delivery Guaranteed | To be confirmed |
For reference, Royal Mail's published dates for Christmas 2025 were: 2nd Class, Wednesday 17 December; Tracked 48, Friday 19 December; 1st Class, Saturday 20 December; Tracked 24, Sunday 21 December; Special Delivery Guaranteed, Tuesday 23 December. Royal Mail notes that its dates are subject to change. Source: Royal Mail, Christmas last posting dates.
Some websites already list "2026" dates, but the ones we have checked repeat the 2025 dates or are marked as estimates, so we do not rely on them.
Our last order dates for Christmas 2026
| Delivery option | Order by (3pm) |
|---|---|
| Free standard UK delivery | To be confirmed |
| Express UK delivery | To be confirmed |
| International | To be confirmed |
As a rule of thumb, orders before 3pm are dispatched the same working day, so add the delivery time above and make sure you order before Royal Mail's last posting date for the service. Remember that Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, and that Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays are not working days for engraving.
Bank holidays over Christmas and New Year
In England and Wales, the bank holidays this year are Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026, and Boxing Day, which falls on a Saturday, so the substitute bank holiday is Monday 28 December 2026. New Year's Day is Friday 1 January 2027. We do not engrave or dispatch on weekends or bank holidays, and Royal Mail runs a reduced service over this period. Orders placed between Christmas and New Year are processed in order as soon as we are back in the workshop. We will publish our exact closing and reopening dates here.
Our advice: order early
- Order in November or the first week of December for complete peace of mind, especially for personalised gifts with handwriting, fingerprints or photos, which may need a quick question from us before engraving.
- Choose express if you are ordering in the final week before the last posting dates.
- Send international gifts first. Overseas delivery takes longer, and customs can add time.
- Double-check the address. We do not deliver to PO boxes.
- Check your engraving carefully. We engrave exactly what you enter, and there is less time to fix mistakes in December.
If you have left it late
Local customers can arrange to collect from our workshop at 222 Kensal Road, London W10 5BN. Please email us first so we can confirm a time. You could also wrap a printed photo of the preview with a note that the real thing is on its way.
Gift ideas that post easily
Small engraved gifts such as keyrings, cufflinks and necklaces travel well and fit through most letterboxes. See stocking fillers, Christmas gifts for him and Christmas gifts for her, or read our gift guides for him and for her.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last day to order for Christmas 2026?
Our dates depend on Royal Mail's last posting dates, which had not been confirmed when this page was written. We will update this page as soon as they are. Ordering in November or early December is the safest choice.
How long does engraving take?
Orders placed before 3pm, Monday to Friday, are engraved and dispatched the same working day. Orders placed after 3pm are dispatched the next working day.
Is UK delivery free?
Yes, standard UK delivery is free on every order. Express UK delivery is £2.50.
