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Royal Mail lost parcel claim: how long you have (80 days, or 30 for Tracked)
Checked on 28 October 2026 against each carrier's and platform's own pages · General information, not legal advice
The short answer: with Royal Mail you get a window, not just a deadline, and it depends on the service you paid for.
- 1st Class, 2nd Class and Signed For: you can't claim for loss until 10 working days after the due date, and you must claim within 80 calendar days of posting, "or no claim will be entertained".
- Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm: you can claim from 5 working days after the due date, and the same 80 days from posting applies.
- Tracked 24 and Tracked 48: a much shorter window. Claims open 7 working days after the due date and must be made within 30 calendar days of that date.
1st Class, 2nd Class and Signed For: the 80-day rule
Royal Mail's retail compensation policy for loss covers stamped and online-postage 1st and 2nd Class mail, Signed For, and Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm when it isn't posted on a business account. It says: "Claims for loss must be made within 80 calendar days of the date of posting, or no claim will be entertained. Royal Mail has no legal liability for any loss if at the time of the claim 80 days has expired from the date of posting."
But you can't claim straight away. The same policy says compensation for loss "will not be considered" until 10 working days have passed after the due date (5 working days for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm). Royal Mail's due dates are:
- 1st Class (incl. Signed For 1st Class): the next working day after posting.
- 2nd Class (incl. Signed For 2nd Class): 3 working days after posting.
- Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm: the guaranteed date.
For these retail services a working day is any day except Sunday and public holidays, so Saturdays count. For Special Delivery it's Monday to Friday, unless you paid for a Saturday guarantee. Royal Mail's help page for items that haven't arrived says the same thing: wait until the due date plus 10 working days, because "early claims cannot be processed".
Example: you post a parcel 2nd Class on Monday 2 November 2026. It's due on Thursday 5 November. The earliest you can claim for loss is Tuesday 17 November, and the last day is Thursday 21 January 2027 (day 80 after posting). Sent 1st Class on the same day, it's due Tuesday 3 November and you can claim from Saturday 14 November; the 80-day deadline is the same.
Damage and missing contents follow the same 80-day limit under Royal Mail's retail compensation policy for damage, with no waiting period. Keep the item and all the packaging, because Royal Mail may want to inspect them.
Tracked 24 and Tracked 48: only 30 days
If you sent it Royal Mail Tracked 24 or Tracked 48, different rules apply, and the window is far shorter. Royal Mail's terms changes page says claims for loss or damage "will only be accepted if 7 working days or more have passed since the item was due to be delivered. Working days are Monday to Saturday excluding Public and Bank Holidays. Claims must be made within 30 calendar days of the eligible claim date."
So the window opens 7 working days after the due date (Tracked 24 is due the next working day; Tracked 48 within 2 to 3 working days) and closes 30 days later. For damage, the retail damage policy also says Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 claims must be made within 30 calendar days "from the date of posting". Our checker shows whichever of the two damage dates is earlier, to be safe.
Example: you post a parcel Tracked 24 on Monday 2 November 2026. It's due Tuesday 3 November. You can claim for loss from Wednesday 11 November, and the last day is Friday 11 December 2026. If it arrived damaged, aim to claim by Wednesday 2 December (30 days after posting).
That's the trap: a seller who waits a few weeks for the buyer to "give it a bit longer" can still be inside 80 days for a 2nd Class parcel, but already out of time for Tracked.
How much Royal Mail pays
- 1st and 2nd Class (incl. Signed For): with only basic evidence, a refund of postage in stamps. With proof of posting and proof of value, Royal Mail adds compensation for your actual loss, up to the lower of the item's market value and £20. Signed For has been capped at £20 since 2 April 2024.
- Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm: up to the level of compensation you bought, or the item's market value if lower.
- Tracked 24 and Tracked 48: up to £150 as standard (Royal Mail parcels user guide), or the item's value if that's lower.
"Actual loss" means what the item cost you. Royal Mail's own example: a shop that bought jeans for £15 and sold them for £25 can claim £15. So for resold stock, keep your purchase receipt, not just the sale price.
What to have ready
- Proof of posting: a certificate of posting (automatic for Signed For and Special Delivery; ask for one at the Post Office counter otherwise), a Post Office receipt, a Collect+ certificate, or a collection notification if Royal Mail collected it. Without it, 1st and 2nd Class claims only get a postage refund.
- Proof of value: original receipts, bank or card statements, a PayPal record or invoices. Royal Mail asks for originals, not copies, so keep copies for yourself.
- The basics: sender and recipient names and addresses, the service and postage paid, the place and date of posting, and a description of the contents.
- For damage: the item and all the packaging, plus the date it was delivered.
Who claims: you, the buyer, Vinted or eBay?
- You bought the postage yourself: you're the sender, so you claim. Royal Mail says the sender or recipient may claim, but only one is paid, and if both claim it processes the sender's claim. Its help page tells recipients to "contact the sender".
- You used a Vinted-generated label: go through Vinted, which compensates sellers up to £500 once the carrier confirms loss or damage. See our Vinted lost parcel guide.
- You used an eBay Simple Delivery label: the buyer raises an "Item not received" or "Arrived damaged" claim with eBay (eBay Simple Delivery).
Items posted on a Royal Mail business account aren't covered by the retail policy and have their own contract terms, so check yours.
Work out your own deadline. Pick Royal Mail and your service, enter the date you posted, and see the first and last day to claim, plus the evidence list.
Check my claim deadline – freeFrequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim for a lost Royal Mail parcel?
For 1st Class, 2nd Class, Signed For and Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm (retail), within 80 calendar days of the date of posting. For Tracked 24 and Tracked 48, within 30 calendar days of the date you first become eligible to claim (7 working days after the due date).
How long do I have to wait before claiming a lost Royal Mail parcel?
10 working days after the due date for 1st and 2nd Class (including Signed For), 5 working days for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm, and 7 working days for Tracked 24 and Tracked 48. Royal Mail says early claims can't be processed.
Does Saturday count as a working day for Royal Mail claims?
Yes for 1st Class, 2nd Class, Signed For and Tracked: Royal Mail counts Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays. For Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm, Saturdays only count if you bought a Saturday guarantee.
How much does Royal Mail pay for a lost parcel?
1st and 2nd Class: a postage refund, or with proof of posting and proof of value, up to the lower of market value and £20. Tracked 24 and 48: up to £150 as standard, or the item's value if lower. Special Delivery: up to the cover you bought.
Should the seller or the buyer claim from Royal Mail?
Either can claim, but only one is paid, and Royal Mail processes the sender's claim if both do. Royal Mail tells recipients to contact the sender, so as the seller you normally make the claim.