Here are the last posting dates for sending Christmas cards and presents

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and the busiest for postal workers who are set to sort through millions of letters and parcels a day in the weeks running up to Christmas.

The festive season sees the UK send and receive a record number of postal orders, with Christmas cards and presents from loved ones, as well as last-minute online shopping orders making up the majority of these.

But time is fast running out for deliveries to be shipped in time.

Here, ITV News outlines what dates courier services have announced as the final day for post to be sent out by.

Royal Mail

Royal Mail recommends that if you are still to send off Christmas letters and parcels that you should allow plenty of time.

Items posted second class have to be made by Wednesday, December 17, while their Royal Mail Tracked 48 service’s deadline is Friday, December 19.

First class orders must be sent by Sunday, December 20 and Royal Mail Tracked 24 orders should be shipped by Sunday, 21 December at the latest.

Tuesday, December 23 is Royal Mail’s final day for delivery before Christmas, but customers should be prepared to pay a bit more as these will be sent as Special Delivery Guaranteed shipments.

Millions of letters and parcels are sent during the festive season in the UK every year. / Credit: PA

Royal Mail told ITV News that to ensure Christmas gifts and cards arrive safely, “there are a few key things customers should remember”.

“Make sure the full address is written clearly on the item of mail, and always include the full postcode.”

“Customers should also ensure that the correct amount of postage has been applied to avoid any delays or extra charges for the recipient.”

DPD

To ensure a pre-Christmas arrival, any deliveries sent via DPD must be made by Friday, December 19 for standard parcels and Tuesday, December 23 for express and priority shipped parcels. For international shipping within Europe the final deadline is Wednesday, December 17.

InPost

Customers using InPost lockers to send and receive parcels should make sure their items are dropped off at a locker by Saturday, December 20 to ensure they arrive at their destination before Christmas.

DHL

DHL says to ensure arrival in time for Christmas, parcels for UK addresses should be sent by Monday, December 22.

For the USA, Canada, Mexico the deadline is Wednesday, December 17, while for Europe (EU and Non-EU) it is Thursday, December 18.

For the rest of the world, parcels should be sent by Wedneday, December 17.

Evri

Customers choosing Evri as their courier service have until Friday, December 19 to both post their standard parcels and have them collected from their households by couriers.

Evri has said that customers should drop their parcels off by 11am at a ParcelShop or Evri Locker to get it there before Christmas Day.

Customers should ensure they drop off their parcel by 11am at a ParcelShop or Evri Locker on Saturday, December 20 for next day delivery.