Second-class letters to take five days as Royal Mail cuts deliveries, Sheffield residents warned
“The average household now receives only four letters a week, down from 14”
Royal Mail is slowing the delivery time of second-class letters and dropping Saturdays altogether.
The business says a second-class letter sent on Monday should now arrive by Thursday.
But a second-class letter sent on Thursday won’t arrive before Tuesday, five days later, because weekend deliveries are being axed. Similarly, a letter posted Friday may now arrive on Wednesday.
A second-class stamp costs 91p for a letter up to 100g.
Royal Mail is this week delivering leaflets explaining the changes to homes in Sheffield.
A spokesperson said: “The way people use our services is changing. Letter volumes have declined from 20 billion a year at their peak in 2004-05 to 5.7 billion a year in 2025-26 and the average household now receives only four letters a week, down from 14.”
Previously, the Universal Service Obligation required Royal Mail to deliver first and second-class letters six days a week, Monday to Saturday.
Ofcom made changes to the postal regulations in July 2025 to ensure the Universal Service remains “sustainable, affordable and reliable”, the spokesperson added.
They also said no one would lose their job.
“We have a commitment to no compulsory redundancies as part of our agreement with the Communication Workers Union.”
First-class letters will continue to be delivered six days a week, excluding Sunday.
A first class stamp costs £1.80 for letters up to 100g.
And parcels will be delivered ‘up to’ seven days a week, Royal Mail says.