How much does Royal Mail redirection cost?
Short answer
Redirecting post to a UK address costs £45 for up to 3 months, £66.50 for up to 6 months or £95 for up to 12 months for the first person, plus £11, £12.50 or £13.50 for each extra person. Children under 16 are free, and there is a cheaper rate if you get Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Apply online with Royal Mail or at a Post Office, up to six months before you move. Redirection is a safety net: tell your bank, council, suppliers and DVLA yourself so a shorter period is enough.
Updated
£45
Up to three months for one person, to a UK address
£95
Up to twelve months for one person, to a UK address
£0
For children under 16, Royal Mail says
See the bills for your new address
Pick your new address to see its council tax band and charge, its water company, who supplies the energy, and broadband deals, in one list.
Redirection sends post for your old address to your new one for 3, 6 or 12 months. These are the Post Office's current prices, the cheaper rates, when to apply and what you need, and how to need it for less time.
Royal Mail redirection prices for individuals
| How long | First person | Each extra person |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 months, UK address | £45.00 | £11.00 |
| Up to 6 months, UK address | £66.50 | £12.50 |
| Up to 12 months, UK address | £95.00 | £13.50 |
| Up to 3 months, address abroad | £168.00 | £31.50 |
| Up to 6 months, address abroad | £238.50 | £35.00 |
| Up to 12 months, address abroad | £341.50 | £37.50 |
What does redirection cost, and are there cheaper rates?
From £45 for three months. Children under 16 are free, and there is a concession price.
- The table above is the Post Office's price table for individuals, read on 1 November 2026. The Post Office says all prices are exempt from VAT.
- Royal Mail says there are no fees for under 16s.
- If you get Universal Credit or Pension Credit, Royal Mail says you are eligible for its concessionary price.
- Royal Mail processes redirected mail as Second Class, so letters sent first class can take longer to reach you while redirection is in place.
Sources (2)
- Post Office: mail redirection prices and questions (read 1 November 2026)
- Royal Mail: redirect your mail (read 1 November 2026)
When should I apply for redirection?
Up to six months before you move, or up to six months after.
- The Post Office says you can apply as soon as six months before you move.
- You can also apply up to six months after you have moved, though you may be asked extra security questions, especially if your payment card is registered to the new address.
- Royal Mail contacts you as your redirection is about to expire, and you can apply to continue it for a further 3, 6 or 12 months.
Sources (1)
- Post Office: mail redirection prices and questions (read 1 November 2026)
What do I need to apply for redirection?
Everyone's names and dates of birth, both addresses and a card registered to the old one.
- The names and dates of birth of everyone at your old address whose post you want to redirect.
- A payment card registered to your old address. If it is registered to your new address, the Post Office says it may ask you a few extra questions to combat fraud.
- The addresses and postcodes of your old and new homes.
- Apply online on Royal Mail's website, or print the form and take it to a Post Office branch. To redirect post for more than eight people, the Post Office says to apply in a branch.
Sources (2)
- Post Office: mail redirection prices and questions (read 1 November 2026)
- Royal Mail: redirect your mail (read 1 November 2026)
Is Royal Mail redirection worth it?
It protects post you have not redirected yourself. Telling senders directly shortens it.
- Royal Mail says redirection helps you avoid missing important documents and reduces the risk of ID fraud.
- The Post Office says that if your post is not redirected, there is a risk it falls into the wrong hands.
- After 12 months, the Post Office assumes you have asked senders to use your new address, though you can keep redirecting to combat fraud.
- Telling your bank, council, suppliers and DVLA your new address yourself means you can choose a shorter, cheaper period.
Sources (2)
- Royal Mail: redirect your mail (read 1 November 2026)
- Post Office: mail redirection prices and questions (read 1 November 2026)
What are the steps to redirect my post?
Four steps, from choosing the period to renewing or letting it end.
- 1
Choose how long and who to include
Pick 3, 6 or 12 months and add everyone at the old address whose post should follow you. Children under 16 are free.
- 2
Apply online or at a Post Office
Apply on Royal Mail's website, or take the form to a Post Office branch. Pay with a card registered to your old address.
- 3
Tell the important senders yourself
Give your bank, council, suppliers and DVLA your new address directly, so you can choose a shorter redirection.
- 4
Renew or let it end
Royal Mail contacts you as the redirection ends, and you can renew it for another 3, 6 or 12 months.
Sources (2)
- Royal Mail: redirect your mail (read 1 November 2026)
- Post Office: mail redirection prices and questions (read 1 November 2026)
Where does Taupia fit when I move?
- For the bills part of the move, the address block above lists your new home's council tax band and charge, its water company, who supplies the energy and broadband deals. It covers England, Scotland and Wales; in Scotland it shows the council rather than the band.
- Taupia compares energy, broadband and mobile deals and switches once your household approves. Nothing changes without your approval.
- Taupia does not set up council tax or switch water, and it does not redirect post: apply with Royal Mail or at a Post Office.
- Taupia is free to use.
Royal Mail redirection: common questions
How much is Royal Mail redirection for 12 months?
£95 for the first person when the new address is in the UK, plus £13.50 for each extra person, according to the Post Office's price table. Children under 16 are free, and Royal Mail has a cheaper concession price if you get Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Can I redirect my mail for free?
Not usually. Redirection costs from £45 for three months, but Royal Mail charges nothing for children under 16 and has a concessionary price if you get Universal Credit or Pension Credit. The free alternative is telling each sender your new address yourself, starting with your bank, council and suppliers.
How long before moving can I set up redirection?
The Post Office says you can apply as soon as six months before you move, and up to six months after you have moved. After the move you may be asked extra security questions, especially if your payment card is registered to the new address.
Does redirected post arrive more slowly?
It can. Royal Mail says redirected mail is processed as Second Class, so letters sent first class can take longer to reach you while redirection is in place. Telling important senders your new address directly avoids the delay and lets you end the redirection sooner.
Can I redirect post for everyone in the house?
Yes. The Post Office says you can redirect as many people's post as live at the address, paying for each extra person, while children under 16 are free. For more than eight people, apply in a Post Office branch, which will help you with the form.
The rest of the move
Royal Mail's own pages, and the guides for everyone else to tell and every bill.
Setting up the bills at your new home?
Pick your new address above to see its council tax band and charge, its water company, who supplies the energy and broadband deals, in one list. Taupia is free, and nothing changes without your approval.
Cite this page
Taupia. "How much does Royal Mail redirection cost?". Last updated 1 November 2026. https://taupia.com/move-home/royal-mail-redirection