How Long Does Poster Printing Take in the UK?

Quick answer: If you order and upload your file before 12PM on a working day, we print your poster the same day. Delivery then takes 2–3 working days with free standard delivery, or the next working day with DPD Next Day (£9.99) or Royal Mail Special Delivery (£12.99, guaranteed by 1PM). Royal Mail Tracked 24 (£6.99) usually arrives in 1–2 working days.

When a conference, viva or school event is coming up, the question is simple: if I order today, when will my poster arrive? This guide explains our cut-off times, each delivery option and how to plan around weekends, so you can choose the right option and avoid paying for speed you do not need.

Printing time: same day before 12PM

Every order placed and paid for, with a print-ready file uploaded, before 12PM Monday to Friday is printed, checked and handed to the courier the same afternoon. Orders after 12PM, or at weekends and on bank holidays, are printed the next working day.

Two things can slow this down: a file that needs fixing (for example, low-resolution images) and a request for a proof. If we spot a problem we contact you before printing, so reply quickly if your deadline is tight.

Delivery options compared

Royal Mail describes Tracked 24 as having a next working day delivery aim, not a guarantee, and says delivery times can vary by postcode; for a guaranteed time it recommends Special Delivery Guaranteed (Royal Mail). That is why we quote 1–2 working days for Tracked 24 and recommend Special Delivery when timing is critical.

Planning around weekends

Couriers deliver on working days, so a weekend adds two days. Some examples for orders placed before 12PM:

• Order Monday with DPD Next Day or Special Delivery: arrives Tuesday.
• Order Thursday with DPD Next Day: arrives Friday.
• Order Friday with DPD Next Day: arrives Monday, not Saturday.
• Order Monday with free standard delivery: usually arrives Wednesday or Thursday.

If you order after 12PM, add one working day to each example.

How to choose

1. Count working days from today to the day you need the poster in your hands, not the day of the event. If you are travelling, count back to the day you leave.
2. Five or more working days: free standard delivery is fine.
3. Three to four working days: Royal Mail Tracked 24 gives you tracking and a signature.
4. One to two working days: choose DPD Next Day, or Special Delivery if it must arrive by 1PM.
5. Deliver to where you will be. If your department post room closes early or you are staying elsewhere, send it to an address where someone can sign for it.

Avoiding delays

• Upload a PDF at 300 DPI with fonts embedded. Our artwork guide explains how.
• Check the size and orientation the conference asks for before you order. Our poster size guide and A0 vs A1 guide can help.
• Use the full delivery address, including department and building name for university addresses.
• Only ask for a proof if you need one, as waiting for approval can move printing to the next day.

For urgent orders, see our next day poster printing page. Full details of each option are on our delivery information page.