This page contains information about Royal Mail size and weight limits and costs for sending a letter or packet to a BFPO location. There is also information about compensation services and Special Delivery services.
What it costs
Letter
Length: 240mm max
Width: 165mm max
Thickness: 5mm max
Weight range - Cost*
0-100g - £0.60
Large letter
Length: 353mm max
Width: 250mm max
Thickness: 25mm max
Weight range - Cost*
0-100g - £0.90
101-250g - £1.20
251-500g - £1.60
501-750g - £2.30
*Prices effective from 30th April 2012
Packet
Length: over 353mm and up to a maximum of 610mm
Width: over 250mm and up to a maximum of 460mm
Thickness: over 25mm and up to a maximum of 460mm
Weight range - Cost*
0 - 750g - £2.70
751 - 1000g - £4.30
1001 - 1250g - £5.60
1251 - 1500g - £6.50
1501 - 1750g - £7.40
1751 - 2000g - £8.30
2001 - 4000g - £10.30
*Prices effective from 30th April 2012
Standard Parcels
Weight (not over) - Cost*
2kg - £5.30
4kg - £8.80
6kg - £12.30
8kg - £15.80
10kg - £18.80
20kg - £21.90
*Prices effective from 30th April 2012
Compensation Services
Letters/Packets
No fee payable in addition to postage. Compensation up to a maximum of £46 may be paid where it can be shown that a letter was damaged or lost while in the custody of either Royal Mail or the British Forces Postal Service. Customers are to be advised to obtain a Certificate of Posting, which must be produced in the event of loss, in cases where they feel they would wish to claim if the item was lost.
Recorded Delivery
Available for all Letter Services (Air and Surface Letters, Small Packets and Printed Papers) to UK plus to and from BFPO numbered addresses. The fee payable in addition to postage is 95p. Maximum compensation £46 for loss or damage.
Special Delivery (not by Surface Mail)
This service provides a signature on delivery and compensation cover for valuables. There are 4 weight steps for the sending of Special Delivery. These are as laid out on the tables below. The maximum weight that may be sent is 2kg. Customers may use their own envelope, but items containing money or jewellery must be sent using the Royal Mail Special delivery prepaid envelopes if compensation is to apply for loss or damage. Special delivery does not provide timed delivery, telephone confirmation of delivery or compensation for delay or consequential loss. See table below for compensation available and the cost of the service including postage.
International Signed For
For airmail and surface mail letters and small packets up to 2kg, and printed papers up to 5kg available to all International destinations. The fee payable in addition to postage is £5.15, if your international signed for item is lost or damaged, compensation is up to £46. If further compensation is required there is an extra charge of £2.60 this will give compensation of up to £500 (depending on the country). Please note that the maximum compensation payable for Mobile Telephone claims is £46.
Special Delivery Pricing
How to assess the cost of special delivery
Check weight of item and level of compensation required Read off the charge appropriate to the weight and the level of compensation cover required. Affix the correct postage to the item
Special Deivery pricing guide
Airmail items to all BFPO destinations and HM Ships
Max weight - 2Kg
Special Delivery Envelopes
Weight (Max) - 100g - 500g - 1Kg - 2Kg
Cover to £500 - £5.90 - £6.90 - £7.55 - £9.75
Cover to £1,000 - £6.90 - £7.35 - £8.55 - £10.75
Cover to £2,500 - £8.90 - £9.35 - £10.55 - £12.75
*Prices effective from 30th April 2012
HM Customs Declaration
HM Revenue and Customs forms which are required for postal items to and from all BFPOs worldwide are:
Form CN22 - Packet to be used for goods up to the value of £270 (Inc BFPOs located inside the EU)
Form CN23 (inside a SP126 envelope) - Packet to be used for goods over £270 (Inc BFPOs located inside the EU)