ParcelforceParcelforce tracking
Royal Mail Group's express parcel arm — now tracked on the same system as Royal Mail.
Parcelforce is Royal Mail Group's express arm — the one used for large, heavy or urgent parcels. And since the networks merged, Parcelforce parcels are tracked on the same system as Royal Mail ones. That single fact answers most Parcelforce questions.
Track your Parcelforce parcel
Enter your Parcelforce tracking number below.
Most Parcelforce references are two letters + seven digits, for example PB1234567. International ones often end in GB. Enter the full reference exactly as given — don't shorten it.
One network, two names — how Parcelforce tracking works now
Parcelforce's own tracking page says it plainly: Parcelforce now operates across a single network with Royal Mail, so all deliveries can be tracked using Royal Mail Track and Trace. Tracking works the same way as before — you enter your reference number — but the result comes from the shared Royal Mail system.
That is why a Parcelforce number may work on royalmail.com, and why a parcel can be handed to a Post Office or a Royal Mail depot for collection. Don't trim or reformat your number to fit a pattern you read elsewhere; enter it exactly as given.
Your Parcelforce tracking number
Most Parcelforce references are two letters + seven digits, for example PB1234567. International ones often end in GB. Enter the full reference exactly as given — don't shorten it.
Example format: PB1234567 — that is a shape, not a real parcel. Enter your own number exactly as the sender gave it: a single wrong letter is the most common reason a tracker says “not recognised”.
Parcelforce services & delivery times
Express UK delivery for parcels up to 30kg; tracked end to end.
The cheaper express option when next day isn't needed.
Timed morning delivery — three separate services for urgent items.
International express with customs handling, tracked through the shared system. Europe: Euro Priority / Euro Economy; Ireland: Ireland Express.
Parcelforce specialises in items other couriers won't take — up to 30kg per parcel as standard.
Delivery aims are the courier's stated aims for the service, not guarantees for every parcel. Bank holidays, bad weather and busy periods (especially Christmas) can add a day.
Missed delivery — redelivery & collection
Parcelforce items often need a signature, so missed deliveries are common. Here is what happens next:
- Automatic retry — Parcelforce attempts delivery again on the next working day, unless the parcel was left in a safe place or with a neighbour.
- Arrange a different day — use the card, the Parcelforce app or the website to pick a redelivery day.
- Collect it yourself — collect from a local Parcelforce depot or Post Office; the card or message says where, and you'll need your reference number.
- After three failed attempts — the parcel is usually returned to the sender, so don't leave it until the last attempt.
What each Parcelforce status means
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Collected / received | Parcelforce has the parcel and has scanned it in. | Tracking has started; wait for the next scan. |
| In transit | Moving through the Parcelforce / Royal Mail network. | Normal. Allow a day between scans on longer routes. |
| At local depot | At the depot that will deliver it. | Delivery is usually the next working day, or today if out for delivery. |
| Out for delivery | With the driver today. | Be available — Parcelforce items often need a signature. |
| Delivered | Delivered, with signature or photo where the service provides it. | Check the official tracker, safe places and neighbours. |
| Delivery attempted | Nobody was in, or a signature was needed. | Parcelforce automatically tries again the next working day if it wasn't left in a safe place or with a neighbour — or arrange redelivery or depot collection. |
Parcel stuck or delayed — what to do
- If your number isn't recognised, check it character by character first — then check it is a Parcelforce or Royal Mail reference at all. A retailer's order number won't work.
- A number can exist before the parcel does: the sender may have created the label before handing the parcel over. Allow time for it to be received into the network.
- If tracking stops for more than 2 working days after the delivery aim, contact the sender — they hold the contract and must raise any claim.
More detail: Parcel stuck in transit — the full step-by-step guide.
Contact Parcelforce
Customer servicesParcelforce customer services. Parcelforce now operates on a single network with Royal Mail, so tracking runs through Royal Mail Track and Trace.
If you are the recipient and the parcel is lost or damaged, contact the retailer/sender first — most couriers only accept claims from the sender.
Parcelforce tracking — FAQs
Where do I track a Parcelforce parcel now?
On the shared Royal Mail Track and Trace system. Parcelforce's own track-and-trace page explains that Parcelforce now operates on a single network with Royal Mail — enter your reference number there and the status comes from that system.
What does a Parcelforce tracking number look like?
Most Parcelforce numbers are two letters + seven digits — for example PB1234567. International ones often end in GB. Enter the full reference exactly as given — don't shorten it.
How long does express24 take?
express24 aims for delivery the next working day. express48 aims for two working days. International express times vary by destination. These are aims, not guarantees for every parcel.
What happens if I miss a Parcelforce delivery?
Parcelforce automatically attempts redelivery on the next working day if the item wasn't left in a safe place or with a neighbour. You can also arrange an alternative redelivery or collect from a local depot or Post Office.
I lost my Parcelforce tracking number — can you find it?
No — Parcelforce can't track from a name or address alone. If you sent it at a Post Office, the number is on your receipt. If you bought online, ask the retailer — it should be in your order confirmation or invoice.
Track with another UK courier
Not Parcelforce after all? Your parcel may have changed hands — check the other couriers: