Small Packet Rates 1930-2012
Introduction
The Small Packet service was introduced to "afford facilities for the transmission of small articles of merchandise in the letter mails". The weight limit was 2lb, which became 1kg from 29th September 1975 and 2kg from 7th January 1991. The minimum weight was always significantly higher than for other classes of mail.
Letters could not be included (although a simple invoice was permissible), nor currency, nor items of intrinsic value. It was possible to send dutiable items so long as the packet complied with the relevant postal and customs regulations, and a Customs green label was attached.
At first it was not compulsory for countries to accept small packets, and indeed a fair number did not. Other countries might impose restrictions on possible contents, or a lower weight limit. The small packet service was extended worldwide on 1st July 1971 when the overseas sample post was abolished.
From 26th January 1981 the small packet rates were essentially identical to the printed papers rates – the "full" rate up to 1991, the standard rate thereafter – except for a higher minimum weight of 100g and a lower maximum weight of 1kg/2kg. The rates are repeated below for convenience.
From 2012 the rates for printed papers and small packets above 100g up to the maximum weight (5kg for printed papers, 2kg for other items) were identical to the corresponding letter rates.
Rates
Date | Rate | Date | Rate | Date | Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1930 (1 Jul) |
6d - 8oz 7½d - 10oz 9d - 12oz 10½d - 14oz 1s - 1lb 1s 1½d - 1lb 2oz 1s 3d - 1lb 4oz 1s 4½d - 1lb 6oz 1s 6d - 1lb 8oz 1s 7½d - 1lb 10oz 1s 9d - 1lb 12oz 1s 10½d - 1lb 14oz 2s - 2lb |
1935 (1 Jan) |
5d - 10oz 6d - 12oz 7d - 14oz 8d - 1lb 9d - 1lb 2oz 10d - 1lb 4oz 11d - 1lb 6oz 1s - 1lb 8oz 1s 1d - 1lb 10oz 1s 2d - 1lb 12oz 1s 3d - 1lb 14oz 1s 4d - 2lb |
1950 (1 Oct) |
7½d - 10oz 9d - 12oz 10½d - 14oz 1s - 1lb 1s 1½d - 1lb 2oz 1s 3d - 1lb 4oz 1s 4½d - 1lb 6oz 1s 6d - 1lb 8oz 1s 7½d - 1lb 10oz 1s 9d - 1lb 12oz 1s 10½d - 1lb 14oz 2s - 2lb |
1957 (1 Oct) |
10d - 10oz 1s - 12oz 1s 2d - 14oz 1s 4d - 1lb 1s 6d - 1lb 2oz 1s 8d - 1lb 4oz 1s 10d - 1lb 6oz 2s - 1lb 8oz 2s 2d - 1lb 10oz 2s 4d - 1lb 12oz 2s 6d - 1lb 14oz 2s 8d - 2lb |
1963 (1 Jul) |
1s 0½d - 10oz 1s 3d - 12oz 1s 5½d - 14oz 1s 8d - 1lb 1s 10½d - 1lb 2oz 2s 1d - 1lb 4oz 2s 3½d - 1lb 6oz 2s 6d - 1lb 8oz 2s 8½d - 1lb 10oz 2s 11d - 1lb 12oz 3s 1½d - 1lb 14oz 3s 4d - 2lb |
1966 (3 Oct) |
1s 6d - 8oz 1s 8d - 10oz 2s - 12oz 2s 4d - 14oz 2s 8d - 1lb 3s - 1lb 2oz 3s 4d - 1lb 4oz 3s 8d - 1lb 6oz 4s - 1lb 8oz 4s 4d - 1lb 10oz 4s 8d - 1lb 12oz 5s - 1lb 14oz 5s 4d - 2lb |
1971 (15 Feb) |
7½p - 8oz 8½p - 10oz 10p - 12oz 11½p - 14oz 13p - 1lb 14½p - 1lb 2oz 16p - 1lb 4oz 17½p - 1lb 6oz 19p - 1lb 8oz 20½p - 1lb 10oz 22p - 1lb 12oz 23½p - 1lb 14oz 25p - 2lb |
1971 (1 Jul) |
5p - 4oz 10p - 8oz 15p - 1lb 30p - 2lb |
1973 (10 Sep) |
6p - 4oz 12p - 8oz 20p - 1lb 36p - 2lb |
1975 (17 Mar) |
9p - 4oz 18p - 8oz 30p - 1lb 54p - 2lb |
1975 (29 Sep) |
10p - 100g 18p - 250g 30p - 500g 54p - 1kg |
1976 (26 Apr) |
13p - 100g 24p - 250g 43p - 500g 72p - 1kg |
1977 (13 Jun) |
15p - 100g 28p - 250g 50p - 500g 84p - 1kg |
1979 (20 Aug) |
20p - 100g 36p - 250g 65p - 500g £1.08 - 1kg |
1981 (26 Jan) |
26p - 100g 34p - 150g 41p - 200g 48p - 250g 56p - 300g 63p - 350g 71p - 400g 79p - 450g 86p - 500g £1.15 - 750g £1.44 - 1kg |
1982 (1 Feb) |
30p - 100g 38p - 150g 46p - 200g 54p - 250g 63p - 300g 71p - 350g 80p - 400g 89p - 450g 97p - 500g £1.30 - 750g £1.62 - 1kg |
1983 (5 Apr) |
32p - 100g 41p - 150g 49p - 200g 58p - 250g 67p - 300g 77p - 350g 86p - 400g 95p - 450g £1.04 - 500g £1.39 - 750g £1.74 - 1kg |
1984 (3 Sep) |
35p - 100g 45p - 150g 54p - 200g 64p - 250g 74p - 300g 84p - 350g 95p - 400g £1.05 - 450g £1.15 - 500g £1.54 - 750g £1.92 - 1kg |
1985 (4 Nov) |
40p - 100g 50p - 150g 61p - 200g 72p - 250g 84p - 300g 95p - 350g £1.07 - 400g £1.18 - 450g £1.30 - 500g £1.73 - 750g £2.16 - 1kg |
1986 (20 Oct) |
42p - 100g 53p - 150g 65p - 200g 76p - 250g 88p - 300g £1.00 - 350g £1.12 - 400g £1.25 - 450g £1.37 - 500g £1.82 - 750g £2.28 - 1kg |
1988 (5 Sep) |
44p - 100g 56p - 150g 68p - 200g 80p - 250g 93p - 300g £1.05 - 350g £1.18 - 400g £1.31 - 450g £1.44 - 500g £1.92 - 750g £2.40 - 1kg |
1989 (2 Oct) |
47p - 100g 60p - 150g 74p - 200g 85p - 250g £1.00 - 300g £1.15 - 350g £1.25 - 400g £1.40 - 450g £1.55 - 500g £2.10 - 750g £2.60 - 1kg |
1990 (17 Sep) |
42p - 100g 52p - 150g 64p - 200g 75p - 250g 87p - 300g £1.06 - 350g £1.15 - 400g £1.26 - 450g £1.36 - 500g £1.83 - 750g £2.29 - 1kg | 1991 (16 Sep) |
45p - 100g 60p - 150g 75p - 200g 90p - 250g £1.05 - 300g £1.20 - 350g £1.35 - 400g £1.50 - 450g £1.65 - 500g £1.78 - 550g £1.91 - 600g £2.04 - 650g £2.17 - 700g £2.30 - 750g £2.43 - 800g £2.56 - 850g £2.69 - 900g £2.82 - 950g £2.95 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 12p |
1993 (1 Nov) |
48p - 100g 64p - 150g 80p - 200g 96p - 250g £1.12 - 300g £1.28 - 350g £1.44 - 400g £1.60 - 450g £1.76 - 500g £1.92 - 550g £2.08 - 600g £2.24 - 650g £2.40 - 700g £2.56 - 750g £2.72 - 800g £2.88 - 850g £3.04 - 900g £3.20 - 950g £3.36 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 16p |
1996 (8 Jul) |
50p - 100g 67p - 150g 84p - 200g £1.00 - 250g £1.17 - 300g £1.34 - 350g £1.51 - 400g £1.67 - 450g £1.84 - 500g £2.01 - 550g £2.18 - 600g £2.34 - 650g £2.51 - 700g £2.68 - 750g £2.85 - 800g £3.01 - 850g £3.18 - 900g £3.35 - 950g £3.51 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 17p |
1999 (26 Apr) |
54p - 100g 72p - 150g 90p - 200g £1.08 - 250g £1.26 - 300g £1.44 - 350g £1.62 - 400g £1.80 - 450g £1.98 - 500g £2.16 - 550g £2.34 - 600g £2.52 - 650g £2.70 - 700g £2.88 - 750g £3.06 - 800g £3.24 - 850g £3.42 - 900g £3.60 - 950g £3.78 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 18p |
2000 (27 Apr) |
57p - 100g 76p - 150g 95p - 200g £1.14 - 250g £1.33 - 300g £1.52 - 350g £1.71 - 400g £1.90 - 450g £2.09 - 500g £2.28 - 550g £2.47 - 600g £2.66 - 650g £2.85 - 700g £3.04 - 750g £3.23 - 800g £3.42 - 850g £3.61 - 900g £3.80 - 950g £3.99 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 19p |
2002 (4 Jul) |
60p - 100g 80p - 150g £1.00 - 200g £1.20 - 250g £1.40 - 300g £1.60 - 350g £1.80 - 400g £2.00 - 450g £2.20 - 500g £2.40 - 550g £2.60 - 600g £2.80 - 650g £3.00 - 700g £3.20 - 750g £3.40 - 800g £3.60 - 850g £3.80 - 900g £4.00 - 950g £4.20 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 20p |
2004 (1 Apr) |
64p - 100g 85p - 150g £1.06 - 200g £1.27 - 250g £1.48 - 300g £1.69 - 350g £1.90 - 400g £2.11 - 450g £2.32 - 500g £2.53 - 550g £2.74 - 600g £2.95 - 650g £3.16 - 700g £3.37 - 750g £3.58 - 800g £3.79 - 850g £4.00 - 900g £4.21 - 950g £4.42 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 21p |
2005 (7 Apr) |
67p - 100g 90p - 150g £1.13 - 200g £1.36 - 250g £1.59 - 300g £1.82 - 350g £2.05 - 400g £2.28 - 450g £2.51 - 500g £2.74 - 550g £2.97 - 600g £3.20 - 650g £3.43 - 700g £3.66 - 750g £3.89 - 800g £4.12 - 850g £4.35 - 900g £4.58 - 950g £4.81 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 23p |
2006 (3 Apr) |
71p - 100g 96p - 150g £1.20 - 200g £1.44 - 250g £1.68 - 300g £1.92 - 350g £2.16 - 400g £2.40 - 450g £2.64 - 500g £2.88 - 550g £3.12 - 600g £3.36 - 650g £3.60 - 700g £3.84 - 750g £4.08 - 800g £4.32 - 850g £4.56 - 900g £4.80 - 950g £5.04 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 24p |
2007 (2 Apr) |
77p - 100g £1.04 - 150g £1.30 - 200g £1.56 - 250g £1.82 - 300g £2.08 - 350g £2.34 - 400g £2.60 - 450g £2.86 - 500g £3.12 - 550g £3.38 - 600g £3.64 - 650g £3.90 - 700g £4.16 - 750g £4.42 - 800g £4.68 - 850g £4.94 - 900g £5.20 - 950g £5.46 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 26p |
2008 (7 Apr) |
81p - 100g £1.09 - 150g £1.37 - 200g £1.64 - 250g £1.91 - 300g £2.18 - 350g £2.46 - 400g £2.73 - 450g £3.00 - 500g £3.28 - 550g £3.55 - 600g £3.82 - 650g £4.10 - 700g £4.37 - 750g £4.64 - 800g £4.91 - 850g £5.19 - 900g £5.46 - 950g £5.73 - 1kg £6.01 - 1.05kg £6.28 - 1.1kg £6.55 - 1.15kg £6.83 - 1.2kg £7.10 - 1.25kg £7.37 - 1.3kg £7.64 - 1.35kg £7.92 - 1.4kg £8.19 - 1.45kg £8.46 - 1.5kg £8.74 - 1.55kg £9.01 - 1.6kg £9.27 - 1.65kg £9.53 - 1.7kg £9.79 - 1.75kg £10.05 - 1.8kg £10.31 - 1.85kg £10.57 - 1.9kg £10.83 - 1.95kg £11.09 - 2kg |
2009 (6 Apr) |
91p - 100g £1.22 - 150g £1.53 - 200g £1.84 - 250g £2.14 - 300g £2.44 - 350g £2.76 - 400g £3.06 - 450g £3.36 - 500g £3.67 - 550g £3.98 - 600g £4.28 - 650g £4.59 - 700g £4.89 - 750g £5.20 - 800g £5.50 - 850g £5.81 - 900g £6.12 - 950g £6.42 - 1kg £6.73 - 1.05kg £7.03 - 1.1kg £7.34 - 1.15kg £7.65 - 1.2kg £7.95 - 1.25kg £8.25 - 1.3kg £8.56 - 1.35kg £8.87 - 1.4kg £9.17 - 1.45kg £9.48 - 1.5kg £9.79 - 1.55kg £10.09 - 1.6kg £10.35 - 1.65kg £10.61 - 1.7kg £10.87 - 1.75kg £11.13 - 1.8kg £11.39 - 1.85kg £11.65 - 1.9kg £11.91 - 1.95kg £12.17 - 2kg |
2010 (6 Apr) |
£0.99 - 100g £1.32 - 150g £1.66 - 200g £2.00 - 250g £2.32 - 300g £2.65 - 350g £3.00 - 400g £3.33 - 450g £3.65 - 500g £3.99 - 550g £4.33 - 600g £4.65 - 650g £4.99 - 700g £5.32 - 750g £5.66 - 800g £5.98 - 850g £6.32 - 900g £6.66 - 950g £6.98 - 1kg £7.32 - 1.05kg £7.65 - 1.1kg £7.98 - 1.15kg £8.32 - 1.2kg £8.65 - 1.25kg £8.98 - 1.3kg £9.31 - 1.35kg £9.65 - 1.4kg £9.98 - 1.45kg £10.31 - 1.5kg £10.65 - 1.55kg £10.98 - 1.6kg £11.26 - 1.65kg £11.54 - 1.7kg £11.82 - 1.75kg £12.10 - 1.8kg £12.38 - 1.85kg £12.66 - 1.9kg £12.94 - 1.95kg £13.22 - 2kg |
2011 (4 Apr) |
£1.12 - 100g £1.50 - 150g £1.89 - 200g £2.28 - 250g £2.64 - 300g £3.02 - 350g £3.42 - 400g £3.79 - 450g £4.16 - 500g £4.50 - 550g £4.84 - 600g £5.18 - 650g £5.52 - 700g £5.86 - 750g £6.20 - 800g £6.54 - 850g £6.88 - 900g £7.22 - 950g £7.56 - 1kg Each addl. 50g up to 2kg - 34p |