As an approved Royal Mail integrator and the easiest way for ecommerce brands to ship with Royal Mail, Zenstores integrates seamlessly with Royal Mail — the UK's most trusted postal service. Giving you access to a wide range of domestic and international shipping options for ecommerce fulfilment.
Whether you're sending a letter or a 20 kg parcel, and whether you're shipping within the UK or worldwide, this guide shows all Royal Mail services you can use inside Zenstores and what they mean.
- Understand What Royal Mail Offers
Royal Mail is the UK's national postal service, trusted by millions of businesses and consumers. With over 500 years of history and deliveries to more than 30 million addresses every week, Royal Mail offers reliable, trackable shipping solutions for ecommerce sellers — covering everything from lightweight letters to 20 kg parcels, and domestic UK delivery to worldwide destinations.
- Connect Your Royal Mail Account to Zenstores
As an approved Royal Mail integrator, Zenstores connects directly to your Royal Mail OBA (Online Business Account). Once connected, you can print compliant shipping labels from one dashboard, automate customs forms for international orders, batch print labels for dozens or hundreds of orders, save time with automated shipping rules, and automatically sync Royal Mail tracking data with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and all leading marketplaces.
- Choose a Domestic Service
Zenstores supports a comprehensive list of Royal Mail domestic services for UK-to-UK shipments. Key options include Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 (up to 30 kg), Royal Mail 24 and 48 Standard and Signed For (letters, large letters, and parcels), Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1PM or 9AM (with compensation levels up to £2,500), and 1st and 2nd Class Account Mail. Select the service that best matches your delivery speed requirements, parcel size, and compensation needs.
- Choose an International Service
For orders shipping outside the UK, Zenstores gives you access to a wide range of Royal Mail international services. These include International Tracked, International Tracked & Signed, International Signed, and untracked economy options — available for letters, large letters, and parcels up to 30 kg. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) variants are also available for key markets, helping to reduce customs delays and improve the customer experience.
- Set Up Tracked Returns
Zenstores supports Royal Mail Tracked Returns labels for both domestic and international shipments. You can generate Tracked Returns 24 (max 20 kg) and Tracked Returns 48 (max 20 kg) labels directly within Zenstores, making it easy to offer customers a convenient, trackable returns process without leaving your fulfilment dashboard.
- Enable Services Not Showing in Zenstores
If a Royal Mail service you need is not appearing in Zenstores, it may not yet be enabled on your Royal Mail OBA account. Contact the Royal Mail OBA helpdesk to request that specific services are activated on your account. Once enabled by Royal Mail, the service will become available to select within Zenstores.
- Generate Your Royal Mail Daily Manifest
At the end of each shipping day, you must generate and submit your Royal Mail daily manifest. This is a required step that confirms all shipments handed over to Royal Mail for that day. Zenstores makes it straightforward to produce your manifest directly from the dashboard, ensuring your account stays compliant and your parcels are processed correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship both domestically and internationally with Royal Mail in Zenstores?
Yes — Zenstores supports the full range of Royal Mail domestic and international services. You can ship to UK addresses using services like Tracked 24/48 and Special Delivery, and to worldwide destinations using International Tracked, Tracked & Signed, and economy options. Customs documentation for international orders can also be automated within Zenstores.
How do I enable Royal Mail services that aren't showing in Zenstores?
If a service isn't visible in Zenstores, it's likely not yet activated on your Royal Mail OBA account. Contact the Royal Mail OBA helpdesk directly to request that the service is enabled. Once Royal Mail activates it on your account, it will appear as an option within Zenstores.
What's the difference between Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Tracked 48?
Tracked 24 aims for next-day delivery within the UK, while Tracked 48 typically delivers within two business days. Both services include full end-to-end tracking and support parcels up to 30 kg. Tracked 24 is the better choice for time-sensitive orders, while Tracked 48 offers a more cost-effective option for standard fulfilment.
Does Zenstores support Royal Mail returns labels?
Yes — Zenstores supports Royal Mail Tracked Returns labels for both Tracked Returns 24 and Tracked Returns 48, with a maximum weight of 20 kg. You can generate and print returns labels directly from your Zenstores dashboard, making it easy to offer customers a convenient and trackable returns experience.
What is the maximum weight I can ship with Royal Mail via Zenstores?
The maximum weight depends on the service chosen. Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 support parcels up to 30 kg, while Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1PM supports up to 20 kg. International services vary by product, with most tracked international parcel services supporting up to 5 kg and heavy-weight international tracked services supporting up to 30 kg.
