Preparing Your Franked Mail The Right Way

To prepare franked mail the right way, do a test print to check your ink and impression, double-check the price, time and date, postmark Mailmark mail with the date it is posted, include a return address, frank onto a white background, and place the impression cleanly in the top right-hand corner. Following these steps avoids delays and surcharges.

Royal Mail makes it fairly straightforward to prepare and send franked mail, but we do occasionally get asked how to do it properly. Below are some useful checkpoints to help everything run smoothly in your mailroom.

Things to check when preparing your franked mail

Do a test print

Before you start franking, do a test print by setting your franking machine to GBP 0.00. This confirms you have enough franking ink for the job and that the impression is legible. An illegible mark can cause delivery delays or a surcharge.

Double-check the details

Before franking, double-check the price, time and date.

Postmark Mailmark with the posting date

As part of Royal Mail’s presentation requirements, a Mailmark impression must be postmarked with the date the mail is posted or collected. To frank mail for the following day or week, set the date forward on your franking machine and frank in advance.

Frank a return address

Some mail will be undeliverable, so always include a return address – either as part of the franking impression or on the back of the envelope.

Frank Mailmark on white

A Mailmark impression must always be franked on a white background, per Royal Mail’s requirements. To send a coloured envelope, use a franking label.

Frank in the top right corner

As well as being clean and clear, the franking impression must be in the top right-hand corner of the mail piece.

If you are interested in getting a franking machine or upgrading to a Mailmark franking machine with even lower prices available, view our franking machine page or call us today on 01543 572 776.

Mailcoms is a Royal Mail Authorised Independent Inspector & Maintainer of franking machines since 2008, with over 40,000 customers serviced and supplied and our own range of models.

Preparing franked mail FAQs

Why should I do a test print before franking?

Setting the machine to GBP 0.00 for a test print confirms you have enough ink and that the impression is legible, helping avoid delivery delays and surcharges.

Does Mailmark mail need to show the posting date?

Yes. A Mailmark impression must be postmarked with the date the mail is posted or collected. To send later, set the date forward and frank in advance.

Can I frank a Mailmark impression on a coloured envelope?

No. Mailmark must be franked on a white background, so use a franking label on coloured envelopes.