Printing Documents at the UK Post Office: What You Need to Know

Ever wondered if you can drop a file at the post office and walk out with a fresh‑printed copy? In the UK, the answer is a solid yes - but only at the right branches and with a few caveats. This guide walks you through where to find the service, what you can print, how much it costs, and when a local copy shop might be a better bet.

How the Post Office printing service works

Post Office printing service is a digital document‑to‑paper offering available at selected Royal Mail post office branches across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It started in 2018 as a way to give customers a quick, reliable alternative to traditional print shops, especially in neighbourhoods without a dedicated copy centre.

When you walk into a participating branch, you’ll see a kiosk or a counter desk labeled “Print & Mail”. The kiosk lets you upload files from a USB stick, email, or cloud storage (e.g., OneDrive). If you prefer a human touch, staff can take your USB drive or printed PDF and run the job for you.

Which locations actually offer printing?

Not every post office has the gear. In Birmingham, the following branches are confirmed to have the service as of October 2025:

• Post Office - New Street (Victoria Square)
• Post Office - Selly Oak (Selly Oak Shopping Centre)
• Post Office - Aston (Aston Retail Park)
• Post Office - Digbeth (Digbeth Centre)

Outside Birmingham, you can locate a printing‑enabled branch using the Royal Mail branch finder. Just filter by “Print & Mail” under services.

What you can print

The service handles most everyday document types:

• Word, PDF, Excel, PowerPoint files (up to 50 pages per job)
• A4 and A5 sheets - the standard sizes for letters, reports, flyers
• Colour or black‑and‑white printing
• Simple binding: staple, comb‑bind, or plastic spiral
• Cover sheets for presentations (glossy or matte)

What you can’t do includes large‑format prints (A3+), custom die‑cut shapes, or high‑volume bulk jobs over 200 pages. Those are better suited for specialised print houses.

Pricing and payment options

Pricing follows a transparent per‑page model, similar to typical copy shops:

• Black‑and‑white A4: £0.08 per page
• Colour A4: £0.22 per page
• Binding (staple): £0.50 per document
• Comb‑bind (up to 25 pages): £1.00
• Spiral bind (up to 50 pages): £1.50

Payments can be made by cash, debit/credit card, or contactless Apple/Google Pay. If you’re a Royal Mail “Post Office Premiership” member, you can also use loyalty points to offset up to 20 % of the total cost.

Step‑by‑step: printing a document at the post office

1. Prepare your file: make sure it’s saved as PDF or a supported Microsoft Office format.
2. Visit a participating branch during opening hours (most are 9 am-5 pm, Monday‑Friday).
3. Approach the “Print & Mail” kiosk or ask the counter staff for assistance.
4. Insert your USB drive or select the cloud option on the touchscreen.
5. Choose paper size (A4/A5), colour mode, and any binding options.
6. Review the preview screen; the system will show the total cost.
7. Pay via your preferred method.
8. Collect the printed sheets from the output tray or the staff‑handed basket.

Typical turnaround is under five minutes for a 20‑page colour job - fast enough to fit into a coffee break.

Post Office vs. local copy shops: a quick comparison

If you need a quick print while running errands, the Post Office wins on convenience. For large batches, special finishes, or after‑hours work, a dedicated copy shop is usually cheaper and more flexible.

Tips to avoid common pitfalls

• Check file size limits. The kiosk caps uploads at 100 MB; larger PDFs should be split beforehand.
• Bring a backup USB or email the file to yourself - the kiosk sometimes balks on corrupted drives.
• Verify colour profiles. The Post Office uses CMYK conversion, which can shift bright reds to orange. Print a test page if colour fidelity is critical.
• Know the paper stock. Only standard 80 gsm A4 is stocked; if you need heavier card stock, ask the staff for alternatives (they may have limited letter‑weight options).
• Confirm binding before paying. Once the job is sent to the printer, staff can’t add binding retroactively without a new charge.

When to choose a local copy shop instead

Even though the Post Office is handy, there are scenarios where a specialist makes more sense:

• High‑volume projects: Over 200 pages, multiple colour copies, or multi‑colour covers.
• Custom finishes: Laminating, UV coating, die‑cut shapes, or large‑format (A3, A2) prints.
• After‑hours urgency: Many copy shops stay open late on weekends, while post offices close at 5 pm.

In those cases, use the nearby independent shops listed in the “Printing Services” category of this site - they often have promotional bundles for students and small businesses.

Quick checklist before you head out

• Confirm the branch offers the “Print & Mail” service (use the branch finder).
• Save your document as PDF and keep it under 100 MB.
• Bring payment method and, if possible, a loyalty card.
• Know your required paper size and binding option.
• Allocate 10‑15 minutes for the job, especially during lunch hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Armed with these details, you’ll know exactly when the Post Office can be your go‑to print shop and when it’s smarter to swing by a specialist. Happy printing!