How to stop junk mail in the UK: every free opt-out compared
Junk mail in the UK comes from three different routes, and each has its own free off switch. Use all three, then remove your address from the lists that feed them.
- Addressed marketing post: register with the Mail Preference Service (free).
- Unaddressed leaflets delivered by Royal Mail: email [email protected] (lasts two years).
- Mail "to the occupier" and from other leaflet companies: register with the Your Choice preference scheme, and put a "no junk mail" sign on your door.
What each opt-out stops
| Opt-out | Stops | Doesn't stop | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mail Preference Service | Addressed marketing from companies that screen against it | Firms you're a customer of; leaflets | Indefinitely (up to 4 months to take full effect) |
| Royal Mail Door to Door opt-out | Unaddressed leaflets Royal Mail delivers | Other distributors; addressed mail | 2 years |
| Your Choice scheme | Unaddressed mail from member distributors | Non-members | Check with the scheme |
| Open register opt-out | Your address in newly sold copies of the register | Copies already sold | Until you opt back in |
| Objection to brokers (UK GDPR) | That company using or selling your data for marketing | Companies you haven't contacted | Permanent; they must suppress you |
Turn off the source
Preference services filter mail at the sending end; they don't remove your address from the lists. To shrink the lists themselves:
- Opt out of the open register.
- Object to marketing use by the credit reference agencies' marketing businesses.
- Write to each company that mails you: object to direct marketing and ask them to erase your data. Under UK GDPR they must stop marketing to you.
- Ask list brokers and data compilers to erase your data. There are hundreds, which is why removal services exist.
Junk email
For email, use the unsubscribe link only from companies you recognise; for anything suspicious, mark it as spam instead so you don't confirm your address is live.
Questions people ask
Can you stop junk mail being delivered in the UK?
Mostly, yes. The Mail Preference Service stops addressed marketing from companies that use it, Royal Mail's Door to Door opt-out stops unaddressed leaflets it delivers, and objecting to brokers stops your address being sold on.
How long does the Mail Preference Service take to work?
Registration is free and starts working within weeks, but it can take up to four months for mailings already planned to stop.
How do I stop Royal Mail delivering leaflets?
Email [email protected] with your name and address to opt out of Royal Mail's Door to Door service. It lasts two years, then you renew. It does not stop leaflets delivered by other companies or mail addressed to you.
Why am I suddenly getting so much junk mail?
Often because a company you bought from or entered a competition with shared your details, or your address was bought from the open electoral register or a list broker.
Is unsolicited mail illegal in the UK?
Addressed marketing post is legal, but companies need a lawful basis to use your data and must stop if you object. Your objection to direct marketing is absolute under UK GDPR.
Want this done for you? Ceaselist sends erasure requests to 668 data brokers as your authorised agent, chases the legal deadlines and prepares an ICO complaint when a broker ignores the law. £29 a year or £3.99 a month, full refund within 30 days.
Start with Ceaselist Free do-it-yourself packThis guide is general information, not legal advice. Prices and processes for other services were taken from their public websites and reviews in October 2026 and can change; check before you buy. Ceaselist is our own service, so we have an interest: we have tried to be fair, including about where we fall short.