Letter Plates

Aged Brass Small Letter Plate, from our current range.

What is a letter plate?

A letter plate is the fitting cut into a door to allow post to be delivered, made up of an outer plate, a flap, and usually an inner flap or cover on the room side. Letter plates are sized to suit the thickness of the door they are fitted to, and many ranges are offered in more than one size to fit both standard and heavier composite or timber doors.

Some letter plates are paired with a separate internal box or "tidy" to catch post rather than letting it fall to the floor, and draught-excluding brush seals are commonly fitted inside the flap to cut down on cold air coming through.

Where letter plates are used

• Front doors – the standard location for post delivery on most UK homes
• Composite and uPVC doors – these generally need a letter plate specifically sized for the door's thickness, which is often greater than a timber door
• Commercial premises – larger letter plates or dedicated mail slots are used on office and shop entrances

Choosing the right letter plate

A few practical points are worth checking before you buy:

• Door thickness – letter plates are sized to a specific thickness range, and getting this wrong is the most common fitting mistake
• Aperture size – check the letter plate's opening is large enough for standard post and any parcels you regularly receive
• Draught excluders – internal brush seals help reduce draughts through the letter plate, worth considering on external doors
• Finish – see our Hardware Finishes Guide to match your door knocker and handle

Related products

Browse our current range of Letter Plates & Covers, or see the related categories in our Door Furniture Guide, including Door Knockers.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what size letter plate I need?

Measure the thickness of your door and check this against the letter plate's stated thickness range before ordering. Composite and uPVC doors often need a letter plate sized for a thicker door than a standard timber door.

Do I need an internal cover or tidy?

This is optional, but a cover reduces draughts and noise, and a letter box or tidy stops post falling straight to the floor, which is useful if no one is home to collect it during the day.

Can I fit a letter plate to a fire door?

Letter plates for fire doors need to be tested and certified as part of that fire door's specification. If your door is fire-rated, check the letter plate is approved for that use before fitting.

Back to the Door Furniture Guide, or explore the full Knowledge Centre.