When people search for container shipping, they often think of large-scale cargo and international trade. But for most businesses and individuals, booking a full container is unnecessary and too expensive. What you really need is a smart, flexible alternative. That’s where ParcelParcel comes in. While we don’t provide full container shipping, we specialize in pallet shipping and international parcel delivery—the perfect solution when your goods are too large for regular parcels but don’t require an entire container.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
Container shipping is designed for massive loads, often used by importers and exporters moving bulk products overseas. If you’re an SME, online seller, or private sender, a full container might be far more than you need.
Instead of paying thousands for unused container space, ParcelParcel helps you ship pallets or large boxes internationally. With our international shipping calculator, you can compare DHL, UPS, and FedEx rates instantly and book the service that fits your exact needs.
At ParcelParcel, pallet shipping is the closest equivalent to container shipping for small and medium-sized businesses. Pallets allow you to send bulky, heavy, or multiple items in a secure and cost-effective way.
Benefits of pallet shipping with ParcelParcel:
Lower costs compared to container shipping.
Door-to-door delivery by trusted couriers like DHL, FedEx, UPS.
Fast transit times, without waiting for sea freight consolidation.
Simplified customs clearance with our customs tool.
This makes pallet shipping ideal for businesses shipping goods abroad without the complexity of container logistics.
Not everything requires a pallet. If you’re shipping smaller goods, ParcelParcel offers solutions for boxes for shipping. Choosing the right packaging protects your items, reduces dimensional weight costs, and ensures faster delivery.
Whether it’s documents, electronics, or personal goods, our couriers deliver securely worldwide.
When searching for container sizes shipping, most people are thinking of 20ft or 40ft ocean freight containers. But for SMEs, the real question is: which pallet size should I use?
Common pallet sizes for international shipping:
Euro pallet (120 x 80 cm) – widely accepted in Europe.
Standard pallet (120 x 100 cm) – used internationally.
Half pallets – for smaller shipments.
ParcelParcel helps you choose the right pallet size, prepare documents, and book the courier that best matches your shipment.
If you’re searching for shipping services near me, you don’t need to go far. With ParcelParcel, everything is online. You can:
Get instant quotes.
Compare couriers.
Schedule pickup at your door.
This saves you time and eliminates the need to visit local courier shops or freight offices.
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One of the biggest frustrations with international shipping is lack of clarity. With ParcelParcel, you get complete shipping information upfront: prices, transit times, courier options, and customs requirements.
Our platform puts you in control, ensuring you never face unexpected costs or delays.
Businesses choose ParcelParcel because we provide:
Pallet shipping as a cost-effective alternative to containers.
Worldwide delivery through DHL, FedEx, UPS.
Smart customs documentation tools.
Transparent prices and full visibility.
Personal customer support when you need it.
Container shipping uses large ocean freight containers for bulk cargo, while pallet shipping is a faster, more flexible option for smaller loads. ParcelParcel offers pallet shipping as the best alternative.
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Pallet shipping is much cheaper. While a container can cost thousands, pallets can be shipped internationally starting from a few hundred euros. Use our shipping calculator for exact rates.
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Common sizes are Euro pallets (120x80 cm) and standard pallets (120x100 cm). ParcelParcel helps you choose the right size for your goods.
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Yes, you can book online from anywhere. Our couriers pick up directly from your location, saving you time and effort.
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You can ship machinery, furniture, retail goods, and bulky boxes. Hazardous goods or restricted items require special approval.
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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.
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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.
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