Looking for a smart way to ship freight and save on costs? In this guide, you’ll learn how to compare shipping rates, reduce freight expenses, and choose the best transport option for your needs. With ParcelParcel’s platform, you can easily book shipments with top carriers like DHL, UPS, and FedEx — all in one place.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
At ParcelParcel, we’re all about making your shipping experience simple and stress-free. We work hand-in-hand with top carriers like DHL, UPS, FedEx, DSV, Skynet, and DPD so you can easily compare rates and services in one go. Our intuitive platform lets you book shipments directly with these trusted partners, ensuring you get competitive prices and solutions tailored just for you. Whether you're shipping across town or internationally, you can count on us to get your packages where they need to be.
Cost Efficiency: Access to negotiated rates with multiple carriers helps in reducing freight costs.
Convenience: Easily compare shipping options for over 250 destinations and book the best choice.
Comprehensive services: ParcelParcel offers both export and import services, handling customs documentation and providing tracking tools for real-time shipment monitoring.
Freight Forwarding Service | Direct Shipping | |
Cost Efficiency | ✅ Lower costs with bulk discounts | ❌ Higher rates |
Customs Handling | ✅ Experts manage paperwork | ❌ You handle it alone |
Tracking | ✅ Advanced tracking tools | ❌ Limited tracking options |
Risk Management | ✅ Insurance and security | ❌ Higher risk |
Freight costs can add up quickly, but with the right approach, you can optimize your shipping strategy and save money. At ParcelParcel, we help you find the most cost-effective solutions. Here’s how you can lower your freight costs and make smarter shipping decisions:
Use the Shipping Cost Calculator: By entering your shipment's weight, dimensions, and destination, you can instantly view available shipping options along with their respective delivery times and costs.
Optimize packaging: Ensure your packages are packed efficiently to avoid unnecessary weight and volume, which can increase costs. Here are some tips:
Choose the right box size: Use boxes that fit your items snugly to avoid wasted space.
Lightweight materials: Use lightweight but sturdy materials to reduce weight.
Remove excess packaging: Eliminate unnecessary layers that add weight.
Secure items properly: Use minimal cushioning material without compromising safety.
Use robust tape: Select a strong, durable tape for better protection during transit.
Label clearly: Ensure labels are visible and accurate for smooth transit.
Attach "fragile" stickers: Mark packages with "Fragile" stickers when they contain delicate items.
Drop test your package: Ensure the package can withstand a 1-meter drop to confirm it's adequately packed.
Note: Never skimp on the packaging of your parcel. The financial consequences of damage, especially to artwork, are always greater than the cost of proper packaging materials.
Consolidate shipments: Reduce expenses by combining multiple shipments into one. Bulk shipping allows you to save significantly by reducing per-unit costs. Learn more about our specialized International Batch Shipping services to streamline your logistics and reduce expenses. Additionally, our platform lets you view and manage all your shipments from various carriers in one convenient dashboard, streamlining logistics and improving oversight.
Select the appropriate service: Depending on urgency and budget, choose between express or economy services to balance speed and cost.
Ready to simplify your freight shipping and cut costs? With ParcelParcel, you get access to top carriers, competitive rates, and expert support every step of the way. If you need personalized advice, contact us today, we’re here to help!
You can instantly check shipping costs through ParcelParcel's shipping costs calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment to see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times.
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Yes, ParcelParcel assists you in creating customs invoices during the booking process, simplifying international shipping.
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Absolutely. All shipments booked through ParcelParcel are traceable, allowing you to monitor your package's status in real-time.
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ParcelParcel partners with renowned carriers like DHL, UPS, TNT, FedEx, DSV, Skynet, and DPD, giving you a wide range of options to suit your shipping needs.
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Yes, new users can enjoy a 10% discount on shipping costs using the code PP10 for their first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process.
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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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