Whether you are a triathlete travelling to a race, a student moving abroad, or a B2B bike shop fulfilling an international order, the question is the same: How do I send a bike without it getting damaged or costing a fortune? Shipping a bicycle is different from sending a standard parcel. Bikes are bulky, fragile, and high-value. If you just search for "send bike by post", you might find that standard postal services reject the size of the box. At ParcelParcel, we specialize in large and irregular shipments. This guide covers everything from finding the best bicycle shipping service to packing your ride like a pro.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
Yes, you can send a bike by courier, and it is often the most reliable method. Carriers like DHL, FedEx, and TNT have dedicated networks for large freight.
However, the price depends heavily on how you pack it. If you ship a bike fully assembled, the shipping bicycle cost will be astronomical due to the volume. To get the best bicycle shipping rates, you must disassemble and box the bike to reduce its size.
To ensure your bike survives the journey (and to lower the cost), follow these steps. You will need a sturdy cardboard bike box (often available at local bike shops) and plenty of bubble wrap.
Remove the Pedals: This is crucial. Pedals stick out and can puncture the box.
Remove the Front Wheel: Place it alongside the frame, with cardboard or foam separating the metal to prevent scratches.
Turn the Handlebars: Loosen the stem and rotate the handlebars parallel to the frame. If possible, remove them entirely and zip-tie them to the fork (wrapped in padding).
Protect the Derailleur: This is the most sensitive part. Wrap it in bubble wrap or cardboard.
Lower the Seat Post: Or remove it completely to reduce the height of the box.
Fill the Space: Use packing peanuts or foam to stop the bike from rattling inside the box.
Pro Tip: Never lock the box with personal padlocks if shipping internationally. Customs officers may need to open it. Use strong packing tape instead.
When you look up shipping bicycle cost, you might be surprised. This is because couriers charge based on Volumetric Weight, not just actual weight.
A bike might weigh only 12kg, but if it is in a huge box (e.g., 160cm x 20cm x 80cm), the carrier charges for the space it takes up on the plane.
Formula: (Length x Width x Height in cm) / 5000.
Example: A standard bike box might have a volumetric weight of 50kg+, even if the bike is light carbon fiber.
To get the best quote, measure your box accurately and use our shipping calculator to compare carriers instantly.
If you need to ship bicycle international (e.g., UK to Spain, or USA to France), you must consider customs.
Used Personal Effects: If you are moving and the bike is yours (used), you may be exempt from VAT/Duties in many countries, but you must declare it as "Personal Effects" on the commercial invoice.
Sales (B2B/B2C): If you are a shop selling a bike, the receiver will likely pay Import Duty and VAT.
Clean Your Bike: Countries like Australia and New Zealand have strict bio-security rules. If your tires have dried mud, customs will quarantine and clean the bike at your expense.
This is a critical safety issue. E-bikes contain Lithium-Ion batteries, which are classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) in air transport.
Most standard courier services do not accept fully regulated E-bikes from individuals.
The battery often needs to be removed or shipped via a specialized DG service. For more information: IATA Guidelines on Lithium Batteries
Do not attempt to hide the battery in the box; this is illegal and dangerous.
If you need to send my bicycle and it is electric, please contact our support team first to check which routes are available for dangerous goods.
With an Express service (like DHL Express or FedEx Priority), shipping from Europe or the USA to Nicaragua typically takes 2 to 4 business days. Economy services usually take between 5 to 8 business days.
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Nicaragua introduced a 5-digit postal code system (e.g., Managua 10000), but it is not widely used by the general population. While you should include it if known, the reference point and phone number are far more critical for successful delivery.
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The cheapest way is usually an Economy service booked through a consolidator like ParcelParcel. We compare rates from multiple carriers so you can select the option that fits your budget. Use our shipping calculator to see the current rates.
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Sending food is complicated. Non-perishable items may be allowed, but they often require sanitary permits from the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MINSA). We generally advise against sending food products unless you are a registered importer with the necessary permits.
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By default, shipments are sent DAP (Delivered At Place), meaning the receiver in Nicaragua is responsible for paying any import duties and taxes upon arrival. If you want to pay these costs as the sender, you must request a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) service before shipping.
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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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