We have all been there: standing at the airport check-in desk, sweating as the airline staff tells you your bag is 3kg overweight and it will cost you a fortune. With airline baggage fees skyrocketing, more travelers are choosing to send luggage ahead via courier. Whether you are a student moving overseas, an expat relocating, or simply going on a long vacation, using a ship luggage service is often cheaper and more convenient than dragging heavy bags through terminals. At ParcelParcel, we make sending luggage simple. This guide explains how to bypass the airport hassle and ship your bags door-to-door.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
The main reason to send luggage overseas is cost.
Airlines: Charge per checked bag (often €50-€100) and punish you severely for excess weight (up to €20/kg).
Couriers: Offer competitive rates for heavier weights (20kg+).
Beyond cost, when you send luggage internationally with a courier, you can travel "hands-free." No waiting at the baggage carousel and no hauling bags onto trains or taxis.
If you are wondering how to send luggage safely, you need to understand how couriers operate. Unlike airport baggage handlers, automated sorting hubs use conveyor belts that can rip straps and handles.
Can I ship a bare suitcase? Technically, yes, but we do not recommend it.
Labels fall off: Shipping labels stick poorly to fabric or textured hard-shell suitcases. If the label falls off, your bag becomes lost.
Damage: Wheels and handles can snap on conveyor belts.
The Solution: If you want to send luggage, the safest method is to put your suitcase inside a cardboard box. If you must ship the suitcase as is:
Wrap the handle securely with tape where the label goes.
Use "shrink wrap" (plastic film) around the entire suitcase to protect it from scratches and give the label a smooth surface to stick to.
When you send luggage internationally (outside the EU), customs authorities need to know what is inside.
To avoid paying Import Duty and VAT on your own used clothes, you must declare the shipment as "Personal Effects".
On the Invoice: List items as "Used Personal Clothing," "Used Books," etc.
Value: Assign a realistic but depreciated value (since they are used goods).
Conditions: Most countries require you to have owned the items for at least 6 months to qualify for tax-free entry.
Warning: Do not pack restricted items like aerosols (deodorant sprays), power banks (lithium batteries), or alcohol in your unaccompanied baggage. These will cause the shipment to be returned.
Weigh and Measure: Measure your suitcase (or box). Remember to include wheels and handles in the dimensions.TSA Guidelines on What Can Be Shipped
Get a Quote: Use the ParcelParcel shipping calculator to compare rates from DHL, FedEx, and TNT.
Book the Pickup: The driver will come to your home, office, or hotel.
Attach Labels: Print your shipping labels and attach them securely.
Travel light on your next trip. Skip the check-in queues and let us handle the heavy lifting. Get a quote to send your luggage today.
No. Do not use personal padlocks or combination locks. Customs officers may need to inspect the contents. If it is locked, they may break the lock or damage the bag to open it. Use plastic zip ties instead—they keep the zipper closed but are easily cut by security if needed.
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If you have one standard bag, the airline is usually cheaper. However, if you have excess baggage, heavy equipment (skis, golf clubs), or multiple suitcases, a ship luggage service is almost always cheaper than airline excess fees.
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It depends on the service. Express shipping can get your luggage from Europe to the USA in 2-3 days. Economy services (cheaper) may take 5-7 days. Always plan to ship your bags a few days before you fly.
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No, the courier driver does not bring packaging. You must have your luggage packed (preferably in a box or shrink-wrapped) and labeled before the driver arrives.
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If you ship luggage service containing loose lithium batteries (power banks), the shipment will likely be stopped at the airport sorting facility. It may be returned to you or the batteries may be removed and destroyed. Always carry batteries in your carry-on bag on the plane, never ship them.
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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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