Shipping to the UK, without the hassle
Compare top carriers in one overview, have your customs paperwork done automatically and ship at our negotiated rates. If you get stuck, our people help you out.
10% welcome discount on all your bookings for the first 4 weeks · for businessesFor individuals and businesses in the Netherlands and Belgium.
FedEx EconomyCheapest option See rate FedEx PriorityFastest option See rate 
UPS SaverExpress See rate 
DHL WorldwideExpress See rate You can compare and book without an account, also as an individual.
Calculate your shipping costs to the UK
Enter your shipment, compare the carriers side by side and have it picked up today.
Welcome discount · businesses only
10% off all your bookings for the first 4 weeks
No credit card, minimum volume or contract
What are you sending to the UK?
From documents to pallets. For each type of shipment you see the carriers that fit, with their delivery time.
Contracts, invoices and other papers. Sent express, with the delivery time the carrier gives for the UK.
Rate for documents →Choose between economy and express and see the expected delivery day for each carrier.
Rate for parcels →Heavier and larger freight to the UK, including the export documents.
Rate for pallets →How to send a parcel to the UK
Four steps, no account needed to compare.
Enter your shipment
Address, dimensions and weight. You don't need an account to see rates.
Compare and choose
All carriers side by side, with price, delivery time and terms.
Paperwork done for you
The label and customs invoice are created and sent digitally.
Your chosen carrier picks up
Pick-up at the address you choose. Track your shipment in your account.
What you need for a shipment to the UK
The UK is outside the EU, so your shipment needs customs papers. On our platform you create them in the same flow as your booking.
Shipping advice for the UK
The UK is outside the EU, so your shipment goes through customs. These four points help you avoid delays and unexpected charges.
Expect import duties and VAT
A shipment to the UK can be charged import duty and VAT. When you create your customs invoice, you always see an estimate of those costs, so you won't be surprised afterwards. Read more about import duties in the UK.
Calculate it now ↓
Describe your goods precisely
Use a detailed English description and the right HS code for each item. Words like ‘sample’ or ‘spare part’ are the most common cause of delays at customs.
Decide who pays the import costs
You choose whether you pay the import costs (DDP) or the recipient does (DAP). Agree this with your recipient in the UK beforehand. It prevents refused parcels and return costs.
Enter dimensions and weight accurately
Carriers measure again when they collect. If the dimensions or weight differ, you get an additional charge. Measure the box including packaging and round up.
Booking checklist
Got everything to hand? Then you can book in two minutes
- ✓The recipient's full address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓English description, value and HS code for each item
- ✓VAT or EORI number for business shipments
You book parcels to the UK directly online. Customs papers are created automatically and sent digitally to customs.
Good to know when you book
Postcode JE, GY or IM? Choose Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man
Jersey (postcodes starting with JE), Guernsey (GY) and the Isle of Man (IM) use British postcodes, but are not part of the United Kingdom. Choose the island as the country when you book.
What can you send to the UK?
The UK has its own rules on what may enter the country, and carriers have their own restrictions. This overview shows what usually goes fine, what needs extra papers and what is not allowed.
- Documents and contracts
- Art, with a full description
- Clothing and textiles
- Samples for customers and distributors
- Max. 2 kg of infant formula or medical diet food per person, in branded packaging and not needing refrigeration, with a doctor's statement; more requires a UK import licence
- Narcotics
- Horror comics
- Radio transmitters (walkie-talkies, CB radios, cordless phones) not approved for use in the UK
- Rice (of US origin, certificate of conformity required)
- Cartridges over 500 g as air cargo to, via or from the UK, unless from a known consignor with Department for Transport approved security
- Offensive weapons such as belt-buckle knives, throwing stars and martial arts equipment; pepper spray and similar sprays
- Asbestos
- Goods with a false indication of origin
- Goods that infringe a trademark
- Goods that infringe copyright
- Lottery material
- Goods made in prisons
- Counterfeit postage stamps, including dies and plates to make them
Show all 32
- Video transmitters; equipment that can broadcast video
- Eggs
- Straw
- Soil
- Experimental medicines
- Animal hair and wool
- All products containing the biocide dimethyl fumarate (DMF)
- Products containing meat or dairy, including whey protein, for personal consumption
- Shipments covered by CITES (the convention on international trade in endangered species)
- Mango, aubergine, Colocasia (patra leaves), bitter gourd and snake gourd plants from India
- Beet sprouts and radish sprouts
- Dried shelled pulses, whether or not skinned or split
- Fenugreek seed
- Pulses, shelled or unshelled, fresh or chilled
- Lucerne (alfalfa) seed
- Lucerne (alfalfa) sprouts
- Mustard seed, for sowing
- Other mustard seed
- Other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, whether or not broken
- Rocket sprouts
- Soya bean sprouts
- Soya beans, whether or not broken
- Sugar beet seed
- Vegetable seeds
The orange and red lists come from FedEx and apply to its economy service. An express service sometimes allows more; we check your shipment when you book.
Calculate your import duties ↓
- DescriptionDescriptions like ‘Parts’, ‘Gifts’, ‘Samples’ or ‘See invoice’ aren't specific enough. Describe in English what it is.
- GiftA gift can also be charged import duties and VAT. ‘Gift’ on the customs invoice doesn't guarantee an exemption.
- PO boxDelivery to a PO box isn't possible. Give a street address.
Sources: FedEx International Connect, Country/Region-Specific Prohibited and Restricted Items (as of 1 July 2023). That is FedEx's economy service; express often allows more. The checks at booking come from our own platform. ParcelParcel: prohibited and dangerous goods (in Dutch). Rules change; if in doubt, ask us before you book. More about customs in the UK (in Dutch).
All about the UK
Compare carriers, rates and delivery times to the UK.
Have a shipment collected in the UK and sent to the Netherlands.
Read more →Import dutiesImport duties UKWhat the recipient pays in import duties and VAT.
Read more →CustomsCustoms information UK (in Dutch)Rules, prohibited goods and the documents you need.
Read more →What shippers to the UK say
Frequently asked questions about shipping to the UK
How much does it cost to ship a parcel to the UK?+
The price of a parcel to the UK depends on weight, size, destination and the carrier you choose. The calculator shows all options side by side with the exact price for your shipment.
How long does a parcel to the UK take?+
With an express service from UPS, DHL or FedEx, a parcel to the UK (London, for example) usually arrives within 1 to 2 working days. An economy service takes a few working days longer. Since Brexit every shipment goes through UK customs; a complete customs invoice keeps your parcel from getting stuck there. The calculator shows the expected delivery day per carrier.
Which customs documents do I need?+
For the UK you need a customs invoice with an English description, the value and the HS code of each item. You create it on our platform; we send it digitally to the carrier and customs.
Who pays the import duties and VAT?+
You choose when you book: you as the sender (DDP) or the recipient (DAP). In the UK this means UK VAT and sometimes import duty. When you create your customs invoice, you see an estimate of those costs. Agree with your recipient beforehand who pays, so the parcel isn't refused.
Will my shipment be picked up from me?+
Yes, your shipment is picked up at your own address. If you book before the carrier's cut-off, the courier usually comes the same working day.
Is my shipment insured?+
Every shipment is covered by the carrier's standard liability. If you want the full value covered, choose our transport guarantee when you book.
How much customs charges do you pay on a parcel to the UK?+
Since Brexit, UK VAT (usually 20%) is due on almost every shipment with goods. Import duty only applies above a value of £135. A gift from one private person to another worth up to £39 is free of VAT. On top of that, the carrier often charges a clearance fee. Our import duties guide helps you estimate the costs beforehand.
Can I send a parcel to the UK as a private person?+
Yes. You don't need an account: enter your shipment, compare the carriers and book straight away. Because the UK is outside the EU, you create a customs invoice while booking, with an English description and the value of what you send. Sending a present? Choose ‘gift’ as the reason and enter the real value.
Can I send a parcel to the UK with DHL?+
Yes. The calculator shows DHL next to UPS, FedEx and the other carriers that deliver to the UK, with the price and expected delivery day for each option. So you see straight away whether DHL is the fastest or cheapest choice for your parcel. The courier collects the parcel from you.
What is the cheapest way to ship a parcel to the UK?+
Choose an economy service instead of express and pack your items as compactly as possible: for a large, light box carriers charge by volumetric weight. In the calculator you sort the options by price, so you see straight away which carrier is cheapest for your shipment.
Send your first shipment to the UK with a 10% welcome discount
Register your business account and use the discount on all your bookings for four weeks. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
- ✓10% discount on all your bookings
- ✓For four weeks, from the day you register
- ✓No credit card, minimum volume or contract
Shipping as an individual? You can compare and book without an account.
Sending a parcel to the UK with ParcelParcel is quick and simple. Through our partnerships with carriers such as FedEx and DHL, your parcel reaches its destination fast. You choose the carrier that suits your parcel, document or pallet best. Then you enter the recipient's address in the UK, pay, and you have your shipping label. The carrier collects your parcel and delivers it quickly. Besides good rates, we offer support and advice on exporting and importing. You can track your shipment 24/7 with the tracking code, and our support is always free. Want to save on shipping costs or have a question? Contact us.
Cost of shipping a parcel to the UK
When you send parcels, documents or pallets to the United Kingdom, ParcelParcel gives you a choice of shipping options. You want good service at a sharp rate. Our rate calculator shows the cost of shipping a parcel to the UK quickly: you get an overview of all rates straight away, so you see exactly what it costs. All you need is the size and weight of your parcel. With ParcelParcel you can save up to 70% on your shipping costs.
Exporting to or importing from the UK after Brexit
Sending goods to the United Kingdom and worried about Brexit? No need. ParcelParcel is fully prepared. The main changes for shipping to the UK are built into our shipping platform, so you automatically get the right customs papers when they're needed. You don't fill in forms yourself: you export to or import from the UK at the click of a button. What can you arrange yourself? Read our blog on exporting and importing after Brexit (in Dutch).
Send a parcel to the UK
You can send a parcel to the UK quickly and easily with ParcelParcel. Sharp rates, fast delivery and reliable tracking, for private and business shipments alike. Documents, parcels or pallets: with the right shipping partner, it all runs smoothly. Compare the options and start shipping.
Read more about sending a parcel from the UK to the Netherlands