International Shipping from UK — Compare Prices

International shipping prices from the UK

A 2kg parcel to France might cost £8 with one courier and £25 with another. The same parcel to the USA ranges from £15 to £55 depending on provider and speed. Here is a rough guide.

Indicative prices via comparison booking. Actual prices depend on exact destination, dimensions and weight.

Best couriers for international shipping

• DHL Express: The global leader. Fastest delivery times (1–3 days to most countries) but premium pricing. Best for urgent or valuable items.
• FedEx International: Strong US and Asian coverage. Competitive on heavier parcels. Good tracking.
• UPS Worldwide: Reliable with excellent business tools. Often cheapest for parcels over 5kg to North America.
• DPD Classic: Best value for European destinations. 2–5 day delivery across the EU from ~£7.
• Royal Mail International: Cheapest for small, light items. International Standard from £6.65. Slow but affordable.

Customs and duties: what you need to know

Since Brexit, all parcels from the UK to the EU require a customs declaration (CN22 or CN23 form). Most comparison sites generate this automatically when you book. For non-EU countries, customs declarations have always been required.

Import duties are paid by the recipient in the destination country. For EU parcels over €150, VAT and duty will apply. For the USA, items under 00 are duty-free. Check our customs guide for detailed information by country.

How to save on international shipping

1. Use a comparison site. DHL direct charges £45+ for a 2kg parcel to the USA. Through Parcelfire, the same DHL service is often £25–30.
2. Choose economy. A 5–10 day economy service can be 50–70% cheaper than express. If speed is not critical, always go economy.
3. Pack tightly. International couriers use volumetric weight aggressively. A smaller box can save £10+ on long-distance shipments.
4. Check prohibited items. Every country has different import restrictions. A parcel stopped at customs costs you money and time.
5. Declare values accurately. Under-declaring to avoid duties is illegal and can result in fines or confiscation.

Tracking international parcels

All major couriers offer end-to-end tracking for international parcels. DHL, FedEx and UPS provide real-time GPS tracking. Royal Mail International Tracked offers basic tracking with delivery confirmation. For untracked services (Royal Mail International Standard), you have no visibility once the parcel leaves the UK — avoid this for anything valuable.