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Next Day Parcel Delivery UK — Compare Prices

I have used next-day delivery from almost every UK courier. DPD is the most reliable, but Parcelforce is often cheaper if you book through a broker. Here is how to compare them all and get the best deal.

Find the cheapest next-day delivery

Enter your parcel details and compare next-day prices from all major UK couriers.

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Next-day courier prices compared

Next-day delivery does not have to cost a fortune. Through comparison booking, prices start from around £4.89 for a standard parcel. Here is how the main couriers stack up.

Courier1kg parcel5kg parcel15kg parcelCut-off time
DPD Next Day£4.89£6.50£9.99Collection by 4pm
Parcelforce Express 24£5.99£9.45£14.50Collection by 5pm
Royal Mail Tracked 24£5.15£9.50£19.95Post by last collection
UPS Express£6.99£10.50£15.99Collection by 5pm
FedEx UK Next Day£7.50£11.25£16.80Collection by 4:30pm

Prices via comparison booking. Direct courier prices are typically 30–50% higher.

What counts as next day?

Most next-day services deliver by end of the following working day (typically before 6pm). For guaranteed morning delivery, you need a premium option:

  • By 9am: Royal Mail Special Delivery 9am, DPD 10:30 (earliest widely available option), UPS Express Plus.
  • By 12pm: DPD Next Day by 12, Parcelforce Express AM, UPS Express.
  • By 6pm: Standard next-day services from all couriers. The cheapest option.

Saturday delivery is available with most couriers for an extra £2–5. Sunday delivery is only offered by DPD and Amazon Logistics.

How to get the cheapest next-day price

  1. Book through a comparison site. DPD next-day direct costs ~£8.50 for a 1kg parcel. Through Parcelfire, the same service is ~£4.89.
  2. Choose drop-off over collection. Dropping your parcel at a DPD Pickup shop saves £1–2 compared to home collection.
  3. Book by 2pm. Most couriers need to collect your parcel by 4–5pm for next-day delivery. Book early to ensure a collection slot.
  4. Check the weight brackets. A 2.1kg parcel might cost £3 more than a 1.9kg parcel. Repack if you are close to a weight boundary.

Which next-day courier is most reliable?

DPD leads the industry with 97%+ next-day success rates, one-hour delivery windows, and real-time GPS tracking. Parcelforce is close behind, benefiting from the Royal Mail network. UPS and FedEx are excellent for business parcels but less cost-effective for personal use.

Royal Mail Tracked 24 is technically “aims for next day” rather than guaranteed, meaning weekend and bank holiday delays are more common. If the item absolutely must arrive tomorrow, choose DPD or Parcelforce.

Get it there tomorrow

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Compare Courier Prices — From £2.24