Shipping Basics

Envelope, Package or Pallet: Which Do You Need?

These are the three real categories on Cargosender's own booking form — picking the right one before you start avoids an inaccurate quote.

Three Categories, Three Different Rule Sets

Cargosender's booking form asks you to choose between envelopes, packages and pallets before anything else, because each category has its own validation rules and pricing — this isn't a cosmetic label, it changes what the form will accept. Getting this choice right first avoids re-entering details halfway through.

The Three Categories, Compared

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CategoryWeight limitMinimum sizeDeclared valueWhat it's for
Envelope0.1kg – 2kgNo separate dimension checkNot requiredDocuments and flat, light paper items — see the documents shipping guides for the exact scope.
PackageNo fixed ceiling on the formSorted sides ≥ 15cm, 11cm, 1cmRequired, must be greater than €0Ordinary goods in a box — the large majority of what people ship.
PalletNo fixed ceiling on the formSorted sides ≥ 15cm, 11cm, 1cmOptional — no value or €0 is acceptedFreight-scale or palletised consignments — see the parcel or pallet guide for the decision.

Figures verified directly from the booking form's own validation logic, not general courier industry claims — an individual carrier or route can still apply its own separate limits at quote time.

Quick Self-Check

Only paper documents, no rigid packaging, and under 2kg? That's an envelope.
Goods in a box, however small, that don't fit the envelope's paper-only scope? That's a package.
Something the size of a pallet, or genuinely freight-scale? That's a pallet.
Not sure whether your item is parcel-scale or pallet-scale? See the parcel or pallet decision guide.

Common Mistakes

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Booking a slightly-over-2kg item as an envelope hoping it'll go through — the form's weight cap is a real validation limit, not a soft guideline.

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Entering €0 as a package's value — packages require a value greater than zero; only pallets accept no value or zero.

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Assuming a very small parcel is exempt from the minimum size rule — the sorted-side minimum (15cm/11cm/1cm) applies regardless of how light or small the item feels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the actual weight limit for an envelope?

2kg maximum, and 0.1kg minimum. This is a real, verified limit on the booking form's envelope category, not a rough guideline — a heavier item needs to be booked as a package instead.

Is there a minimum size for a package?

Yes — the three sides, sorted from largest to smallest, need to reach at least 15cm, 11cm and 1cm respectively. It doesn't matter which side you call length, width or height, only that the sorted measurements clear this floor.

Do pallets need a declared value?

No — unlike packages, which require a value greater than zero to book, the pallet category on the booking form accepts no value at all or a value of zero.

Know Your Category? Get a Quote

Pick envelope, package or pallet below and enter your real details.

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