Everything between deciding to send something and handing it over — in the order you actually need it.
Sending a parcel comes down to four things: work out how big and heavy it is, pack it so it survives the journey, book a carrier and print the label, then hand it over. Do those four in the right order and the process is genuinely straightforward. Do them out of order — booking before packing is the classic — and you end up paying for a parcel that no longer matches what you booked.
Two decisions shape everything else. The first is whether the parcel is staying inside the European Union or leaving it: within the EU there is no customs paperwork at all, and outside it there always is. The second is the chargeable weight, which is the greater of what your parcel actually weighs and how much space it occupies. Almost every unexpected charge traces back to one of those two.
The eight guides below walk through each stage in order. If you have sent parcels before and just want the price, skip straight to a quote — but if it is your first time, or the parcel is going somewhere new, working through them in sequence is the reliable route.
The whole process, before we break each stage down.
Pack the parcel first, then measure the sealed box and weigh it. You are charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, so both numbers matter and both must reflect the finished parcel — not the item inside it.
Choose a box that leaves about 5 cm of cushioning on every side, use double-wall cardboard for anything fragile or heavy, fill every void so nothing moves, and seal with proper packing tape using the H-method.
Enter both addresses, the dimensions and the weight, then compare what different carriers charge for the same job. Pay, download the label, print it at 100% scale and tape it flat to the largest face.
Either take it to a parcel shop or locker, which is usually cheaper, or book a collection and have a driver come to you, which is usually easier. Keep the receipt or check the driver's scan — that is your proof of handover.
Each guide covers one stage, in the order you will need it.
Get the dimensions and weight right before you book — this is the single biggest cause of surprise charges after a parcel is collected.
Read more →Check your contents against carrier and destination rules before you book — prohibited items are seized, not returned.
Read more →The box is not just a container — it is the difference between a parcel that arrives intact and a damage claim you cannot win.
Read more →What you need in front of you, what each field on the booking form actually means, and how to compare carriers properly before you pay.
Read more →The label is the only thing an automated sorting hub can read. Print it right, attach it right, and your parcel routes itself.
Read more →The last decision before your parcel enters the network — and the one that most often changes the price.
Read more →Address errors are the most common cause of delayed and returned parcels — and the easiest to avoid.
Read more →Required for every parcel leaving the EU. Vague descriptions and understated values are what get parcels held.
Read more →This single distinction changes more about your shipment than any other factor. Goods moving between EU member states travel in free circulation: no customs declaration, no import duty, no border formality, and the shortest list of restricted items you will deal with. Sending from Lisbon to Berlin involves no more paperwork than sending from Lisbon to Porto.
Once the parcel crosses the EU's external border, a customs declaration becomes mandatory. That means describing every item specifically, declaring its real value and stating where it was manufactured. It also means someone will pay import duty and VAT — by default the recipient, on arrival, before the parcel is released. The United Kingdom now sits on this side of the line, which still catches people out.
Practically, this affects how far ahead you should plan. An EU shipment moves on a predictable timetable. A non-EU shipment has a clearance stage in the middle whose duration is not fully within the carrier's control, so leave more room than you think you need when the delivery has a deadline attached.
The five factors that move a quote, in roughly the order they matter.
| Factor | How it affects your price |
|---|---|
| Chargeable weight | The greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 5000). Reducing box size is usually the fastest way to cut the price. |
| Distance and route | Domestic is cheapest, intra-EU next, and non-EU destinations more again. Carriers also differ significantly route by route — the cheapest to Spain is often not the cheapest to Sweden. |
| Speed of service | Economy road services cost less and take longer. Express air services cost more and arrive sooner. Pay for speed only when the date genuinely matters. |
| Drop-off vs collection | Drop-off is typically cheaper because the carrier saves a vehicle stop. Collection buys back your time. |
| Insurance and declared value | Standard carrier liability is limited. Additional cover is priced on declared value and must be added at booking, not afterwards. |
Measuring the item instead of the packed box, then being re-measured and re-charged at the depot.
Booking before packing, so the dimensions you paid for are not the dimensions that arrive.
Writing 'gift' or 'personal items' on a customs declaration instead of describing the contents specifically.
Understating the declared value, which caps your compensation at the figure you wrote.
Leaving empty space inside the box, allowing the contents to shift and break in transit.
Printing the label with 'fit to page' enabled, which rescales the barcode until scanners cannot read it.
Assuming the UK is still an EU destination and skipping customs paperwork.
Booking a drop-off rate and then waiting at home for a driver who was never coming.
Estimate a price from your dimensions, weight and route before you commit to a booking.
Read more →See how long a route typically takes, so you can work backwards from the date it needs to arrive.
Read more →Item-specific packing methods for fragile goods, electronics, clothing, liquids and heavy items.
Read more →Full prohibited and restricted item lists, broken down by category and by carrier.
Read more →Declarations, commercial invoices, duty and VAT for shipments leaving the EU.
Read more →Country-by-country rules, transit times and carrier coverage for international shipments.
Read more →Pack it first, then measure and weigh the sealed box. Compare quotes using those figures, book the service that fits your budget and deadline, print the label at 100% scale and tape it flat to the largest face. Then either drop it at a parcel shop or wait in for the collection you booked. The eight guides on this page cover each of those stages in order.
Usually an economy road service booked as a drop-off, in the smallest box the contents safely fit, with enough lead time that you are not paying for speed. Because carrier pricing varies sharply by route, comparing several carriers for your specific journey matters more than picking a carrier you already trust.
It depends on the route and the service level rather than on any single fixed figure. Domestic and short intra-EU routes on express services are quickest; economy road services across Europe take longer; and anything leaving the EU has a customs clearance stage whose duration is not fully predictable. Use the transit time calculator for your specific route.
Usually, but not always. Many carriers now offer label-free or print-at-drop-off services where you arrive with a QR code on your phone and the parcel shop prints the label for you. Check whether the service you are booking supports it, because not all do.
There is no single answer, because the price is built from chargeable weight, route, service speed, handover method and any insurance you add. The only reliable figure is a live quote for your actual parcel and your actual route — which is why comparing carriers on real dimensions beats working from a published table.
Yes. Choose a service that supports label-free drop-off, where the parcel shop or locker prints the label from a QR code on your phone. Alternatively, some carriers can bring a label with the collecting driver if requested at booking. What you cannot do is write the address by hand — routing depends on the barcode.
Cash, weapons, explosives, drugs, live animals and corrosives are prohibited universally. Lithium batteries, aerosols, perfume, alcohol, food and medicines are restricted rather than banned — they can travel on the right service with the right declaration. Destination rules add a further layer, so always check both.
Only for parcels leaving the European Union — which includes the United Kingdom. Shipments between EU member states move in free circulation and need no declaration at all.
One form, live rates from DHL, UPS, FedEx, DPD and GLS, and your label emailed the moment you book.
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