How to Send a Parcel from London to the USA: The Complete Guide

Choosing the right service for the USA

If you want a full head-to-head on price and speed between the three main couriers, see our DHL vs UPS vs FedEx comparison for shipping to the USA.

Postage or courier: which do you need?

Not everything sent to the USA needs a full courier booking. If you're sending a letter, card or a small, light packet, Royal Mail international postage is usually the cheapest and simplest option, you buy the correct stamp value at the counter and post it, no customs declaration needed for most letter-sized items.

If you're sending anything with real value, anything that needs tracking, or anything above small-packet size and weight limits, a courier service (DHL, FedEx, UPS or Royal Mail's tracked service) is the right choice. It costs more than a stamp, but you get tracking, a delivery timeframe you can rely on, and someone to chase if something goes wrong.

If you're not sure which category your item falls into, bring it in and we'll tell you honestly which is the better option, sometimes that means recommending the cheaper postage route rather than upselling you to a courier service you don't need.

Roughly what it costs

Exact pricing depends on the weight, size and service you choose, but as a rough guide for a shipment from London to the USA:

These are indicative ranges, not quotes, actual pricing depends on the exact weight, dimensions and destination state. Bring your parcel in and we'll give you an exact price across all carrier options before you commit to anything.

How fast can it actually arrive?

Be wary of any service promising next-day delivery to the USA, it isn't realistic for a standard international shipment. Even the fastest express options (DHL Express, FedEx International Priority) typically take 1 to 3 business days once customs clearance is factored in, and that's the genuine fastest tier available. Standard tracked services take longer, 5 to 7 business days is typical. If a deadline is tight, tell us when you bring the parcel in and we'll recommend whichever service gives it the best realistic chance of arriving in time, rather than promising something we can't deliver on.

Customs paperwork for the USA

Every parcel leaving the UK for the USA needs a customs declaration attached to the outside. Which form you need depends on the value of what's inside.

CN22 covers parcels valued under £270. It's a short form asking for a general description of the contents, their value, and the reason for sending (gift, sale, sample, return).

CN23 is required above that value and needs a fuller itemised breakdown, including the value of each individual item inside the parcel, not just a total.

US customs (CBP) can hold a parcel for manual review if the description is too vague, "gift" or "items" with no further detail is a common cause of delay, or if the declared value looks inconsistent with the described contents. Being specific and accurate on the form is the single biggest thing you can do to avoid your parcel getting stuck.

We fill these out with customers at the counter every day, so if you're not sure how to describe something or what value to declare, just ask when you bring the parcel in.

Duty and import tax when shipping to the USA

The USA has a de minimis threshold of $800. Parcels valued below that generally clear without the recipient owing duty. Above $800, the recipient may be charged import duty and tax before the parcel is released to them, and the exact rate depends on what the item is and its declared value.

It's worth telling whoever you're sending to that a parcel is on its way, roughly what it's worth, and that they may need to pay something on delivery if it's over the threshold, so there are no surprises at their end.

What determines the cost

USA shipments are priced on whichever is higher: actual weight or dimensional (volumetric) weight. A large but light box, like clothing or bedding, can end up costing more than a smaller, heavier item, because carriers charge based on the space the parcel takes up as well as what it weighs.

Beyond weight, the main things that affect price are:

• Service speed (express costs more than standard tracked)
• Declared value and whether you want additional insurance
• Which US state or region you're sending to, some remote areas carry a surcharge

Bring the parcel in and we'll weigh, measure and compare rates across all our carrier options rather than quoting off a single service.

Restricted and prohibited items for US customs

Some items either can't be sent to the USA at all or need extra documentation. Common ones to watch for:

• Liquids and aerosols above certain volumes
• Batteries shipped loose, separate from the device they power
• Food, particularly meat, dairy and fresh produce
• Certain plant material and seeds
• Counterfeit goods or anything infringing on trademarks

If you're unsure whether something can be sent, ask before you pack it, it's easier to check in advance than to deal with a parcel that's been held or returned.

Sending luggage or personal shopping to the USA

If you're trying to send excess luggage or shopping ahead of a flight rather than a standard parcel, that's a slightly different process with its own weight allowances and packing considerations. See our guide to shipping luggage from London to the USA for that specifically.

Packing tips for shipping to the USA

A few things worth checking before you seal the box, since these are the most common causes of damaged or delayed international parcels:

• Use a new or sturdy box rather than reusing a worn one, corners and seams are the first thing to fail on a long-haul shipment
• Wrap breakable items individually, not just cushioned together in one layer of padding
• Leave no empty space, fill gaps with paper or packing material so contents can't shift in transit
• Remove or cover old shipping labels and barcodes if you're reusing a box, mismatched barcodes are a common cause of scanning and routing errors
• Seal all seams with proper parcel tape, not regular sticky tape, which tends to fail over a multi-day journey

If you'd rather not deal with any of this yourself, we offer a full packing service, bring the item in loose and we'll box and seal it properly before it goes out.

Send your parcel to the USA

Postal & Courier Etc 58 Chetwynd Road, London NW5 1DJ Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Call 020 7267 3131 or email info@postalandcourieretc.com

Comparing carriers first? See our DHL vs UPS vs FedEx guide .Sending luggage instead of a parcel? Read our luggage shipping guide