International Shipping from London: Complete Guide 2026

Shipping a parcel abroad from London doesn't have to be complicated, but it's easy to overpay or get stuck at customs if you don't know what you're doing. This guide covers everything you need: choosing a carrier, filling out customs paperwork correctly, understanding what it'll actually cost, and avoiding the mistakes that hold parcels up at the border.

Postal & Courier Etc is based in Kentish Town and ships internationally every day through DHL, UPS, FedEx and Royal Mail. Whether you're sending a single parcel to family abroad or shipping regularly for a small business, we'll help you pick the right service and get the paperwork right the first time.

Choosing a carrier for international shipping

Each carrier has a different sweet spot. Here's how they generally compare for shipments leaving London:

Carrier	Best for	Typical transit time abroad

DHL Express	Fast, time-sensitive international shipments	1 to 3 business days to most major destinations

FedEx International Priority	Documents and parcels with tracking priority	1 to 3 business days

UPS Worldwide Saver	Reliable mid-range international service	2 to 4 business days

Royal Mail International Tracked	Lower-cost option for less urgent parcels	3 to 7 business days, longer to some regions

If you're shipping to the United States specifically, see our dedicated guide to sending a parcel to the USA for country-specific advice, including customs thresholds and the fastest routes.

If you're trying to decide between DHL, UPS and FedEx head to head, our carrier comparison guide breaks down pricing and speed for shipments to the USA in more detail.

Customs paperwork: what you actually need

This is where most first-time international shippers get tripped up. Any parcel leaving the UK for a non-EU destination needs a customs declaration attached.

CN22 is used for lower-value parcels, generally under £270. It's a short form covering the contents, value and purpose of the shipment (gift, sale, sample, return, and so on).

CN23 is required for higher-value shipments and needs more detail, including a full itemised list of contents with individual values.

Get this wrong, whether through a vague description like "gift" with no detail, or a mismatched declared value, and the parcel can sit in customs for days while it gets manually reviewed. We fill these out with you at the counter, so if you're not sure which form applies or how to describe your contents, just ask when you bring the parcel in.

HS codes. Some destinations, and some carriers, ask for a Harmonized System code, which classifies exactly what's in the parcel for customs purposes. We can look this up for you if your item needs one.

What determines the cost

International shipping isn't priced purely on weight. Four things drive the price:

Actual weight versus dimensional weight (also called volumetric weight). Carriers charge based on whichever is higher, so a large, light box can cost more than a small, heavy one. This catches a lot of people out when shipping bulky but light items like clothing or bedding.
Destination zone. Shipping to the US, Canada or Australia generally costs more than shipping within Europe.
Service speed. Express services cost more than economy or standard tracked services.
Declared value and insurance. Higher-value items may need additional insurance, which adds to the cost.

If you're not sure which service makes sense for your budget, bring the parcel in and we'll compare live rates across all three carrier networks rather than quoting off one option.

Duty and import tax at the destination

Duty and import tax are charged by the destination country, not by us or the carrier, and they vary a lot depending on where you're sending to and what's inside the parcel.

Most countries have a de minimis threshold, a value below which no duty is charged. Above that threshold, the recipient is usually responsible for paying duty and tax before the parcel is released to them, unless you've arranged to prepay it (some express services offer this as an option). It's worth telling the recipient a parcel is coming and roughly what it's worth, so they're not caught off guard by a customs bill.

Restricted and prohibited items

Every destination country has its own list of items that can't be shipped, or that need special permits. Common restrictions include:

Liquids over certain volumes, including cosmetics and perfumes
Batteries shipped on their own, separate from the device they power
Food items, particularly meat, dairy and fresh produce
Anything counterfeit or trademark-infringing
Certain electronics, depending on the destination

If you're shipping to the United States specifically, our USA shipping guide covers US customs restrictions in more detail, since these can differ from what's restricted elsewhere.

Tracking and insurance

All the carriers we work with, DHL, FedEx, UPS and Royal Mail's tracked international service, provide tracking as standard. Insurance coverage varies by service and by declared value, so if you're shipping something valuable, ask us about additional cover before you send it, not after.

How long does international shipping from London take?
It depends on the carrier and service level. Express services (DHL, FedEx) generally arrive in 1 to 3 business days for most major destinations. Standard tracked services can take anywhere from 3 to 7 business days or longer, depending on the country.
Do I need a customs form for every international parcel?
Yes, for any shipment leaving the UK to a non-EU destination. We'll help you fill out the correct form, CN22 or CN23, when you bring the parcel in.
Who pays the duty and import tax?
Usually the recipient, unless you've specifically arranged to prepay it through the carrier. It's worth letting the recipient know a parcel is on its way and roughly what it's worth.
What's the cheapest way to ship internationally from London?
It depends on the size, weight and destination of your parcel, and how quickly it needs to arrive. Royal Mail's tracked international service is usually the lowest cost option if you're not in a hurry. We'll compare rates across all our carriers for your specific shipment.
Can you help with the customs paperwork?
Yes. Bring your parcel in and we'll help you complete the correct customs declaration on the spot.