Send Luggage & Shopping
from the UK to the USA
Bought too much to carry home? We pack, label and ship your suitcases, gifts and holiday shopping door-to-door to any US address via DHL, UPS and FedEx. Walk in with your bags — we do the rest.
Who Uses Our UK to USA Shipping Service?
Whether you're a tourist heading home with too much shopping, a student finishing a UK year abroad, or someone sending gifts to family in the States — we make it simple.
Tourists & Holiday Shoppers
Visiting London and bought more than fits in your suitcase? We ship your Harrods bags, Oxford Street shopping and souvenirs directly to your US home — arrives before you do.
Most popularTravellers With Excess Baggage
Avoid expensive airline excess baggage fees. Shipping a 20kg suitcase with us costs less than most airlines charge for one extra bag — and it goes door to door.
Save moneyGift Senders
Sending birthday presents, Christmas gifts or special occasion parcels to family or friends in the USA? We pack them beautifully and ship fast with full tracking.
Gifts & parcelsStudents Returning Home
End of term and too much to carry? We ship boxes of belongings, books and personal items from London to any US university town or home address.
StudentsExpats & Relocating Families
Moving back to the USA from London? We ship personal effects, household items and excess belongings via air freight. Fast, tracked, insured.
RelocationBusiness Travellers
Attending a UK conference and need to ship samples, equipment or trade show materials to the USA? We handle commercial shipments with all the right documentation.
BusinessHow to Send Your Luggage or Shopping from London to the USA
Bring It In
Walk into our Kentish Town store with your suitcase, bags or shopping. No appointment needed. Open Mon–Fri 10am–5pm.
We Weigh & Quote
We weigh everything and give you an instant price. We compare DHL, UPS and FedEx to find the best rate for your deadline and budget.
We Pack & Label
We professionally box or wrap your items, create your shipping label and fill in your US customs declaration — no forms for you to worry about.
Track Door to Door
Receive your tracking number instantly. Your luggage or shopping is collected same day and tracked all the way to your US door.
How Much Does It Cost to Send Luggage from the UK to the USA?
Prices depend on weight, dimensions and how fast you need it. Here are typical price ranges — visit us or call for an exact quote. All prices include door-to-door delivery and full tracking.
Small Parcel / Gifts
Under 5kg — books, clothes, souvenirs
Ideal for gifts, clothing, books and souvenirs. We provide a box if needed.
Suitcase / Holiday Shopping
5–20kg — typical suitcase or shopping bags
Typically cheaper than airline excess baggage fees of £50–£150 per bag.
Multiple Bags / Large Shop
20kg+ — multiple suitcases or large haul
Volume discounts available. Call us for a bespoke quote on large shipments.
What You Can & Cannot Send to the USA
Most personal effects, clothing, gifts and shopping items can be shipped freely. A small number of items are restricted by US Customs — our staff will advise you in store.
You can send these ✓
- Suitcases, bags and holdalls
- Clothing, shoes and accessories
- Designer and luxury goods
- Gifts and souvenirs
- Books, documents and stationery
- Electronics (laptops, phones, tablets)
- Cosmetics and personal care (non-aerosol)
- Food items (sealed, non-perishable)
- Toys and games
- Artwork and prints (framed or rolled)
- Sports equipment
- Musical instruments
Cannot be sent ✗
- Aerosols and pressurised containers
- Lithium batteries (standalone, not in devices)
- Fresh or perishable food
- Liquids over 1 litre (perfume etc.)
- Counterfeit goods
- Firearms and ammunition
- Controlled substances
- Live plants and seeds
- Currency over $10,000 declared value
- Hazardous materials
US Customs — What You Need to Know
Many visitors worry about customs. It's simpler than you think — especially for personal shopping and gifts. Here's what matters.
The $800 De Minimis Rule
$800US Customs allows imports with a declared value under $800 to enter duty-free. This means most tourist shopping shipments — clothing, accessories, gifts — arrive with no customs charges payable. If your total exceeds $800, standard US import duty applies (typically 4–7% on clothing and goods).
Personal Effects & Luggage
Duty-freeIf you are sending your own suitcase or personal belongings home, these are classified as personal effects and are generally duty-free regardless of value, as long as they are your own used items — not commercial goods for resale. Our staff will help you fill in the customs declaration correctly.
Gifts to US Friends & Family
$100 limitGifts addressed to a recipient in the USA are duty-free up to $100 per person per day. For gifts above this value, the recipient may be asked to pay import duty. We recommend declaring items accurately and keeping receipts — our staff will guide you through this process in store.
We Handle Your Paperwork
IncludedWe prepare your US customs declaration (CN22 or CN23 form), commercial invoice if required, and ensure your shipment is correctly categorised for smooth US customs clearance. This service is included in every shipment — no extra charge and no forms for you to fill in yourself.
We Ship to Every State Across the USA
From New York to Los Angeles, Florida to Chicago — we ship to all 50 US states and territories. Here are our most popular routes from London:
Why Visitors Choose Postal & Courier Etc for UK to USA Shipping
No UK Address Required
You don't need a UK bank account, address or account with us. Walk in with your passport, your items and your US delivery address and we'll handle everything. We're used to helping tourists and visitors.
We Handle All the Paperwork
US customs forms, commercial invoices, CN22 declarations — we prepare every document for you in store. No confusing forms to fill in. No risk of your parcel being held at US customs due to incorrect paperwork.
Cheaper Than Airline Excess Baggage
Most airlines charge £50–£150 for an extra bag. We often ship a suitcase to the USA for less, door to door with full tracking. You travel lighter and your luggage arrives at your US address, not the carousel.
Professional Packing Included
Not sure how to pack your shopping to survive the journey? We box and wrap everything correctly — including fragile, luxury and designer items — using proper packing materials. Your items arrive as they left.
Hotel Collection Available
Too much to carry to our store? We collect from hotels, Airbnbs and apartments across London. Contact us to arrange a pickup and we'll come to you before you head to the airport.
Same Day Despatch
Leaving London today or tomorrow? Bring your items before 3pm on any weekday and we'll despatch the same day. DHL Express to New York can arrive the next business day.
6 Tips for Sending Your UK Shopping Back to the USA
Keep all your receipts
US Customs may ask for proof of value. Keep receipts from Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and other shops — our staff will use these to fill in your customs form correctly.
Remove price tags if gifts
If you're sending gifts to family, remove price tags before dropping off. Items declared as gifts attract a higher duty-free threshold than commercial goods.
Ship before your last day
Don't leave it until the morning of your flight. Visit us at least one day before you leave London so there's no rush and your items are already on their way.
Claim your UK VAT refund first
As a non-UK resident, you may be entitled to a VAT refund on purchases made in the UK. Ask shops for a VAT refund form (Tax Free Shopping) before you bring items to us.
Bring your US delivery address
Make sure you have the full US delivery address including ZIP code and recipient phone number — US couriers require a phone number for final delivery.
Consider insurance for luxury items
Shipping designer bags, jewellery or high-value electronics? Ask us about enhanced shipping insurance. We can cover items for their full declared value for a small additional fee.
Send Luggage from UK to USA — Your Complete Guide from London
If you're visiting London and need to send luggage from the UK to the USA, Postal & Courier Etc at 58 Chetwynd Road, Kentish Town NW5 1DJ is the easiest solution. We are an authorised DHL, UPS and FedEx shipping centre serving tourists, visitors and residents since 2006. Every week we help American visitors ship their suitcases, holiday shopping and gifts back home — all handled in one visit to our North London store.
How to Ship a Suitcase from the UK to the USA
Shipping a suitcase from the UK to the USA is simpler than most people think. Bring your suitcase to our store, we weigh it, give you an instant quote and despatch it the same day. A typical 20kg suitcase costs from £55–£80 depending on the service — often less than airline excess baggage fees. Via DHL Express Worldwide, your suitcase arrives at your US home in 1–2 business days.
Send Your Shopping Home from London to the USA
London is one of the world's great shopping destinations — Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty of London, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, Portobello Road. Many American visitors buy far more than they can fit in their luggage. Rather than paying expensive excess baggage fees or leaving purchases behind, simply bring your shopping to our Kentish Town store and we'll ship it directly to your US home via DHL or UPS. It's one of our most popular tourist services.
Post Luggage Home After a UK Trip
Visiting the UK for a few weeks and accumulated more than you arrived with? Our post luggage home after UK trip service is used by thousands of American visitors every year. Drop your bags with us before heading to the airport — you fly home with just your hand luggage and your belongings arrive at your US address 1–2 days later. It's less stressful, often cheaper, and means no queuing at the airline baggage check-in.
Courier Service for Tourists in the UK to the USA
As a tourist visiting the UK, you don't need a UK address, a UK bank account or a UK courier account to use our service. Bring your passport and your items, pay by card, and we handle everything. Our staff are experienced in helping international visitors and will advise you clearly on customs rules, the fastest service for your departure date, and the best way to pack your items.
UK to USA Baggage Shipping — Is It Worth It?
Comparing the cost of our UK to USA baggage shipping service against airline excess baggage fees makes the answer clear. Most major airlines charge £50–£150 for an additional checked bag. British Airways charges up to £100 for a bag on transatlantic routes. American Airlines and Delta charge similar rates. Our service ships the same bag door-to-door from London to your US home from £45 — and it goes directly to your house, not an airport carousel that you then have to carry to a taxi.
Ship Gifts from the UK to the USA
Whether you're sending birthday presents, Christmas gifts or special occasion parcels to family or friends in the United States, we make it easy. We package your gifts securely, fill in the customs declaration, and despatch via DHL or UPS for delivery in 1–3 days. Most gifts under $100 in value enter the USA duty-free, and we'll guide you on declaring items correctly to avoid any issues at US customs.
