Sending a Parcel with Royal Mail: A Comprehensive Breakdown of Costs

When it comes to sending parcels, Royal Mail offers a range of services that cater to both domestic and international shipping needs. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know about sending parcels with Royal Mail.

Domestic Shipping within the UK

For domestic shipping within the UK, Royal Mail offers services like Medium Parcels (0-1kg) with prices that have recently increased under programs like eBay UK Simple Delivery. For example, prices went from around £3.64 to £5.15 for parcels under £100 value, and up to £6.16 for parcels over £100 as of September 2025. Domestic services include options such as Tracked 24 and Tracked 48, which offer different delivery timeframes and tracking capabilities.

International Shipping

For international shipping, prices are generally higher due to added customs requirements and duties. Royal Mail has introduced changes such as a Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) service for shipments to the USA, meaning senders may need to calculate and collect duties at the point of sale, increasing complexity and costs. International services also provide tracking but involve additional tariffs and regulatory costs, especially since the removal of some duty-free exemptions.

| Aspect | Domestic Shipping | International Shipping | |-----------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Pricing Examples | £3.64 to £6.16 per parcel (0-1kg) | Generally higher, varies by country | | Additional Fees | No customs duties | Duties and tariffs may apply (e.g., 10% prepaid duty to USA) | | Tracking | Available with Tracked 24, 48 | Available but updates may be slower | | Complexity | Simple postage fees | Requires customs declarations and duty calculation |

International shipping involves dealing with complex customs rules, so it's important to fill out accurate customs forms, tell what's in the package and its value, and know about possible import taxes and duties. To avoid extra fees, it's important to avoid mistakes like incorrect addresses, inadequate packaging, and incorrect weight measurements.

Packaging and Additional Services

Proper packaging is essential for sending packages with Royal Mail to ensure they arrive safely. To pack a parcel well, choose a box that's a bit bigger than your item, wrap fragile items by themselves, use padding to keep things from moving, seal all edges with strong tape, and make sure nothing is loose inside. For extra protection during shipping, fragile items should be double-boxed, electronics should be packed in anti-static packaging and original manufacturer's box, and liquids should be in leak-proof containers with sealed plastic bags.

Royal Mail offers additional services like Tracked, Signed For, Insurance, and Guaranteed delivery. Using these services can provide extra peace of mind and ensure your parcel arrives safely and on time.

Saving Money on Royal Mail Parcel Shipping

To save money on Royal Mail parcel shipping, use 2nd Class services, buy postage online for discounts, avoid big parcels, and compare options. The Royal Mail website has helpful tools like a postage calculator to make smart choices about shipping and compare options.

Labeling Your Parcel

When sending packages with Royal Mail, it's important to label the parcel correctly with full sender and recipient names, complete street addresses, postal codes, and contact phone numbers. This ensures that your parcel reaches its destination efficiently and accurately.

In summary, Royal Mail offers a range of services for sending parcels, from domestic shipping within the UK to international shipping. While international shipping involves higher prices and additional customs-related charges, it's important to be aware of these costs and take the necessary steps to ensure accurate customs declarations and proper packaging to avoid extra fees. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your parcels arrive safely and on time.

[1] Royal Mail price increase for eBay UK Simple Delivery: https://www.royalmail.com/news/price-changes-for-ebay-uk-simple-delivery [2] Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 services: https://www.royalmail.com/parcels [3] Royal Mail Postal Delivered Duties Paid (PDDP) service: https://www.royalmail.com/business/international/exporting [4] Impact of Brexit on duty-free exemptions: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-duty-and-tax-on-importing-goods-from-the-eu