UK Parcels Guide
Last update March 2020
Our UK Parcel delivery guide
When you send a UK parcel you want to make sure that the service is reliable, secure and good value. There also may be additional features you’re looking for such as home collection or online parcel tracking.
Use our UK parcel guide to find the delivery service that is best for you. We’ve divided our guide into the typical parcel weights as well as drop off and home collection options to make this guide as easy to use as possible.
How to send a Parcel cheaply
If your parcel is under 750g check to see if it is postable as a Royal Mail Large Letter as this is generally the cheapest option (see our letter guide). However for parcels that don”t qualify as a letter, see our recommendations below.
Generally Hermes (via Parcel2Go) works out the cheapest for parcels up to 5KG at £2.80 (incl. VAT). The benefits of Hermes are:
– £20 compensation as standard
– Tracking
– Free Drop-off to a Hermes Parcelshop or Home Collection for a 55p (incl VAT) surcharge
For heavier parcels we found using Parcel2Go will offer the greatest choice and best value options. They compare couriers such as UPS, DHL and DPD and run the complex maths and give the sending options.
Sending a very heavy parcel is not usually economical or practical with a standard shipping service. See our courier guide below for the best value options for items that aren’t easily transported.
Having a Parcel Collected
While parcel drop-off services are generally cheaper for small parcels, sometimes having a parcel collected from you is more practical and convenient
For smaller parcels Hermes (via Parcel2Go) offer a very competitive £3.35 service for nominated day courier collection service for parcels. A key benefit is that if you aren’t available, the Hermes courier can collect from your nominated safe place like a porch or doorstep.
Parcel comparison website Parcel2Go generally offers the best price and greatest choice of collection options with the couriers they have partnerships with.
For heavy, awkward or complex parcels in may be better to use a point to point courier price comparison service like Anyvan. For parcel shipping they offer a delivery, removals and transport marketplace – this service allows you to tender out your shipping so couriers can bid for your job.
Sending a Parcel Internationally?
See our International Parcels Guide where we have researched the best services to send your parcel around the world.