Everything You Need to Know About Shipping to France
Use ParcelBroker's reliable courier comparison service to send a package to France.
By taking advantage of our service, you can enjoy the most affordable shipping rates available. Your parcel can arrive at its destination in as little as three business days, with tracking updates and up to £1000 transit cover.
- Save up to 70% in comparison to standard courier rates when exporting to France.
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For businesses interested in trading with France, the country offers an attractive consumer base with substantial personal wealth and strong intellectual property (IP) protection. To assist with the logistics of shipping to France, we have developed a comprehensive guide that includes weight and size guidelines, shipping timeframes, address labelling, costs, and cost-reduction methods.
What's the Cheapest Way to Send a Parcel to France?
Opt for our Parcelforce Euro Economy - Drop off service provided by Parcelforce to send a parcel from the UK to France at the most economical rate. For a 5kg package, you can use this service for as low as 18.15 and enjoy inclusive extended liability cover of £25 from ParcelBroker.
With our efficient service, your package can reach its destination in France within a time frame of just three business days. However, it's crucial to consider specific factors when shipping to France, especially the weight and dimensions of the package. For current delivery costs, you can use our shipping calculator:
Package Weight
Shipping rates will increase depending on the weight of your package. You can ship items up to 50kg in weight through Parcelforce, DHL, FedEx, and UPS using ParcelBroker’s trusted service.
Use our handy shipping calculator to get up-to-date prices for your delivery. Simply add the dimensions, weight, and quantity of packages to get an up-to-date quote instantly.
Package Dimensions
The size of your package plays a significant role in deciding which courier service can accommodate your delivery. In case you intend to send numerous items to France, it might be more cost-effective to separate them into individual packages to qualify for lower rates. Alternatively, combining multiple packages into a single pallet can make the delivery process more manageable.
Can I Send a Pallet to France?
If you need to send large or heavy items or multiple packages to the same destination in France, opting for pallet delivery may prove to be a cost-effective solution. ParcelBroker's PB: Express Pallet service or DHL's Express Pallet service can help you with the same. By using our pallet delivery calculator, you can obtain an instant quote for your delivery to France.
To send a pallet, simply order one online or acquire it from a local supplier, pack your items onto it, and secure them using pallet shrink wrapping. Your local pallet supplier should be able to provide you with the necessary materials to secure your package.
Packaging Your Pallet
Non-stackable pallets, which cannot be stacked with other freight due to restrictions such as the shape of the items on your pallet or the presence of fragile items, will incur an additional surcharge. To avoid such charges, please refer to our visual guidance on how to properly arrange your pallet. By following this guidance, you can ensure that your pallet is stacked appropriately, and avoid additional fees for non-stackable items.
CORRECT
INCORRECT
You can also explore our Pallet Delivery Guide for more information.
Courier Pickups for Pallets
Your pallet will either need to be loaded onto the courier’s truck at a loading bay via a forklift, or you can request for the courier to load the pallet themselves via a pallet pump truck, however, you will need to ensure that your pallet is accessible and on a flat surface.
Same-Day Pickup and Local Drop-Off
When it comes to sending parcels, most carriers can either collect your shipment on the same day if you book before noon or accept packages at their designated local drop-off points. However, for palletised freight, it is advisable to plan collection in advance to ensure that the appropriate vehicle is assigned, and space is reserved for your pallet/s. In case you need to drop off a pallet, you will have to do so at a local depot, as space restrictions prevent it from being dropped off at a drop-off point.
It's important to note that the delivery timeframe can impact the cost of shipping to France. Therefore, it's essential to keep this in mind before guaranteeing shipping costs and timeframes to the recipient. You can conveniently compare live prices for express delivery options by referring to the list below:
Here is a list of some of our live prices showing up-to-date costs for shipping to France:
| UPS | FedEx | DHL | TNT | DSV | Parcelforce | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5kg | £26.80 | £29.84 | £29.76 | £20.95 | £20.47 | £18.15 |
| 1kg | £27.21 | £25.76 | £30.76 | £20.95 | £20.47 | £18.15 |
| 5kg | £31.10 | £41.93 | £30.76 | £20.95 | £21.64 | £18.15 |
| 10kg | £31.10 | £52.07 | £34.34 | £26.76 | £24.22 | £22.08 |
| 15kg | £31.10 | £62.51 | £37.50 | £29.32 | £35.33 | £22.08 |
| 20kg | £32.99 | £67.84 | £40.64 | £29.44 | £40.00 | £24.12 |
| 25kg | £34.87 | £93.64 | £46.20 | £32.23 | £45.38 | £26.16 |
Prices as of April 23, 2024
How Long Does it Take to Deliver to France?
Sending a parcel to France has never been easier; you can expect your package to arrive in as little as three business days, thanks to our reliable courier services. You can choose to drop off your parcel at any of our local drop-off points, or opt for a door-to-door collection, which can affect the delivery timeframe.
How to Address my Parcels to France?
When addressing a package to France, follow these guidelines for an accurate and efficient delivery:
- Write the recipient's name on the first line.
- On the second line, write the street name and number of the recipient's address.
- On the third line, add the postal code followed by the city name in capital letters.
- Write "France" on the final line.
Example:
Mme. Lucie Dubois
16 Rue de la Paix
75001 PARIS
FRANCE
Make sure the address is legible and in a clear font to avoid any confusion or delays in delivery. You may also want to consider adding the recipient's phone number to the label in case the courier needs to contact them for any reason.
French Post Code Examples
| REGION | AREA CODE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris |
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| Marseille |
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| Lyon |
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| Toulouse |
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| Nice |
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| Strasbourg |
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| Montpellier |
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| Bordeaux |
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| Lille |
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French Shipping Customs Procedures
When sending a package to France, customs forms are required for international shipments. The specific forms that are required depend on the contents of the package and their value.
For example, if you are sending a package containing commercial goods, you will need to fill out a customs invoice or a Commercial Invoice. This document details the contents of your shipment, including the value of each item, and is used by customs officials to assess any duties or taxes that may be due.
If you are sending a package containing personal items or gifts, you will need to fill out a CN23 customs form. This form provides similar information as the commercial invoice, but is used for non-commercial shipments.
In addition to the customs forms, you may also need to include other documentation such as a certificate of origin or a packing list, depending on the contents of the package and the requirements of French customs.
It's important to check with your shipping carrier for specific requirements and instructions on filling out these forms, as incomplete or inaccurate forms can delay the delivery of your package.
You will need to fill out one of 2 forms for exports to France, these are as follows:
- Items up to £270 in value will require completion of a CN22 customs form.
- Items valued over £270 will require completion of a CN23 customs form.
A package will usually take around 24 hours to clear customs, provided there are no holds currently in place by the French Border Force.
What Can and Can't I send to France?
Before sending any items to France, it's crucial to ensure that they are not prohibited or restricted. The French Government website provides detailed guidance on the list of prohibited items, and it is highly recommended to consult this list before sending any items.
Items you Can’t Ship to France that May Surprise You
Restrictions on items coming into France are relatively common for most countries, with the exception of restrictions on artwork being imported into the country. Thorough specifics of which artwork is deemed unsuitable for import are scarce.
| COMMONLY PROHIBITED ITEMS |
- All forms of asbestos fibers
- Alcoholic beverages
- All products containing the biocide dimethylfumarate (DMF)
- Animal skins
-
Atlantic red tuna fish (Thunnus Thynnus) originating from Belize, Panama, and Honduras
- Fabrics & fabric samples
- Foodstuffs
- Certain U.S. Beef hormones
- Clocks/watches
- Communications equipment
- Compact discs
- Computer software
- Playing cards
- Electronic games
- Radar equipment
- Counterfeits
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
- Diskettes
- Doping Products
- Drugs, Prescription and Non-Prescription
- Dura mater (the tough fibrous membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord and lining the inner surface of the skull)
COMMONLY RESTRICTED ITEMS
- Agricultural products; i.e., grains, cheeses
- Dual-use goods; i.e., software, computers, machines, and machine parts
- Biological reagents
- Artwork
- Antiques
- Alcohol products
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) goods
- Non-Perishable Food
- Drugs, Prescription and Non-Prescription
- Cosmetics
- Textiles
What are France's Top Imports?
According to Trading Economics, the top imported product category of France in 2022 was machinery and mechanical appliances, which accounted for 13.9% of the country's total imports. Within this category, the top subcategories of imported goods were machinery parts (2.2%), computers (1.9%), and broadcasting equipment (1.5%).
France is one of the world's largest importers, and some of its top imports include:
- Crude Petroleum
- Cars
- Refined Petroleum
- Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft
- Petroleum Gas
- Broadcasting Equipment
- Pharmaceutical Products
- Packaged Medicaments
- Computers
- Telephones
- Other notable imports include chemicals, iron and steel, and electrical machinery.
Find out more about shipping to France below!
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