The USA and the UK have a strong and long-established relationship – with key trading, linguistic, cultural and historical ties between the two nations. Because of this, and the fact both countries rank among the world’s largest economies, it is unsurprising that many thousands of parcels travel between the two countries every day.
Despite the long distance over the Atlantic Ocean between the USA and the UK, postal networks are strong and goods can travel between the two countries in a matter of a few days. If you are a British expat wanting to send gifts home, or a US-based business owner looking to enter the UK market, ParcelBroker makes it quick and easy to send parcels from the USA to the UK.
FedEx | TNT | DHL | |
---|---|---|---|
0.5kg | £30.01 | £38.32 | £34.95 |
1kg | £35.19 | £41.03 | £38.99 |
5kg | £64.91 | £57.94 | £76.65 |
10kg | £93.14 | £57.94 | £111.39 |
15kg | £119.78 | £71.35 | £138.41 |
20kg | £146.43 | £71.47 | £165.43 |
25kg | £167.35 | £98.51 | £192.45 |
Prices as of November 26, 2024
Watch our video where we explain the basics of how you import parcels from the USA to the UK.
We'll show you how to avoid common mistakes, what information you'll need and lots of tips to make sure you don't over spend on your delivery costs or have your parcel held up during customs clearance.
Looking to send a parcel from the USA to the UK? Send with us and you’ll get the best rates - we consolidate all our deliveries, allowing us to negotiate excellent prices that major carriers don’t offer when you go direct. We use fast, reliable and trusted delivery services for all our parcels to the UK, so why pay more?
Fed up with other carriers? We’re a breath of fresh air - every customer is important to us, and we make sure that whether you’re sending one parcel from the USA to the UK or a thousand, you’re completely satisfied with our service. There are no automated lines or call centres here; we know how important good communication is to the transport industry, so you’ll speak directly with our team.
Our booking process is straightforward and to the point, so you can get the services you need, when you need them. Simply choose the best rate for the service you need, fill in your details, and schedule your delivery from the USA to the UK - spend less time sending, and more time selling.
Your time is valuable, so we don’t waste it with long registration forms. Get signed up with ParcelBroker today in less than 60 seconds, and benefit from low cost parcel delivery from the USA to the UK.
Due to excellent postal links, parcels can be sent from the USA to the UK quickly and easily. Most shipping companies will deliver from the USA to the UK in around 3 days, with delivery unlikely to take longer than 6 days with any courier.
When you come to send your parcel from the USA to the UK, you’re going to need to know how to address it. Thankfully, the standard address format in the UK is easy to follow. Parcels should be addressed to the UK as follows:
It is advisable to include a return address on the rear of the parcel if necessary and, if you are writing the address by hand, to ensure all lines are written in capital letters for clarity.
When sending a parcel from the USA to the UK, you will have to be aware of customs checks. Any items sent from outside the EU to the UK must be posted with documents disclosing what is being sent and its value.
The good news is you do not have to pay customs duty on any item under £135 sent to the UK. However, importing gifts between the value of £135 and £630 will incur a 2.5% charge, while the duty on anything else over the value of £135 and gifts worth more than £630 will vary depending on the item. The amount charged will depend on the estimation of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
You must also be aware of VAT which will be charged on most imports to the UK from non-EU nations as well as excise duty which must be paid on alcohol and tobacco coming from outside the EU.
There are certain restrictions on a number of types of goods being imported to the UK from outside the EU, notably including the amount of alcohol and tobacco goods that can be brought in before customs duty or tax must be paid. It is permitted to import:
As well as one of either:
You can also import one or a split combination of:
It is likely, however, that excise duty will have to be paid on your alcohol and tobacco imports to the UK. You may also need licences and some couriers cannot carry alcohol or tobacco without a special agreement in place.
There are a number of items banned from import into the UK. Most of these are consistent with the EU’s own banned list. Items banned for import include:
Remember to check what you are planning to ship to the UK will definitely be allowed into the country before you send. The UK government’s page on banned items may be useful for this.
You should also be aware of ParcelBroker’s prohibited items, to ensure that you’re not sending any materials that aren’t permitted by our shipping policy.
When shipping a parcel to the UK, you must be sure you can find a courier which can actually carry out the delivery. The tool at the top of this page will tell you which companies can deliver your item and gives you a quote for postage with each.
When providing the weight and dimensions of your parcel, it is vital you measure correctly. Inaccurate values could lead to hefty extra costs being incurred!
Ensure your parcel is packaged as safely as possible. As goods can travel between the USA and the UK so quickly, it can be easy to forget how many people handle them and how many vehicles they are moved between. You must keep all items tightly wrapped and secured, or there is a chance the item you are sending could become damaged.