Cheapest Way to Send a Parcel in the UK: 2026 Full Comparison

TL;DR: Cheapest parcel delivery: Royal Mail 2nd Class from £2.10 (small, non-urgent). For next-day: Parcelforce 24 from £9.75. For same-day: courier from £25. For large/bulky items: courier van from £35. Compare all options below.

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Sending a parcel in the UK? The cheapest option depends on three things: size, weight, and how fast it needs to arrive. This guide compares every major UK parcel delivery service so you can choose the cheapest option that meets your needs.

UK parcel delivery services compared

Royal Mail

The UK's default postal service. Best for small, standard-sized parcels.

Service	Weight	Size limit	Price	Delivery time
2nd Class	Up to 2kg	35cm × 25cm × 16cm	From £2.10	2-3 working days
1st Class	Up to 2kg	35cm × 25cm × 16cm	From £3.20	1-2 working days
1st Class (medium)	Up to 2kg	61cm × 46cm × 46cm	From £4.20	1-2 working days
Special Delivery	Up to 2kg	61cm × 46cm × 46cm	From £7.85	Next day by 1pm
Parcelforce 24	Up to 30kg	100cm × 70cm × 60cm	From £9.75	Next working day

Pros: Widely available, reliable tracking on premium services, Post Office drop-off everywhere Cons: Size limits (2kg for standard parcels), can be slow for 2nd Class, limited compensation on standard services

Evri (formerly Hermes)

Budget parcel delivery, popular with eBay and Vinted sellers.

Service	Weight	Price	Delivery time
Standard	Up to 1kg	From £2.90	2-3 days
Standard	Up to 2kg	From £3.90	2-3 days
Standard	Up to 5kg	From £5.90	2-3 days
Standard	Up to 10kg	From £8.90	2-3 days
Standard	Up to 15kg	From £10.90	2-3 days

Pros: Cheap, convenient collection service, parcel shop drop-off Cons: Mixed reliability, limited customer service, tracking can be inconsistent

Yodel

Mid-range parcel delivery, often used by online retailers.

Service	Weight	Price	Delivery time
Standard	Up to 2kg	From £3.50	2-3 days
Standard	Up to 10kg	From £8.00	2-3 days
Standard	Up to 15kg	From £10.00	2-3 days
Next-day	Up to 10kg	From £12.00	Next working day

Pros: Competitive pricing, good coverage, next-day option Cons: Tracking not always real-time, delivery times can vary

DPD

Premium parcel delivery with excellent tracking.

Service	Weight	Price	Delivery time
Standard	Up to 30kg	From £12.00	Next working day
Saturday	Up to 30kg	From £18.00	Saturday
Sunday	Up to 30kg	From £20.00	Sunday

Pros: Excellent tracking (real-time, 1-hour delivery window), reliable, Sunday delivery available Cons: More expensive than Evri/Yodel, primarily business-to-consumer

Same-day courier (Hauly)

Dedicated vehicle, direct delivery, same-day arrival.

Service	Weight	Price	Delivery time
Local (under 10mi)	Up to 1000kg+	From £25	Same day (2-4 hours)
Regional (10-80mi)	Up to 1000kg+	From £35-£60	Same day
National (80+mi)	Up to 1000kg+	From £60-£180	Same day

Pros: Fastest option, dedicated vehicle, live GPS tracking, handles bulky/heavy items, proof of delivery with photo Cons: More expensive than parcel networks for small items

Which service is cheapest for your parcel?

Small parcel (under 1kg, non-urgent)

Cheapest: Royal Mail 2nd Class — £2.10

• Drop at any Post Office or Royal Mail collection point
• Delivers in 2-3 working days
• Adequate for non-fragile, non-valuable items

Small parcel (under 1kg, next-day)

Cheapest: Royal Mail 1st Class — £3.20

• Usually delivers next working day
• Not guaranteed (use Special Delivery for guarantee)

Medium parcel (1-5kg, non-urgent)

Cheapest: Evri Standard — £3.90-£5.90

• Collection available from your address
• 2-3 day delivery
• Track online

Medium parcel (1-5kg, next-day)

Cheapest: Parcelforce 24 — £9.75

• Guaranteed next working day
• Full tracking
• Up to 30kg

Large parcel (5-15kg, non-urgent)

Cheapest: Evri Standard — £8.90-£10.90

• 2-3 day delivery
• Collection or drop-off

Large parcel (5-30kg, next-day)

Cheapest: Parcelforce 24 — £12-£18

• Guaranteed next working day
• Up to 30kg, 100cm × 70cm × 60cm

Bulky item (over 30kg or over size limits)

Only option: Same-day courier — from £35

• Parcel networks won't accept items over 30kg or their size limits
• Dedicated van, same-day delivery

Urgent delivery (same day)

Only option: Same-day courier — from £25

• No parcel network offers same-day delivery
• Collection within 60 minutes, delivery in 2-4 hours

Tips for saving money on parcel delivery

1. Compare prices — don't assume one service is always cheapest. Use comparison tools or check directly.
2. Drop off instead of collection — collection services cost more than drop-off at a Post Office or parcel shop.
3. Use 2nd Class when you can — if 2-3 days is acceptable, 2nd Class saves 30-40% over 1st Class.
4. Package efficiently — smaller, lighter parcels cost less. Remove unnecessary packaging that adds size/weight.
5. Book same-day courier for the right items — don't use a £25 courier for a £3 parcel. Use it for items that are urgent, bulky, fragile, or high-value.

When a same-day courier is actually cheaper

A same-day courier (£25+) is more expensive than parcel networks for standard parcels. But in some cases, it's the only option — or the better value option:

• Items over 30kg — parcel networks won't accept them
• Items over 100cm × 70cm × 60cm — exceeds Parcelforce size limits
• Same-day delivery required — no parcel network offers it
• High-value items — courier insurance (£10,000) vs Royal Mail (£20-£500)
• Fragile items — dedicated vehicle vs sorting depot handling

Ready to send your parcel?

For standard parcels, use Royal Mail or Evri. For urgent, bulky, or high-value items, enter your postcodes above for an instant same-day courier quote. Collection within 60 minutes.

By the numbers: UK parcel delivery costs compared

• £2.10 — cheapest UK parcel delivery (Royal Mail 2nd Class, under 1kg)
• £3.20 — Royal Mail 1st Class for a 1kg parcel
• £7.85 — Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day by 1pm, guaranteed)
• £9.75 — Parcelforce 24 (next day, up to 30kg)
• £25 — Hauly same-day courier starting price (local, under 10 miles)
• 30kg — max weight for Parcelforce vs 1,000kg+ for courier vans
• 15-25% — savings from booking courier direct vs through a broker