Cheapest Way to Send a Parcel UK 2026: Which Service for Which Parcel
Last updated: 13 October 2026
How to pick the cheapest way to send a parcel in the UK by size, weight and speed: Royal Mail, Evri, Yodel, DPD, Parcelforce or a same-day courier from £61.
Hauly Team
Table of contents
Need a courier now? Fixed price from £61, no account needed.
Get an instant quoteTL;DR: For ordinary parcels, use a postal or parcel network and compare current prices for your size and weight. Use a same-day courier (from £61 on Hauly) only when the parcel is urgent, oversized, fragile or valuable.
Carrier prices change every year, so this guide does not quote other companies' prices. Check the current price on each carrier's website for your parcel.
Which service for which parcel
| Parcel | Usually cheapest | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small, light, not urgent | Royal Mail 2nd Class, or a parcel network | Lowest cost, 2-3 days |
| Small, needs to arrive soon | Royal Mail 1st Class or a next-day service | Faster, still cheap |
| Medium, 1-5 kg | Compare Evri, Yodel, DPD and Royal Mail | Prices vary by size and weight |
| Large or heavy, 5-30 kg | Compare Parcelforce, Evri, DPD and Yodel | Size limits and surcharges apply |
| Over 30 kg or beyond size limits | A courier van | Parcel networks will not take it |
| Needed today | Same-day courier | The networks cannot do same day |
When a same-day courier is the right choice
- Urgent. It must arrive today or within hours.
- Too big or heavy. Furniture, appliances, bikes and anything over the networks' limits.
- Fragile or valuable. One driver, direct, no sorting hubs, with live tracking and a proof-of-delivery photo.
- Time-critical business items. Documents, parts or stock that cannot wait for a depot network.
A courier is a dedicated driver, so for a small, low-value parcel it will cost far more than a label. Our rate card is at courier prices.
What the courier side costs
So you can compare like with like, here is what a Hauly courier costs. These are fixed totals including the card fee for a standard next-day booking:
| Vehicle | 10 mi | 30 mi | 50 mi | 100 mi | 200 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small van (parcels, documents) | £60.72 | £60.72 | £84.31 | £140.21 | £242.77 |
| Medium van | £70.98 | £70.98 | £99.29 | £165.34 | £283.29 |
| Long wheelbase (furniture) | £80.21 | £80.21 | £111.39 | £184.83 | £318.16 |
| Luton (large furniture, pallets) | £103.80 | £103.80 | £141.54 | £230.98 | £395.08 |
Compare that with a label from a parcel network for the same parcel and you will see why a courier only wins when the parcel is urgent, oversized, fragile or valuable.
Worked decisions
- A 1 kg parcel, no deadline: use a postal or parcel network. A courier from £61 is poor value.
- A boxed monitor that must be there today: a courier. A medium van is £71 local.
- A sofa bought second-hand: a courier, since parcel networks will not take it. A long-wheelbase van is from £80 local.
- Signed contracts due this afternoon: a courier, from £61, with signature and photo proof. See legal document courier London.
Tips for saving money
- Measure and weigh accurately. Wrong dimensions lead to surcharges.
- Do not pay for speed you do not need. 2nd Class or a standard service is fine for non-urgent parcels.
- Compare carriers for your actual parcel. The cheapest carrier changes with size and weight.
- Use a courier only for the right items. Do not book a van for a parcel that fits in a padded envelope.
Related guides
Same day parcel delivery UK · Send a large parcel same day · Courier service near me · Same-day courier vs Royal Mail
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