Customs & Duties · 2 min read · 25 October 2026

Sending a Parcel from India to the UK: Costs, Customs & Delivery Times (2026)

The UK is one of the biggest destinations for Indian families with students and professionals living there, as well as a steady export lane for small sellers. Here’s what shapes the cost and timeline on this route.

What drives the price

• Weight or volumetric weight. As on any route, couriers bill on whichever is higher.
• Service tier. Express services are fastest; economy and postal services cost less and take longer.
• Declared value and contents. Gifts, documents and commercial goods are treated differently at UK customs.

What it costs today

2 kg parcel from India to United Kingdom, prices checked 25 October 2026. Your live quote may differ; customs duty is extra unless the service is duty paid (DDP).

Customs and VAT on the UK side

The UK charges import VAT and, above certain values, customs duty on parcels from outside the UK. Under current GOV.UK guidance:

• Gifts worth £39 or less are not charged VAT.
• Gifts worth £135 or less are not charged customs duty, unless they are excise goods such as alcohol or tobacco.
• For goods bought from abroad worth £135 or less, the seller usually includes VAT in the price.
• Above £135, the recipient pays VAT and any duty to the delivery company, which usually holds the parcel until it is paid.

Rules are revised from time to time, so check GOV.UK before sending anything valuable.

Before you book

• Weigh and measure accurately — volumetric weight catches people out on bulky, light items.
• Declare an honest value; under-declaring gifts to avoid VAT risks delays or seizure at the UK border.
• Check restricted items — certain foods, plants and some electronics face extra scrutiny.
• Compare live carrier rates for this route — pricing on the UK lane shifts a lot between carriers depending on weight band.