How to send a parcel to the UK and when do you not pay customs duty? A step-by-step guide
26.03.2026A simple guide to help your parcel arrive quickly and without additional costs
Are you sending a gift to your family in England? Or maybe you want to send personal belongings from Poland to your loved ones? Sending a parcel to the UK after Brexit involves some formalities. However, the whole process is not difficult at all. You just need to know the basic rules regarding customs and parcel preparation. In this guide, you will learn how to send a parcel to England step by step, how much it costs, and when you can avoid additional customs fees.
When do you pay customs duty for a parcel to England?
Customs duty on a parcel to the UK is charged when the goods are commercial or their value exceeds £39. This happens because, after the United Kingdom left the European Union, parcels from Poland are treated there as international shipments.
At the same time, this means that additional customs fees do not apply if:
you send a private parcel to family or friends,
its value does not exceed £39.
However, it is worth remembering that the final decision in this matter is always made by British customs authorities.
How to avoid additional fees according to the regulations?
Duty-free shipping to the UK is possible as long as you register the parcel as a private shipment and do not exceed the allowed value limit. This is the only way to avoid customs fees in accordance with the applicable regulations.
Therefore, to do this, you must:
declare that the parcel is a gift or a private shipment (only if it actually is),
specify the value of the shipment (up to the amount of £39 you are exempt from duty),
make sure that the contents of the parcel are not commercial (e.g., not for sale).
A great convenience is that you do not have to fill out the customs declaration yourself. In the Meest Post system, documents are generated automatically when you send the parcel.
How to send a parcel to the UK with Meest Post step by step?
Sending a parcel to England will only take you a few minutes. You just need to follow a few simple steps:
Price and register the parcel online – provide the basic shipment details and the recipient's address.
Pack the parcel – use a sturdy cardboard box and secure the contents well.
Send the parcel at a Paczkomat® InPost or a Meest Point – you do not need to print a label, the code received during registration is enough.
Track the parcel online – after sending the shipment, you will receive a tracking number that allows you to monitor its status.
Wait for the parcel delivery in the UK – a FedEx courier will deliver the shipment directly to the recipient's door in the UK. Delivery usually takes a minimum of 6 days.
👉 Price and send your parcel!
Dimensions and weight of a parcel to the UK
Before shipping, check the basic restrictions for parcels to England. The key size limits are:
weight: up to 25 kg,
dimensions: 64 × 41 × 38 cm,
packaging: cardboard box.
The above restrictions apply to you regardless of whether you send the parcel at a Paczkomat® InPost or at one of the Meest Points.
How much does it cost to send a parcel to the UK?
Prices for shipments to the UK start at 149 PLN. The final cost depends primarily on the weight and dimensions of the parcel. The current Meest Post price list is available at https://www.meestpost.com/pl/pl/price-list.
What items are not allowed to be sent to the UK?
When sending a parcel to England, do not put alcohol, tobacco products, and medicines in the box. They are prohibited goods. Before sending the shipment, make sure the items you want to send abroad are not subject to any restrictions. The detailed list of items excluded from transport includes, among others:
alcohol and tobacco products,
toxic and dangerous substances,
aerosols and flammable gases,
batteries and some devices with lithium batteries,
medicines and medicinal products,
sharp tools, e.g., knives,
products of animal origin and perishable food.
You can find the full list of prohibited goods here: https://www.meestpost.com/pl/pl/prohibited-goods.
Remember about documents and delivery time
When sending a parcel to England, proper documentation is key. Meest Post takes care of preparing it in the system, so you do not have to worry about complicated formalities. However, make sure to ship well in advance. Bank holidays and public holidays in the UK can extend the delivery time, so it is best to send the parcel a few days earlier.
Send a parcel to the UK with Meest Post!
If you care about duty-free shipping to the UK, mark the parcel as a gift and remember the value limit of £39. This will help you avoid additional fees when sending personal items or gifts to your loved ones. Remember that the declared value must be true. Otherwise, customs duty will be charged.
Registering the shipment itself will not cause you any problems, because Meest Post makes the parcel sending process as easy as possible and takes responsibility for preparing the right documentation.
So choose a shipping method tailored to your needs and send the parcel in the Meest Post system without leaving your home. A FedEx courier will deliver it right to the recipient's door in the UK.
