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Enter your from and to postcodes and the parcel size to see every carrier that covers Northern Ireland, sorted by cheapest or fastest, with VAT and any surcharge already included.
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Send a parcel to Northern Ireland
Compare courier prices to Northern Ireland from Royal Mail, Evri, DPD and Parcelforce in one search. From £4.15, VAT included, no account needed.
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Compare courier prices to Northern Ireland
Sending a parcel to Northern Ireland is a UK domestic delivery, so there are no customs charges or forms to fill in for standard goods. The thing most people get wrong is assuming it costs more than the mainland. For a small parcel it does not: the cheapest economy rate is the same flat national price you would pay sending across England, from £4.15, because UK domestic couriers do not charge by distance on their standard tracked services. Where cost can creep in is on the faster, courier-based services, where a few carriers add an Irish Sea or Northern Ireland surcharge to cover the crossing. That is exactly why comparing beats guessing. ParcelMatch puts Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, Parcelforce, UPS, DHL, FedEx and Asendia side by side in one search, with the price you see including VAT and any surcharge shown before you pay, and no account needed to compare or book.
The value of comparing is simple: the carrier that is cheapest for your parcel today may not be the one you would have picked by habit, and on a route that crosses the Irish Sea the gap between carriers can be wider than on the mainland. A small tracked parcel might be cheapest with Royal Mail, a next-day delivery with DPD, and a heavy box with FedEx, all to the same address. Prices also shift with fuel costs, seasonal demand and each carrier's own network changes, so a quick check every time you send is the only way to be sure you are on the best rate. Checking them side by side takes a few seconds and can save a noticeable amount over a year of regular sending.
Cost
How much does it cost to send a parcel to Northern Ireland?
For a typical 2kg parcel, prices to Northern Ireland start from £4.15 on an economy drop-off service. Here is how the main service types compare, with live figures from the quote engine.
What moves the price is the size and weight of your parcel first, charged on the larger of the actual and volumetric weight, then the speed you choose, then any remote-area surcharge on the faster services. A large or heavy parcel up to around 30kg starts from about £14.38 on economy. Because the cheapest economy rate is a flat national price, a parcel to Belfast costs the same to send as one to Birmingham, which is not something every courier site makes clear.
Cheapest from£4.15Economy, drop-offRoyal Mail Tracked 48 · 2 to 3 working days
- Next day, trackedRoyal Mail Tracked 24 · Next working day£5.30
- Two-day, trackedEvri · 2 to 3 working days£5.89
- Next day, signedNext working day£7.12
FromTypical economyNext day available?
London2 to 3 working daysYes
Birmingham2 to 3 working daysYes
Manchester2 to 3 working daysYes
Glasgow1 to 2 working daysYes
Delivery times
Delivery times to Northern Ireland from major UK cities
Transit depends mainly on where you send from and whether you pick economy or next day. These are typical economy times into Northern Ireland, with next day available on top from all of them.
Glasgow and the west coast tend to reach Northern Ireland a day quicker than the south of England, because the sea crossing is shorter. The exact time shows against each quote once you enter your postcodes. Around peak periods such as the Christmas rush, give the crossing a little extra headroom.
Couriers
Which couriers deliver to Northern Ireland?
All eight carriers on ParcelMatch cover Northern Ireland, but they do not price or handle it the same way, which is the whole reason comparing is worth a few seconds.
| Courier | On this route |
|---|---|
| Royal Mail | Royal Mail is usually the cheapest for small and medium parcels. Its Tracked 48 and Tracked 24 services treat Northern Ireland as a standard UK zone, so there is no surcharge, and drop-off keeps the price down. |
| Evri | Evri is strong for low-cost drop-off on everyday parcels, with a dense network at the sending end. |
| Parcelforce and DPD | Parcelforce and DPD are the reliable choices for next day and larger items, with full tracking and tight delivery windows across the water. |
| UPS, DHL and FedEx | UPS, DHL and FedEx suit heavier, urgent or business parcels, though they are the services most likely to add a Northern Ireland surcharge, which ParcelMatch shows inside the quote. |
Because a few services add that surcharge and others do not, the courier that was cheapest for your last parcel may not be cheapest for this one. It is also worth remembering that the fastest carrier is rarely the cheapest, so decide whether speed or price matters more for this particular parcel before you book.
Compare all carriers for your exact parcelCustoms and surcharges
Do I pay customs or a surcharge to Northern Ireland?
No customs. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so a parcel sent from Great Britain is a domestic delivery with no customs charge and no declaration for standard consumer goods. You do not need a CN22 or CN23 as you would for the Channel Islands. On surcharges, the cheapest economy services do not add one, but some express and courier services apply a small Northern Ireland or Irish Sea fee to cover the crossing. ParcelMatch always shows that fee in the quote, so there is nothing added at checkout and no surprise after you have paid.
Before you book
Common mistakes to avoid when sending to Northern Ireland
Most of the money people waste on this route comes down to a handful of avoidable habits. Keep these in mind before you book.
- 01
Defaulting to one carrier out of habit, rather than checking who is cheapest for this exact parcel on the day.
- 02
Guessing the weight instead of weighing the finished parcel, which can push you into a dearer band or trigger a reweigh charge later.
- 03
Paying for a doorstep collection when a nearby drop-off point would cost less for the same service.
- 04
Using an oversized box, since price follows the larger of actual and volumetric weight and empty space costs you money.
- 05
Overlooking an Irish Sea surcharge on a faster service, when a slightly slower economy option avoids it altogether.
Large parcels
Sending a large or heavy parcel to Northern Ireland
Most carriers handle parcels up to around 30kg and 1.5m in length on their standard services, and a large or heavy parcel to Northern Ireland starts from about £14.38 on economy.
For anything bigger, longer or heavier than the standard limits, see large parcel delivery, which lists the couriers that take oversized and heavy items across to Northern Ireland and what each one charges, including any surcharge.
Packing
How to pack a parcel for Northern Ireland
Packing is the same as any UK parcel, since there are no customs requirements. A well-packed box is also the single best way to avoid damage claims and reweigh charges, so it is worth the few extra minutes. Follow these steps before you quote:
- step 01
Measure and weigh the finished parcel, as price is set by the larger of actual and volumetric weight, so a smaller, firmer box can land you in a cheaper band.
- step 02
Use a sturdy box slightly larger than the contents, and a double-walled box for anything heavy or valuable.
- step 03
Wrap each item and fill every gap with paper, bubble wrap or foam so nothing moves when shaken.
- step 04
Tape all the seams with strong parcel tape, using the H-taping method.
- step 05
Attach the label flat and clear of any seams or edges, and remove any old labels.
Your choice
Drop-off or collection?
Dropping your parcel at a local shop, Post Office or locker is cheaper than a doorstep collection, and it is what keeps the £4.15 economy rate possible.
Drop-off points also tend to open longer hours, so you can send on your own schedule rather than waiting in for a driver. If you are sending something heavy, or you simply cannot get to a drop-off point, a collection is available on most services for a little more. ParcelMatch shows both options in your results so you can weigh the convenience against the cost.
Routes
Popular routes to Northern Ireland
Sending from one of the big cities? These route pages show typical prices and times on the busiest lanes into Northern Ireland:
How it works
How it works
Book in one checkout
Pick a service, add the addresses and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your label lands in your inbox straight away.
Drop off or get collected
Leave it at a local shop, Post Office or locker, or book a collection, then follow it on one tracking page whichever carrier you chose.
Why ParcelMatch
Why send to Northern Ireland with ParcelMatch
- Eight UK carriers compared in a single search, from £4.15
- The price you see includes VAT, with any Northern Ireland surcharge shown upfront
- No customs charges or forms, since it is a UK domestic delivery
- No account needed to compare and book
- One tracking page for every courier
How much does it cost to send a parcel to Northern Ireland?
From £4.15 for a 2kg parcel on an economy drop-off service, rising with size, weight and speed. A large or heavy parcel starts from about £14.38. Compare your exact parcel for the live price, as the cheapest carrier changes depending on the dimensions and the speed you need.
Do I pay customs to send a parcel to Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so a parcel from Great Britain is a domestic delivery with no customs charge and no forms for standard consumer goods. You will not need a CN22 or CN23, and nothing is added for duty at the other end.
How long does a parcel take to reach Northern Ireland?
Most economy services take 2 to 3 working days, or 1 to 2 from Scotland, and next day options are available from the major cities. The sea crossing means west-coast senders often arrive a day sooner than the south of England.
What is the cheapest way to send a parcel to Northern Ireland?
Usually an economy drop-off service such as Evri or Royal Mail Tracked 48, at £4.15, booked after comparing your exact parcel. Dropping off rather than booking a collection keeps that price at its lowest.
Is there a surcharge to Northern Ireland?
Not on the cheapest economy services. Some express and courier services add a small Irish Sea surcharge, which is shown in the quote before you pay. If you want to avoid it entirely, an economy service is the safer choice.
Can I track my parcel to Northern Ireland?
Yes. Every booking includes tracking, and one ParcelMatch tracking page covers whichever carrier you chose, so you do not need to visit each courier's own site.
Can I get next day delivery to Northern Ireland?
Yes, next day is available from all the major UK cities, from £5.30 on a tracked service. A small Irish Sea surcharge may apply on some express services, and ParcelMatch shows it in the quote before you commit.
Is it more expensive than sending within mainland Britain?
Not on economy. The cheapest economy rate is the same flat national price as the mainland, so a small parcel to Belfast costs the same as one to Birmingham. Only some faster services add a crossing fee.
Ready when you are
Compare prices to Northern Ireland now
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