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Send a parcel to Orkney
Compare courier prices to Orkney in one search. From £4.15 on economy, Islands surcharges explained, VAT included. Quote in 30 seconds.
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Compare courier prices to Orkney
Orkney sits in the KW postcode off the north coast of Scotland, and couriers treat it as the Highlands and Islands. That matters for one reason: most carriers add an islands surcharge on their faster and express services to cover the sea crossing, and transit takes a day or two longer. On a standard economy service, though, the cheapest rate is still the flat national price, from £4.15, because Royal Mail delivers across all of the UK on its standard tracked services without an islands surcharge. That is the single biggest saving on this route, and ParcelMatch surfaces it. We compare every carrier that serves Orkney, show any surcharge inside the quote, VAT included, and need no account to compare or book.
Because the surcharge varies so much between carriers here, comparing is worth more to Orkney than to almost anywhere. The same 2kg parcel can carry a fee with one courier and none with another, so the carrier you pick makes a real difference to the final price. Checking side by side takes seconds and can save a large amount on faster services.
Cost
How much does it cost to send a parcel to Orkney?
For a typical 2kg parcel, prices to Orkney start from £4.15 on economy. Here is how the main service types compare, with live figures from the quote engine.
Size and weight set the price first, charged on the larger of the actual and volumetric weight, then speed, then any islands surcharge on the faster courier services. A large or heavy parcel up to around 30kg starts from about £14.38, though islands surcharges are more common on heavy items, so compare.
Cheapest from£4.15Economy, drop-offRoyal Mail Tracked 48 · 3 to 4 working days
- TrackedRoyal Mail Tracked 24 · 2 to 3 working days£5.30
- Two-day, trackedEvri · 3 to 4 working days£5.89
- Signed for2 to 3 working days£7.12
FromTypical delivery
London3 to 4 working days
Birmingham3 to 4 working days
Manchester2 to 4 working days
Glasgow2 to 3 working days
Delivery times
Delivery times to Orkney from major UK cities
Parcels reach Orkney by sea or air after the mainland leg, so transit is longer than the Scottish mainland. These are typical times.
From Scotland, delivery is quickest. The exact time shows against each quote.
Couriers
Which couriers deliver to Orkney?
Royal Mail and Parcelforce are the most reliable to Orkney and often avoid an islands surcharge on economy, which usually makes them cheapest.
| Courier | On this route |
|---|---|
| Evri and DPD | Evri and DPD serve the islands on selected services, with surcharges on some. |
| UPS, DHL and FedEx | UPS, DHL and FedEx handle urgent or heavier parcels, usually with an islands surcharge in the quote. |
ParcelMatch shows which carriers quote the route and what each adds. Since the gap between a surcharged express service and an economy option that skips the fee can be wide here, it is well worth comparing before you commit rather than assuming your usual carrier is cheapest.
See all carriersSurcharges
Do I pay a surcharge to Orkney?
No customs, since Orkney is part of the UK. On surcharges, the cheapest economy services usually avoid the islands fee, but most express and courier services add one for the sea crossing. ParcelMatch shows it in the quote, and because Royal Mail frequently skips it on economy, comparing can save you a meaningful amount on this route.
Before you book
Common mistakes to avoid when sending to Orkney
The islands surcharge is where most money is won or lost on this route. A handful of simple habits make the difference.
- 01
Defaulting to an express courier that adds an islands fee, when Royal Mail economy often reaches Orkney without one at £4.15.
- 02
Guessing the weight instead of weighing the finished parcel, which matters more here as surcharges are commoner on heavy items.
- 03
Paying for a doorstep collection when a nearby drop-off point would be cheaper for the same service.
- 04
Using an oversized box, since price follows the larger of actual and volumetric weight.
- 05
Paying for a faster service with a surcharge when the extra day or two of an economy service would not matter.
Large parcels
Sending a large or heavy parcel to Orkney
Standard services handle parcels up to around 30kg and 1.5m in length, and a large or heavy parcel to Orkney starts from about £14.38, though an islands surcharge is more likely on heavy items, so compare carriers.
For anything bigger, see large parcel delivery.
Packing
How to pack a parcel for Orkney
Pack as you would any UK parcel, since there are no customs requirements, and pack sturdily because the longer sea-and-road journey means more handling along the way. Follow these steps before you quote:
- step 01
Measure and weigh the finished parcel, as price follows the larger of actual and volumetric weight.
- 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 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.
Your choice
Drop-off or collection?
Dropping your parcel at a local shop, Post Office or locker is usually cheaper than a doorstep collection.
Drop-off points also tend to open longer hours, so you can send at a time that suits you. For something heavy, a collection is available on most services for a little more. ParcelMatch shows both in your results.
Routes
Popular routes to Orkney
Send a parcel to Inverness
How it works
How it works
Book in one checkout
Pick a service, add the addresses and pay. Your label lands in your inbox straight away.
Drop off or get collected
Leave it locally or book a collection, then track it on one page.
Why ParcelMatch
Why send to Orkney with ParcelMatch
- Every carrier that serves Orkney, compared in one search, from £4.15
- Any islands surcharge shown upfront, VAT included
- Economy options that often avoid the surcharge
- No account needed to compare and book
- One tracking page for every courier
How much does it cost to send a parcel to Orkney?
From £4.15 for a 2kg parcel on economy, as Royal Mail does not add an islands surcharge on its standard service. A large or heavy parcel starts from about £14.38, though surcharges are more common on heavy items.
Do I pay an islands surcharge to Orkney?
Not on the cheapest economy services as a rule, but most faster and courier services add one for the sea crossing. ParcelMatch shows it in the quote, and some carriers skip it, so comparing is the way to avoid paying it.
How long does a parcel take to Orkney?
Most services take 2 to 4 working days, as parcels reach Orkney by sea or air after the mainland leg. Delivery is quickest from Scotland, and the exact time shows against each quote.
What is the cheapest way to send a parcel to Orkney?
Usually Royal Mail economy at £4.15, which often avoids the islands surcharge. Comparing carriers side by side confirms the cheapest option for your exact parcel.
Do I need a customs form for Orkney?
No. Orkney is part of the UK, so there is no customs paperwork and no VAT complication. You pack, label and send exactly as you would to the mainland.
Is a surcharge more likely on a heavy parcel to Orkney?
Yes. Islands surcharges are more common on heavy items, so the saving from comparing carriers is often larger on a big or heavy parcel. Check the quote before you book.
Can I track my parcel to Orkney?
Yes. Every booking includes tracking on one ParcelMatch page, whichever courier carries it, so you can follow it across the sea crossing.
Ready when you are
Compare prices to Orkney now
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