Compare live rates
Enter your postcodes and the case size and weight to see every carrier, sorted by cheapest or fastest.
HomeSend luggage
How to send luggage by courier
Compare couriers to send a suitcase or luggage. From £14.38, skip airline baggage fees, VAT included. Pack it right and quote in 30 seconds.
Compare
Compare couriers to send luggage
Sending a suitcase ahead by courier is often cheaper and far less hassle than paying airline baggage fees and dragging it through terminals, and it is popular for holidays, university terms, longer stays and moving abroad. A packed suitcase is treated as a large parcel, and the price depends mostly on its size and weight rather than the distance within mainland Britain. ParcelMatch compares every carrier that takes large parcels, including DPD, Parcelforce, UPS and DHL, so you can see the cheapest and fastest options for your suitcase in one search, with VAT included and no account needed to compare or book. Sending bags ahead also means you travel light to the airport or station and collect a case that is already waiting at the other end.
Because a suitcase sits in the large-parcel band, carriers vary more on price than for a small parcel, so comparing is worth the few seconds it takes. Keeping the case within the standard weight and size limits keeps you on the cheapest services, and a quick comparison shows which carriers accept your packed weight before you commit to a booking.
Cost
How much does it cost to send a suitcase?
A packed suitcase is a large parcel, and prices start from around £14.38 for a standard case within the usual limits. Here is how the main service types compare, with live figures from the quote engine.
Price follows the larger of the actual and volumetric weight, so a case packed to a sensible weight rather than crammed to bursting keeps the cost down and avoids any overweight surcharge.
Economy, large parcelfrom£14.382 to 3 working days
Next-day, large parcelfrom£15.871 working day
For international luggage, allow more time and check the destination's rules.
If you are timing a case to arrive before you do, book a day or two of buffer so a delay does not leave you without it.
Size and weight
What size and weight can I send?
Most couriers take parcels up to around 30kg and about 1.5m on the longest side on standard services. A typical large suitcase sits comfortably inside those limits, but a very heavy case can tip over the weight band and attract a surcharge, so weigh it before you quote. If you are sending several cases, each is quoted separately and you can book them together. Spreading a heavy load across two cases rather than overloading one often works out cheaper and is kinder to the zips and seams.
Packing
How to pack a suitcase for a courier
A suitcase is built to be handled, but a few steps keep it secure in transit:
- step 01
Pack it so the contents cannot shift, filling gaps with soft items or packing paper.
- step 02
Do not overfill it, as a bulging case strains the zips and can burst open.
- step 03
Secure the zips with a small padlock or a cable tie, and consider a strap around the whole case.
- step 04
Wrap the case in a layer of bubble wrap or stretch wrap to protect it and keep the zips closed.
- step 05
Remove or tie down loose straps and old airline tags so nothing catches in handling.
- step 06
Attach the courier label flat on the wrap, and put a card with the destination address inside the case as a backup.
Before you book
Common mistakes to avoid when sending luggage
The most common errors are easy to sidestep. Overpacking is the big one, as a case stuffed to bursting puts the zips under strain and can split open in transit, so leave a little room. Sending valuables, cash, jewellery, travel documents or medication inside a shipped case is another, as these should always stay with you. People often forget to remove old airline barcodes and tags, which can confuse automated sorting and misroute the bag. Leaving straps loose so they snag, skipping the protective wrap, or failing to weigh the case before quoting all cause trouble, the last because an under-declared weight is the most common reason a case is surcharged. Finally, always pop a card with the delivery address inside the case in case the outer label is lost.
Sending luggage abroad
Shipping luggage overseas is a popular way to move belongings for a long stay, a relocation or a gap year without paying excess baggage. International services from carriers such as UPS and DHL are compared alongside the domestic options on ParcelMatch. Allow several extra days, complete a customs declaration listing the contents and their value, and check the destination country's rules, as some items allowed at home are restricted abroad. The recipient may owe import duty or tax, so factor that in, and keep valuables and documents with you rather than in the shipped case.
Should I insure luggage?
Check the standard cover on each service and add more if the contents are valuable. Avoid sending cash, jewellery or anything prohibited, and keep valuables and documents with you rather than in a shipped case. ParcelMatch shows the standard cover against each quote so you can choose the right level. Keep your proof of posting and a quick inventory of what is inside, as both help if you ever need to claim.
Your choice
Drop-off or collection?
A packed suitcase is heavy, so a doorstep collection is often the easiest choice and is available on most large-parcel services for a little more. If you can get it to a depot or shop, drop-off is usually cheaper. ParcelMatch shows both in your results.
Couriers
Which couriers take luggage?
| Courier | For luggage |
|---|---|
| Parcelforce and DPD | Parcelforce and DPD handle packed suitcases reliably and are often the best value on this size. |
| UPS and DHL | UPS and DHL suit international luggage and faster delivery. |
| Evri | Evri takes smaller cases and holdalls within its size limits, often cheapest for those. |
ParcelMatch shows which carriers quote your case and what each costs.
See all carriersHow 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 at a depot or book a collection, then track it on one page.
Why ParcelMatch
Why send luggage with ParcelMatch
- Every carrier that takes a suitcase, compared in one search, from £14.38
- Often cheaper than airline baggage fees, with VAT included
- Standard cover shown against each quote, with add-on cover available
- Collection or drop-off, whichever suits
- No account needed to compare and book
- One tracking page for every courier
How much does it cost to send a suitcase?
From around £14.38 for a packed case on economy, or from £15.87 for next-day, with VAT included. The exact price depends on the case size and weight.
Is sending luggage cheaper than airline baggage fees?
Often, yes, especially for extra or overweight bags, and it saves carrying them through the airport. Compare the courier quote against your airline's excess baggage charge to be sure.
How do I pack a suitcase for a courier?
Pack it so nothing shifts, do not overfill it, secure the zips, wrap the case and attach the label to the wrap. Add a card with the delivery address inside as a backup.
What is the cheapest way to send a suitcase?
A case within the standard weight and size limits on an economy large-parcel service, from £14.38. Keeping it under the weight band avoids any overweight surcharge.
Can I send several cases at once?
Yes. Each case is quoted separately, and you can book them together in one checkout with one collection. Splitting a heavy load across two cases is often cheaper than overloading one.
Can I send luggage abroad?
Yes, on international services from carriers such as UPS and DHL. Allow more time, complete a customs declaration and check the destination's rules and any duties.
Can I get next-day luggage delivery?
Yes, from £15.87 across mainland Britain. Build in a day of buffer if the case must arrive before you do.
Can I track and insure luggage?
Yes. Every booking includes tracking, and you can add cover to match the contents. Keep your proof of posting and a short inventory in case you need to claim.
Ready when you are
Compare prices to send luggage now
Two postcodes and the case size is all it takes, from £14.38 with VAT included.
£14.38luggage from