Information Guide

How to Send a Parcel from UK to India

Costs, carriers, customs forms, and delivery times for sending parcels from the UK to India.

4 min readUpdated April 2025

Shipping costs to India

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Royal Mail International Standard: from around £10-13 for a small parcel up to 2kg
Royal Mail International Tracked: from around £14-18 with end-to-end tracking
Express couriers (DHL, FedEx): from around £20-35 for 3-5 working day delivery
Economy mail: cheapest at around £8-10 but takes 8-12 weeks by surface

Quick answer

Sending a small parcel (up to 2kg) from the UK to India costs from around £10-13 via Royal Mail. Express couriers deliver in 3-5 days from around £20-35. All parcels need a customs declaration form. Use a comparison site like Parcel2Go for the best courier rates. Keep weight low as costs climb steeply per kilogram.

Carrier options

For items under 2kg, Royal Mail International Standard offers the best value.

Royal Mail tracking can be limited once a parcel enters India. DHL and FedEx maintain full tracking throughout.

Parcel2Go and ParcelHero negotiate bulk rates with couriers, often 30-50% cheaper than booking direct.

Sending elsewhere? Check shipping to Australia or shipping to China.

Customs requirements

Customs checklist0 / 4 checked

Complete a CN22 (under £270) or CN23 customs form with accurate item descriptions and values
Mark clearly whether contents are a gift or commercial goods
Include the recipient full address with PIN code (postal code) for India
Check India import restrictions - some food, medicines, and electronics have limits

Tips and restrictions

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Use lightweight packaging to keep weight and costs down
India charges import duty on items above certain value thresholds - warn the recipient they may need to pay
❌
Restricted items include certain medicines, food products, and currency - check before sending
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Frequently asked questions

Royal Mail International Standard starts from around £10-13 for parcels up to 2kg. Express couriers start from around £20-35.

Royal Mail takes 7-14 working days. Express couriers deliver in 3-5 working days.

Yes, all parcels to India require a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration listing contents and values.

Restricted items include certain medicines, food products, alcohol, currency, and some electronics. Check Royal Mail and Indian customs guidelines.

Possibly. India charges import duty on goods above certain value thresholds. The recipient may need to pay before collecting the parcel.

Related articles

How Much to Send a Parcel to Australia?How Much to Send a Parcel to China?How Long Does International Shipping Take?How to Wrap a Parcel

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