So what have we got? A pair of trainers worth €80, a box, and a brother in Wroclaw waiting for his gift. Andrew from Liverpool had no idea that shipping from UK to Poland has a €45 limit: below it, the parcel goes through without duty, and above it, it gets held back for separate customs clearance. Below, we'll look at how that limit works, how much it costs to send a parcel, and how to book it online.
How the €45 Limit Works
The parcel with the trainers went through separate customs clearance, and his brother had to pay the duty in Poland, even though Andrew was expecting something different. For parcels between private individuals, the rules are these: up to €45, no duty or taxes are charged. If the value is higher, the parcel is held for individual clearance, and the person receiving it pays.
Anything over €150 isn't accepted at all, because of EU customs rules. Meest UK, for example, has all these rules at https://uk.meest.com/services/international/delivery-to-poland. So before you send package to Poland from UK, be honest about what's in the box and what it's worth. Don't put down a lower value in the hope it'll slip through. If the declaration doesn't match what's in the box, your brother will be waiting longer for his gift while they check everything.
What's Included in the Shipping Cost to Poland
Ground delivery starts from £1.79 per kilo. Basic insurance is already included in the price: £20 for standard delivery and £50 for express. You can add extra cover of up to £800 for 5% of the declared value. The online calculator on the portal shows you the exact amount before you pay.
Something else can catch people out. Say you've got a box that's 40 × 30 × 30 cm and weighs just 3 kg. You'd think you're paying for 3 kg, but for air delivery the price goes by whichever is bigger: the real weight or the volumetric weight. To find the price, multiply the length, width and height in centimetres, then divide by 5000. This box comes to 7.2 kg, so that's the weight you pay for.
How to Find the Cheapest Way to Send a Parcel to Poland
Not sure which option will cost less? Check both ground and air delivery in the calculator. Ground is cheaper but takes more time, while air gets your parcel there quicker. With air delivery, the size of the box also affects the price, so don’t leave a lot of space inside. For example, a 35 × 25 × 25 cm box brings the volumetric weight down to 4.4 kg.
How to Send Parcel to Poland from UK Online in One Evening
If you use Meest UK, the whole process takes just a few minutes if you already have the recipient’s details. Here’s what you need to do:
Register on the Meest website and create a shipment.
Enter the sender’s and recipient’s details, describe what’s inside, and add the parcel size.
Pay for the shipment online.
Print the barcode and stick it on the box.
Drop the parcel off at a collection point or wait for the courier to pick it up.
Use a strong cardboard box and write the sender’s and recipient’s addresses on both sides. No side of the box can be longer than 1.05 m. With regular air delivery, you can send parcels up to 30 kg, while express delivery allows up to 65 kg.
How Long Does a Parcel Take and How to Track It
Express delivery takes up to 5 working days, while ground delivery usually takes 5 to 12. These times start once the parcel leaves the main hub, so they don’t include the first part of the journey or customs.
You can drop off your box at more than 20,000 locations, including InPost, DHL, Evri, DPD, UPS, and Royal Mail. Sending a package from UK to Poland works the same whether you’re in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bradford, or pretty much anywhere else in Great Britain or the United Kingdom.