How to Ship Packages to the United Kingdom

Did a customer in Scotland just buy one of your products and you need to ship your merchandise over?  Do you need to send a gift to a relative in London?  Learn how to use Stamps.com to ship packages to the United Kingdom (U.K.)!

How to use Stamps.com for packages headed to the U.K.

Once you are ready to ship your package to the U.K., you will need to enter the mailing address details as well as choose the destination country from the drop down menu in Stamps.com.

Stamps.com offers many options; however, the easiest and most popular option is to choose United Kingdom (Great Britain) from the country drop down menu.  As long as you choose United Kingdom (Great Britain), your package should reach its destination anywhere within the country without any issues.

A few other options offered by Stamps.com are explained below:

• If your package is headed to a constituent country of the U.K. (which consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), you can select the individual country names (e.g. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) or simply select United Kingdom (Great Britain).
• Shipping a package to a crown dependency (examples include Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey etc.)?  These destinations fall under the general USPS descriptor of “Great Britain and Northern Island.”  In Stamps.com, these locations are listed individually (e.g. “Jersey”).  You can select these individual listings or just select “United Kingdom (Great Britain).”
• Using the Stamps.com web version to print postage?  Choose Great Britain from the country drop down menu to ship your packages to the U.K.

Important Note:  Sometimes long country names, such as “Scotland (Great Britain and Northern Ireland)” may cause issues because your label has limited space.  In cases like these or if you are not sure what country to choose from the drop-down menu, always default to United Kingdom (Great Britain). 

Addressing and Shipping Tips for Your Packages

• The postal code is an important element of the mailing address that is required to ensure smooth and timely delivery.  Make sure to include the accurate postal code for your package headed to the U.K.
• Stamps.com is designed to include all the essential information on your international label, so if you receive a message about your address being too long, simply abbreviate the county (province) name – for example, Hampshire as “Hamps” or “Worcestershire” as “Worcs.”
• Customs fees, duties, tariffs and taxes may be charged on your packages being shipped to the U.K.  These fees are based on the value you declare on the customs form and are typically paid by your buyer in the U.K.  However, you can anticipate these by checking the website for the British customs service.
• Before you ship your package to the U.K., make sure the contents do not fall into the prohibited or restricted categories; otherwise your package could be forfeited or held up at customs.  Stamps.com customers can see real-time restrictions within the software or you can get more info here.

Summary: How to Ship Packages to the United Kingdom (Step‑by‑Step)

When sending packages to the UK using Stamps.com, follow these steps to ensure accuracy and smooth customs clearance:

Step 1: Choose United Kingdom as the destination country

In Stamps.com, select “United Kingdom (Great Britain)” from the country dropdown. If your destination is a constituent country (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), you may also choose it individually. Stamps.com

Step 2: Enter the UK postal code correctly

Ensure the postal code is entered exactly. Long county names may need to be abbreviated if the address is too long for the label. Stamps.com

Step 3: Declare customs, duties and taxes

Be clear on whether the customer or sender will pay the duties (DDP or DDU). Enter necessary customs information as part of the label creation. Stamps.com

Step 4: Check for restricted items

Confirm that your package contents are allowed for import into the UK. Restricted or prohibited items may be held or rejected. Stamps.com

Step 5: Print and ship the package

Complete the label, attach customs documentation, and send the package. Stamps.com will generate all customs forms automatically as part of the label when you create the international shipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Paul Morris

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