7 ways to save on Christmas postage costs
Thanks to his reindeer, Father Christmas doesn't have to worry about the cost of posting Christmas gifts – but the rest of us aren’t so lucky.
Here are seven smart ways to save on Christmas postage, from finding the cheapest couriers to noting last posting dates – so sending gifts doesn’t leave you feeling 'bah humbug'.
1. Send it straight from the retailer
When buying gifts online, it’s often cheaper to have them delivered directly to your recipient. If the item is sent to you first and forwarded on, you could end up paying delivery charges twice.
Many retailers offer the option to mark your order as a gift and may even gift-wrap it for an additional fee.
While this can save time, it’s worth checking if the cost is reasonable or if you’d prefer to wrap the gift yourself. If so, factor in the extra time and cost of postage.
- Find out more: 'My 7 tips for online shopping as a consumer rights expert'
2. Make use of drop-off shops and lockers
The type of delivery service you choose can have a big impact on the cost.
If you or the recipient live near a drop-off shop or locker, opting for this type of service could save more than 50% compared to having items picked up from, or delivered to, your respective addresses. These services are cheaper because they reduce the courier's handling. For example:
- DPD's shop-to-door service costs £6.39 for packages up to 5kg, dropping to just £2.99 for its shop-to-shop service – a saving of more than 50%.
- Evri’s door-to-door service costs £4.15 for a package under 1kg, while its shop-to-shop service costs £2.62 – a saving of 45%.
With shop-to-door, you drop your parcel at a shop or locker, and the courier delivers it to the recipient’s address.
Shop-to-shop takes this further, requiring your recipient to collect the parcel from a nearby drop-off point. This option is only practical if both you and your recipient live close to a convenient drop-off location.
Most couriers provide a list of local drop-off points on their website, making it easy to find a convenient location near you.
- Find out more: 8 ways to boost your festive finances
3. Compare courier costs
Don't default to Royal Mail for all your Christmas deliveries. Delivery costs for sending gifts can vary depending on factors such as distance, tracking options, delivery speed and the weight and size of the parcel; the cheapest delivery service for one parcel may not be the cheapest for another. So it’s essential to compare quotes and shop around to find the best deal for your needs.
To help, we’ve provided a comparison of quotes from a range of couriers for sending parcels with standard postage weighing under 1kg, 2kg, and 5kg within the UK.
The table compares the cost of sending different weights of parcel in various ways, going from cheapest to most expensive. These rates are based on booking directly online with the delivery company.
| Courier | Postage type | Up to 1kg | Up to 2kg | Up to 5kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evri | Shop-to-shop | £2.62 | £2.62 | £2.62 |
| DPD | Shop-to-shop | £2.99 | £2.99 | £2.99 |
| Evri | Shop-to-door | £3.16 | £5.59 | £7.25 |
| Royal Mail second class | Door-to-door / shop-to-door | £3.25 for small package, £4.85 for medium package | £3.25 for small package, £4.85 for medium package | £6.35 |
| Evri | Door-to-door | £4.15 | £5.59 | £6.11 |
| DPD | Shop-to-door | £6.39 | £6.39 | £6.39 |
Prices correct as of 2/12/2024.
Maximum size dimensions are as follows: DPD: max size 60 x 60 x 60cm for either shop-to-door or store-to-store services. Evri: max size for door-to-door is no more than 120cm long and have a combined length and circumference of no more than 245cm ; parcel lockers are up to 66 x 41 x 38cm. Royal Mail: small parcels are up to 45 x 35 x 16cm; medium parcels are up to 61 x 46 x 46cm.
We also checked prices with Yodel. However, as of the date of publication, Yodel was not accepting any new bookings, so we have excluded it from our comparison. When we last checked its prices, Yodel was not the cheapest delivery service for any weight of parcel.
The cheapest option for parcels under 1kg, 2kg and 5kg is Evri’s shop-to-shop service, costing just £2.62. This makes it an excellent choice if you’re happy to drop parcels at a shop or locker, and the recipient is able to pick them up.
For door-to-door delivery, Royal Mail purchased online offers great value, with prices starting at £3.25 for small parcels and free home collection available until 31 January 2025.
Discount courier websites like Parcel2Go, Parcel Monkey, and My Parcel Delivery can also be useful for finding cheaper rates, particularly for larger or international parcels. However, these platforms often have lower compensation limits and less flexible delivery options compared to booking directly.
- Find out more: how to avoid a Christmas delivery disaster
4. Buy postage online rather than at the Post Office
Purchasing postage online is often cheaper than paying at the Post Office counter.
For instance, Royal Mail’s second-class service for a small lparcel (under 2kg) costs £3.25 online, compared with £3.75 at the Post Office.
Similarly, Evri charges £4.60 for standard postage for a 1-2kg parcel if you buy it online and drop off at an Evri parcel shop, but this increases to £5.69 if you buy it at the Post Office.
5. Use the right size packaging
Size matters when it comes to postage costs, so it pays to choose your packaging carefully.
For example, Royal Mail’s small parcel rate only applies to items up to 45cm x 35cm x 16cm – anything larger costs more.
To save money, avoid oversized boxes and excessive padding. Compact packaging, like padded envelopes or snug-fitting boxes, can keep costs down while protecting your items.
- Find out more: best Christmas gifts for under £30
6. Send sooner rather than later
For those looking to save money, second-class delivery is often the cheapest option, but it comes with an earlier cut-off date compared to first-class or next-day services.
To make sure your parcels are delivered before Christmas, check the last posting dates for your chosen courier:
DPD
- Parcel collection and drop-off services: Saturday, 21 December 2024. Postage must be booked on or before Friday, 20 December 2024.
Evri
- Courier collection: Thursday, 19 December 2024
- Standard delivery (drop-off): Friday, 20 December 2024 by 11am
- Next-day delivery (drop-off): Saturday, 21 December 2024 by 11am
Royal Mail
- Second class and second class signed for: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
- First class and first class signed for: Friday, 20 December 2024
- Tracked 24: Saturday, 21 December 2024
- Special delivery guaranteed: Monday, 23 December 2024
7. Don't get caught out by customs charges
If you’re sending a gift abroad, you’ll need to attach a customs declaration form to parcels sent internationally from the UK (including to Europe). Letters, postcards and documents are exempt.
For gifts worth more than £39 sent between the UK and the EU, the recipient may have to pay customs or VAT charges and a handling fee before they can claim the parcel. The fees depend on the item’s value and the country the gift is sent to.
Customers sending items from Northern Ireland to the EU don’t need to complete any forms, and recipients should not be liable for any fees.
- Find out more: rules for sending gifts to and from the UK
