How to Ship a Parcel to Germany from the UK: Customs, Couriers, and Costs Explained

TL;DR

Shipping to Germany from the UK means crossing an international customs border — Germany is an EU member state, and the UK is not. Every parcel needs a customs declaration, either a CN22 or CN23, depending on value. You'll also need to compare couriers carefully, since prices vary more than most people expect once volumetric weight enters the picture. Get the paperwork right, label clearly, and you'll avoid most delays before they start.

Key Takeaways

Post-Brexit customs rules apply to every parcel sent from the UK to Germany, regardless of value.

•        The UK's departure from the EU in January 2021 made Germany a fully international destination for parcels.

•        Use a CN22 form for goods valued under £270; use a CN23 for goods valued at £270 or above.

•        Couriers calculate charges using actual weight or volumetric weight — whichever is higher — so measure your parcel before booking.

•        Tracked shipping costs more upfront but gives you proof of delivery and a basis for claims if something goes wrong.

•        Prohibited and restricted items risk seizure at the German border, so check the list before you pack.

Choosing the right courier and completing your documentation accurately makes the difference between a parcel that clears customs in hours and one that sits in a depot for days.

Post-Brexit Rules for Shipping to Germany

A lot changed in January 2021. Before Brexit, sending a parcel from the UK to Germany was much like posting to Scotland — no customs, no declarations, no duty thresholds. That's no longer the case, and it catches more people out than you'd think.

Why Germany Counts as International

Germany is a full EU member state. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and fully ended the transition period on 1 January 2021. From that date, every parcel crossing from the UK to Germany crosses an international customs border, regardless of what's inside or what it's worth.

That means customs declarations are now mandatory, import VAT may apply on the German side, and your recipient could face charges on delivery. If you're shipping commercially, you'll also need an EORI number — your Economic Operators Registration and Identification number — to export goods from the UK. For a full breakdown of what UK-side export documentation looks like before dispatch, Bezos.ai's customs clearance guide covers the key steps.

Gifts receive slightly different treatment, but they're not exempt. A parcel labelled as a gift with a declared value exceeding the relevant threshold may still incur German import VAT, and misdeclaring commercial goods as gifts constitutes customs fraud. The sender bears legal responsibility for every declaration.

Understanding the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, signed in December 2020, introduced preferential tariff rates for goods that qualify under rules of origin. If your goods are genuinely of UK origin, you may be able to claim a reduced or zero tariff rate on the German side. Not all goods qualify, and proving UK origin requires documentation such as a supplier declaration or a statement on origin. You see, the TCA doesn't eliminate customs — it just makes it cheaper for qualifying goods.

Customs Declarations: CN22 and CN23 Explained

Every parcel sent from the UK to Germany requires a customs declaration. The form you use depends on the declared value of the goods inside. Getting this right matters: an inaccurate or missing declaration is the single most common reason parcels get held at German customs.

Which Form Do You Need?

The rule depends on both value and weight. Use a CN22 for goods with a total declared value under £270 and a parcel weight of 2kg or less. Use a CN23 if the value is £270 or more, or if the parcel weighs more than 2kg, regardless of value. Commercial shipments accompanying a CN23 also need a commercial invoice — a document showing what was sold, to whom, at what price, and under what trade terms. Many couriers generate these forms automatically when you book online, but you're still legally responsible for the accuracy of what you declare.

If you're unsure which form applies to your parcel — or you want to understand exactly what each field requires — Bezos.ai's guide to CN22 and CN23 customs forms gives a full breakdown of both forms and how to fill them in correctly.

Undervaluing goods to avoid duty is not a grey area. It's customs fraud, and it risks seizure of the parcel and potential penalties for the sender. Always declare the actual transaction value, not a lower figure, and keep a copy of your declaration for your records.

What to Write on Your Declaration

Vague descriptions are one of the most avoidable causes of customs delays. Writing 'clothes' or 'goods' tells the border officer very little. Write exactly what the item is — 'cotton men's t-shirt' or 'ceramic coffee mug' — and include the HS commodity code if you know it. HS codes (Harmonised System codes) are internationally recognised product classification numbers that speed up clearance significantly.

Quantity and weight on the form must match the actual parcel. If you're sending a gift, tick the appropriate category box. And always keep a copy — both for your records and in case of a customs query after dispatch.

Prohibited and Restricted Items for Germany

Germany enforces its own national rules on top of EU-wide import regulations, so the prohibited list is longer than many senders expect. Checking before you pack takes five minutes. Dealing with a seized parcel takes considerably longer.

What You Cannot Send

Firearms, replicas, and component parts are prohibited without the appropriate licences. Narcotics, counterfeit goods, and materials classified as hate content under German law cannot be imported under any circumstances. Certain dog breeds are restricted under German animal import rules. Lithium batteries are subject to carrier-specific restrictions — most couriers won't accept them loose, and some won't carry them at all in certain configurations.

For an authoritative and detailed list of Germany's prohibited and restricted import categories under both EU and German national law, the US International Trade Administration's guide on Germany's prohibited and restricted imports is a reliable starting point.

Some foods require phytosanitary certificates before they can clear German customs, and prescription medicines must be accompanied by documentation confirming they're for personal use. Always check current rules with your courier before shipping anything that falls into a grey area.

Items That Need Extra Documentation

Some items aren't prohibited outright but require paperwork before they can clear the border. Goods derived from protected species need a CITES certificate. Animal products may require a veterinary health certificate. Prescription medicines need a letter from a medical professional. Lithium batteries and other dangerous goods must be correctly classified and declared under the dangerous goods regulations.

Rules can also differ between couriers — a courier using air freight may have stricter battery policies than one using road freight. Always check the carrier-specific prohibited items list before you book.

Comparing Couriers for Shipping to Germany from the UK

There's no single best courier for every parcel. Price, speed, tracking quality, and customs handling all vary, and the right choice depends on what you're sending, how quickly you need it there, and how much support you want if something goes wrong.

Overview of Main Options

The main couriers operating UK-to-Germany routes include Royal Mail International Tracked, DHL Express, DHL Parcel (via the Parcel2Go aggregator), Evri International, FedEx International Economy, and Parcelforce WorldWide. Aggregator platforms like Parcel2Go often surface lower label rates by buying in bulk from these carriers, which can make them worth comparing even if you only ship occasionally.

Prices vary considerably by weight, dimensions, and the service level you choose. Not all couriers include customs handling in their base price, so check whether you're buying a door-to-door service or one that passes customs responsibility to the recipient.

Tracked vs Untracked: What Does the Difference Cost You

Untracked shipping is cheaper upfront, but it leaves you with no recourse if the parcel goes missing. Tracked shipping costs more but gives you a delivery confirmation and a basis for a compensation claim if the parcel doesn't arrive. For anything with meaningful value, tracking is the sensible choice.

Worth bearing in mind: your recipient in Germany may owe import charges on arrival, since German import VAT applies to goods of any value and customs duty applies above €150 (changing to a flat €3 per item from July 2026). Accurate declaration and tracked delivery work well together for exactly this reason. 

Most couriers now default to tracked services for international parcels. Some also offer a signature-on-delivery option, which adds another layer of confirmation and is worth adding for high-value or fragile items.

Packaging, Weight, and Dimensions

Getting your packaging wrong costs money in two ways: surcharges for oversize parcels, and the surprise of a volumetric weight charge that's higher than you expected. Measure and weigh before you book.

How Couriers Calculate Your Parcel Price

Couriers charge based on whichever is greater: the actual weight of your parcel, or its volumetric weight. Volumetric weight accounts for the space a parcel occupies in a vehicle, not just its weight. The standard formula is length x width x height in centimetres, divided by 5,000, giving you the volumetric weight in kilograms. A light but bulky parcel — a cushion in a large box, say — will almost always be charged at volumetric weight, not actual weight.

Always check the volumetric weight before booking, especially for items in larger boxes. Oversized parcels can attract surcharges on top of the base rate, so it's worth packing as efficiently as the contents allow.

Packaging Tips for Germany Deliveries

Fragile items should be double-boxed with padding on all sides — customs checks may involve opening and repacking the parcel, so the inner box needs to protect the contents independently. Seal every edge with strong packing tape, not just the top flap. Your label must be flat, legible, and fully visible on the largest face of the parcel. Also, include your recipient's phone number: German courier drivers often call ahead for delivery, particularly for large or high-value items.

How to Avoid Delays and Common Mistakes

Most customs delays are avoidable. The majority trace back to the same handful of errors: vague descriptions, missing HS codes, address formatting problems, and incomplete forms. Fixing these at the point of booking takes less time than resolving a parcel that was held after the fact.

Labelling and Documentation Errors

Missing or incorrect HS codes are the single biggest trigger for customs inspection — they leave border officers guessing at the correct duty classification. Vague item descriptions like 'goods' or 'personal items' make things worse. 

German address formatting matters too: write the street and house number on the same line, the postcode before the city name, and include 'Deutschland' or 'Germany' on the final line. An incomplete CN23 typically results in the parcel being returned rather than held, which adds days to transit time.

Always include the sender's full return address. If a parcel can't clear customs and can't be delivered, a missing return address may mean it's destroyed rather than returned.

Tips for Faster Clearance

Complete your customs declaration before you drop the parcel off — don't leave it to the counter staff. Use your courier's pre-generated label system where available, as it is formatted to courier and customs specifications and reduces the risk of manual errors. Always declare the correct value, track your parcel from dispatch, and avoid packing restricted items without checking the rules first.

If you're shipping to Germany regularly as part of an eCommerce operation, there's another option worth considering. EU-based fulfilment removes the per-parcel customs friction entirely — goods are stored and dispatched from within the EU, so your German customers receive domestic deliveries. Bezos.ai's EU fulfilment centre is built for exactly this use case.

Keep copies of receipts and customs declarations for at least 30 days after dispatch. If a customs query arises on the German side, having documentation ready means you can respond quickly.

Conclusion

Shipping a parcel to Germany from the UK is straightforward once you know what the process actually involves. Get your customs declaration right, choose a courier that fits your budget and timeline, measure your parcel before you book, and check the list of prohibited items before you pack. 

The paperwork feels like the hard part, but most of it is handled automatically when you book online — your job is to make sure the details you enter are accurate. Do that, and the vast majority of parcels clear German customs without a hitch. If you're sending to Germany regularly as part of an eCommerce operation, EU-based fulfilment is worth a look: it sidesteps the per-parcel customs process entirely and puts your stock inside the EU where your customers are. 

FAQ

Do I need a customs form to send a parcel to Germany from the UK?

Yes — every parcel neeThe rule depends on both value and weight. Use a CN22 for goods with a total declared value under £270 and a parcel weight of 2kg or less. Use a CN23 if the value is £270 or more, or if the parcel weighs more than 2kg, regardless of value. ds a CN22 or CN23. See CN22 and CN23 guide for full details.

What is the cheapest way to send a parcel to Germany from the UK?

Evri International and Royal Mail are often the lowest-cost tracked options for lighter parcels; aggregators like Parcel2Go may reduce costs further.

Will my recipient in Germany have to pay import duties?

Yes, in most cases. German import VAT applies to goods of any value, and customs duty applies above €150 (from 1 July 2026, a temporary flat-rate duty of €3 per item applies to consignments up to €150). 

Which items cannot be shipped from the UK to Germany?

Firearms, narcotics, counterfeit goods, hate material, and certain animal products are prohibited. Lithium batteries and prescription medicines require documentation.

Do I need a CN22 or a CN23 for Germany?

CN22 for goods under £270; CN23 for goods at £270 or above. Bezos.ai's customs forms guide explains both in full.