Free tools
Free shipping tools
Three checks that decide what a parcel really costs, and whether it can be sent at all. No account needed.
Dimensional weight calculator
Carriers bill the larger of the actual weight and the dimensional weight worked out from the box size: length × width × height ÷ divisor. USPS, UPS and FedEx use 139 for inches and pounds; DHL Express uses 5,000 for centimetres and kilograms. Since 12 July 2026, USPS applies it only to parcels over one cubic foot, with each side rounded up to a whole inch.
Sources: USPS (Federal Register), FedEx, DHL. Checked 29 September 2026.
Duty and import tax thresholds
Whether the recipient pays duty or tax depends on the value of the goods, how they arrive and where they come from. Checked 29 September 2026; rules change, so follow the source link before you rely on a figure.
| Destination | Duty-free limit | Tax on imports | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | None. Duty-free de minimis entry suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025 | No national VAT; duty applies at any value | CBP |
| United Kingdom | No customs duty on goods worth £135 or less (non-excise) | VAT 20%: charged by the seller up to £135, collected on delivery above it. Gifts of £39 or less between individuals are VAT-free | GOV.UK |
| Canada | Courier from the US or Mexico: duty waived to CAD 150, tax to CAD 40. Mail and other origins: CAD 20 | GST 5%, or HST 13–15% depending on the province | CBSA |
| European Union | From 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028, parcels under €150 pay a flat €3 duty per item type | VAT on all imports, at the member state’s rate (e.g. Germany 19%, France 20%) | European Commission |
| Australia | No duty at the border on goods worth A$1,000 or less | GST 10%, collected by the seller at checkout up to A$1,000 | ATO |
| Jamaica | No duty or tax on packages with an FOB value of US$100 or less (from 1 April 2024) | GCT 15% plus duty and fees above the limit | Jamaica Customs |
| Trinidad and Tobago | No published duty-free value for parcels; small personal shipments are cleared at Customs discretion | VAT 12.5% on the value including duty | US ITA |
Prohibited items by country
Every country refuses some items in the mail. The US Postal Service publishes a list for each destination in its International Mail Manual; couriers such as UPS, FedEx and DHL keep their own lists, and every carrier bans dangerous goods such as explosives, flammable liquids and most loose lithium batteries.
Packaging in five steps
- Choose the smallest strong box that fits the item with cushioning on every side. An oversized box costs more twice: more void fill and a higher dimensional weight.
- Cushion every side so nothing moves when you shake the box.
- Seal with the H method: wide packing tape along the centre seam and across each edge seam, top and bottom.
- Label on the largest flat surface, away from seams, and remove or cover old labels and barcodes.
- Measure and weigh after packing, at the widest points, and use those figures when you buy the label.