Sending a Gift In The Post

If you’ve never used ipostparcels, it may be easier than you think to send a gift by courier. There’s no need to queue at the post office – we’ll collect your parcel from your door (this can be your home or work address) and deliver to your recipient the next working day.

Struggling for gift ideas? We’ve got you covered!

Remember to always tailor your gift to the individual – if your dad is an avid golfer then golf balls may be up his street or if your niece is a budding artist, a set or colouring pencils could be the perfect gift.

If you want to mark a special occasion with something meaningful then a personalised gift may be the way to go. Whether it’s a big birthday or a bar mitzvah, we have some fantastic personalised gift suggestions for all ages:

Photo book / album
Framed photo
Memory book
Engraved jewellery or watch
Personalised illustration of a special place (first house, wedding venue)
Special edition of their favourite book
Vinyl of their favourite record

This a great opportunity to support an independent business – why not check out your local high street for something special? Alternatively, sites like Etsy and Not on the High Street are jam-packed with personalised presents from small creative businesses.

What gifts to avoid

Before sending a parcel, it’s always a good idea to check our prohibited items page to check that it can be sent through our network. As a quick reference, we outline some of the most common gifts which you are unable to send below:

Liquids – alcohol, perfumes
Perishable goods
Plants
Precious stones or metals
Money or gift vouchers
Designer goods

Prohibited items can vary from country to country, so make sure to do your research before you send anything to prevent your items being stopped in customs, delayed, returned to you or even destroyed. See our International shipping guides for information on each destination.

Make sure your parcel’s covered

As standard, we provide £25 contents cover for all parcels sent within the UK and £50 cover for all parcels sent internationally. If the gift you are sending is worth more than this, we recommend taking out extended contents cover. You can extend your cover up to £500 on UK parcels and £1,000 for international parcels.

Please do not send anything which is irreplaceable or valuable, for example a family heirloom. We look after all parcels which are sent through our network but in the unfortunate event that a parcel should go missing, we want you to be able to easily replace your gift.

For more information about the contents cover options available, take a look at our Terms and Conditions.

Need your gift to arrive by a specific date?

When sending a gift, we understand that it’s important your parcel arrives on time so that your recipient can open the present on their special day. If sending a Christmas present, check out our Christmas delivery page for last posting dates to make sure your gift is sent in plenty of time.

If sending a gift internationally, public holidays in the destination country can affect how quickly your items will be delivered so please take this into account. You can view the public holidays for some of our most international destinations below:

Trust ipostparcels to deliver your gifts

	Trusted by our customers and recipients. We have a ‘Great’ review status on Trustpilot and being part of DHL – one of the biggest and most trust global couriers, so you know your parcels is in great hands.
	We collect from your door and deliver your UK parcels the very next working day. We also deliver to over 160 countries worldwide from just 2-3 days.
	We have the cheapest next day, UK delivery ratest and provide up to £50 free contents cover as standard, on all orders.
	Should you need us, we’re always here. Our dedicated customer service team are on hand to answer any queries you may have.
	This may be your first time booking a parcel delivery online instead of heading to the Post Office. Our booking forms are super quick and easy to complete. Along with your recipients address, all you need to know is the weight and measurements of your parcel and we can provide you with a quick quote to send your gift to its final destination.

Top tips for a successful gift delivery:

We’re offering our top tips for parcel perfection; making sure your gift stays as special as the person you’re sending it to.

1. Send as early as possible

If you’re sending within the UK, we offer next day delivery to most locations, and a 48-hour delivery to Ireland and the Highlands, meaning you don’t have to worry about lengthy posting times.

If you’re sending abroad, make sure you check delivery times for the country you want to send to first as these can vary for each destination.

You can see our full list of countries, delivery times and prices on our International delivery pages, but for example, a gift to America will take 2-3 days with our express service, whilst sending a parcel to Australia is more likely to take 4 to 5 days. Bear in mind that items sent to more remote areas of any country will most likely add to the delivery time.

2. Take care packaging and waterproofing your parcel

We care about your parcel as much as you do, and promise to take every care with each item. However, parcels can move in transit and are subject to the weather conditions along its journey, while being delivered by our drivers, so make sure you take the time to individually wrap all items within your parcel and pack it tightly. Bubble wrap is a great option for keeping your items both secure and dry – you should also consider how you can rain-proof the outer packaging too, so the box doesn’t fall apart if it becomes wet. See more information on our how to package and waterproof your parcel page.

3. Check your items aren't restricted or prohibited

Some items are prohibited by many countries or by law. Did you know common items such as liquid cosmetics and perfumes are prohibited items? The list can vary from country to country, so make sure to do your research before you send anything to prevent your items being stopped in customs, delayed, returned to you or even destroyed. See our International shipping guides for information on each destination.

It’s important to note, we also have our own list of goods we’re unable to ship through the ipostparcels network, so check your items aren’t mentioned there before you send them.

4. Most importantly - add those personal touches

Once your parcel arrives, you’ll want it to have a wonderful impact on the recipient. Let someone know how much you care by adding a personal hand-written note or card inside your parcel. Choose pretty ribbons, tissue or wrapping paper to add some colour and excitement - you’re free to be as creative as you’d like. However, we’d always recommend putting your decorated box inside a standard plain box or waterproof padded envelope or bag to avoid your personalised packaging being damaged in transit.

Sending a gift in the post - content hub

Being a popular shipper of many gifts throughout the year, not just at Christmas means we’ve become one of the leading experts in sending gifts through the post. We’ve created lots of useful guides and articles to help you come up with gift ideas for many occasions or help you to ensure you protect your gifts during transit.