Parcel Delivery Across Europe

Enter the country you're sending from, the destination, and the parcel's weight and dimensions. Ecoparcel then lists the couriers that cover that route, each with its price and estimated transit time, so you can weigh cost against speed before booking anything.

There's no drop-off required for most services: a courier collects the parcel from your address at a time you choose. Once booked, you get a label to print (or a QR code for paperless drop-off, where the courier supports it) and tracking from pickup to delivery.

Need it there in a day or two? Filter for the fastest options. Shipping something heavy or oddly shaped on a budget? Sort by price instead and check which carriers still handle the size.

Which courier is cheapest or fastest depends on the route. National carriers such as Bartolini in Italy, Schenker DB in Germany or Omniva in Estonia often beat the international names on price for domestic legs, while DPD, GLS, FedEx and DHL tend to offer more consistent coverage once a parcel crosses a border.

Price isn't the only variable worth checking. Look at whether a printer is needed for the label, whether the courier offers weekend collection, and how the service handles a parcel that's delayed or lost. Ecoparcel lists these details next to each price, so the cheapest option on the screen isn't a guess about what you'll actually get.

A parcel's size often matters more than its weight. Couriers charge on volumetric weight for bulky boxes, so a large, half-empty box can cost more to ship than a small, dense one of the same actual weight.

• Clothing and soft items: roll rather than fold. Rolling shirts and trousers lengthwise frees up noticeably more space than a standard fold.
• Electronics: keep the original packaging if you still have it. If not, wrap each item in bubble wrap and fill any gap with packing material so nothing shifts in transit.
• Documents: use a rigid envelope or folder and ask the courier to mark the parcel "do not bend" at collection.

A tighter box protects the contents and usually keeps the price down too.

Price comes down to four things: weight, size, route and how fast you need it there. A 2 kg parcel between neighbouring countries is usually only a few euros; the same parcel sent overnight across the continent costs more, and a heavier or oversized box costs more again regardless of the distance.

Ecoparcel shows the price upfront for each courier on your route, before you book, so there's nothing added at checkout. New customers get a discount on their first shipment, and returning customers earn loyalty points that reduce the price over time. Most bookings also include complimentary insurance up to €100, at no extra cost.