Shipping to UK (from USA): 7 Basics You Should Know

The UK’s population is almost 70 million. And they’re a first world country.

This makes them a large market.

Many businesses strive to export there. And many UK consumers buy international products…

If you fall into any of those categories, you must learn about UK shipping. And we’ll help you with that.

Below, we’ll discuss the basics. We’ll present 7 facts, plus their influence on your shipping process!

#1 – Prohibited Products to ship to UK

Some items can’t be shipped to the UK. It’s illegal to do so.

The list is long. But you can find it on the UK government website (source).

Obvious ones include illegal drugs and weapons. Most ports (sea or air) ban those from crossing custom portals.

But there are other interesting items. They include rough diamonds, and endangered plant species!

#2 – Shipping Methods for Shipping to UK

Some countries restrict shipping methods.

Fortunately, the UK and USA don’t have such limitations.

Both countries have excellent trade relations – with the UK as America’s 4th largest export partner (source).

But still, there are geographic limits. After all, the UK is surrounded entirely by water.

Thus, the primary methods of transport are air freight and ocean.

Both differ in costs, as you’ll see in the next point…

#3 – Factors that Affect Cost when shipping to England

Many factors affect freight costs. They include…

• Chosen service.
• Package weight/density, use a CBM Calculator 
• Distance.
• Freight type. ( Standard shipping or Expedite shipping)
• Tariff/Taxes.

Also, many methods exist that allow for price shipping calculators.

One if is the My US tool, which gives you costs by package weight. This lets you see how large freights affect price (source).

#4 – Shipping to UK Documentation & Regulations.

This is a vital point, especially with the UK’s exit from the EU.

There’s confusion on shipping laws. It’s a confusion to businesses on required documentation, regulations, etc.

To avoid wrong information, we recommend the UK’s government site (source).

Required Documents “Customs/Regulations”.

They include the following…

• Certificates of Origin.
• Commercial invoice.
• Airway Bill.
• Packing List.
• Insurance Documents.
• Bill of Lading

Any business must present those at customs.

However, depending the shipment agreements, the responsibility might fall under the “UK importer.”

So be sure to check the shipment classification beforehand.

#5 – Duties & Taxes.

They can get quite expensive, especially for exporters outside the EU.

Customs duty and import VAT are mandatory.

They apply to items shipped from outside the EU, and into the UK.

Customs Duties.

You pay customs duties on items £120+ in value. However, those costs are anywhere from 2-17% of the product price.

This depends on the category.

VAT.

You pay VAT for items £18+ in value. And like customs, you pay depending on the item’s type.

Some items are charged 9% VAT. Others are charged a 21%. And few are charged nothing.

#6 –Shipping Services Choices (and Affordability).

You can choose from freight forwarders and small courier companies.

If you’re importing/exporting large packages, use freight forwarders. They typically use their own staff, and they handle large cargos better.

They also incorporate warehousing, perfect for storing bulk supplies.

But for single items (like online purchases), we recommend small courier services.

Small Couriers.

Many courier services exist. One is USPS, and another is USMail.

Both are considered the cheapest in the US. But, their services differ…

(A) USMail.

The cheaper of the two. However, it’s known for multi-week delivery times, even for lightweight shipments.

Expect to pay $10 to $20 for small packages (less than 5 lbs.).

(B) USPS.

Considered faster and more reliable. But the costs of shipping are high.

A 5 lbs. package can cost up to $50. In many cases, this doubles the price tag of certain products!

#7 – Shopping Online With Small Couriers.

This is necessary for customers shopping online, but must handle shipping themselves.

Here, you need to sign up to a courier service or a shipping companies. And their services automate the shipping process for you…

They’ll provide shipping addresses, and find shipping routes that lower costs.

You Can Try International Couriers.

While we did mention USMail and USPS, you can expand beyond.

If you live in the UK, try services like FedEx and DHL. Both have international offices you can visit.

And if you can’t find an office, you can manage the entire process online.

For an example, visit the following link on signing up for FedEx services (source).

It eases importing, and makes international consumption comfortable!