How to Send a Package from Poland: Price and Delivery Time Comparison

Sending packages from Poland has become an important part of everyday life for many people. We ourselves have faced the question of how to send a package from Poland to relatives or friends in the most cost-effective and fastest way. The postal services market in Poland has grown significantly — in 2021 alone, courier companies’ revenues increased by 1.4 billion pln, about 20% more than in 2020.

More than 2 million packages are delivered daily in Poland, but understanding the tariffs and conditions of different delivery services can be challenging. The most popular operators are InPost, Poczta Polska, and DPD, each offering unique services. For example, InPost serves about 5.2 million users through its mobile app.

In this article, we will review all available ways to send packages from Poland, compare prices of different operators, and share useful tips to help you save time and money on international shipments.

Popular Ways to Send Packages from Poland

The Polish postal market offers a variety of ways to send packages. Let’s look at the most popular ones and how to use them.

InPost: How to Send a Package via Parcel Locker

InPost parcel lockers are a modern and convenient way to send packages without interacting with postal employees. The lockers are available 24/7. To send a package, you need to:

• Properly pack the shipment (maximum weight up to 25 kg, dimensions not exceeding 41 x 38 x 64 cm)
• Create a label via the InPost Mobile app or on the InPost Szybkie Nadania website
• Pay for delivery (from 16.99 zlotys for size A up to 20.99 pln for size C)
• Attach the label to the package or note the shipment code
• Go to any parcel locker, scan the barcode, and place the package in the opened compartment

Polish Post (Poczta Polska): Traditional Method

The national postal operator Poczta Polska offers both domestic and international shipments. For domestic shipments, the following are available:

• Pocztex — courier service with next-day delivery. Maximum dimensions: sum of length, width, and height ≤ 250 cm, weight up to 50 kg.
• Paczka pocztowa — regular postal package delivered to a post office or address. Maximum dimensions: sum of length, width, and height ≤ 300 cm (length no more than 150 cm), weight up to 10 kg.

For international shipments, EMS and standard postal packages up to 20 kg are offered.

Courier Delivery in Poland: DPD, DHL, UPS

Courier services are a fast way to deliver both within Poland and abroad:

• DPD: one of the market leaders with an annual turnover of 2.1 billion packages. Most domestic shipments are delivered within 24 hours.
• DHL: a global operator working in 220 countries, handling shipments of any type and size.
• UPS: an international carrier from the USA operating in more than 200 countries.

Nova Poshta in Poland: How to Send a Package to Ukraine

Since late 2022, Nova Poshta has started opening branches in Poland, expanding to 30 postal centers in 18 Polish cities by spring 2023. You can send a package to Ukraine:

• From a Nova Poshta branch in Poland
• By calling a courier to your home (+10 zlotys for shipments up to 30 kg)
• Through InPost parcel lockers (Nova Poshta uses their network)

Delivery cost depends on weight: up to 2 kg — 60 pln, up to 10 kg — 75 pln, plus 4 pln for each additional kilogram up to 30 kg. Delivery time is from 3 working days.

Price Comparison of Delivery Services

When choosing a delivery service, cost often plays a decisive role. Let’s compare tariffs of major operators in Poland for different shipment types.

InPost: Rates and Conditions

InPost offers parcel locker shipments at the following rates:

• Size XS (40 × 230 × 400 mm, up to 3 kg): 11.99 pln (available only in the mobile app)
• Size A (80 × 380 × 640 mm): 16.99 pln
• Size B (190 × 380 × 640 mm): 18.99 pln
• Size C (410 × 380 × 640 mm): 20.99 pln

Note that exceeding the maximum weight (25 kg) or dimensions incurs additional fees: 15.61 pln for weight check and 23.41 pln for handling oversized parcels.

Poczta Polska: Polish Post Rates

The national postal service offers the following parcel rates:

• Up to 1 kg: 15.00-17.20 pln (economy) or 16.20-19.50 pln (priority)
• 1 to 2 kg: 17.00-19.20 pln (economy) or 18.20-21.50 pln (priority)
• 2 to 5 kg: 20.00-22.20 pln (economy) or 21.20-23.50 pln (priority)
• 5 to 10 kg: 26.00-28.20 pln (economy) or 27.20-29.50 pln (priority)

For shipments to Ukraine, special EMS tariffs with a 75% discount apply: up to 1 kg — 42 pln, up to 5 kg — 52 pln, up to 10 kg — 62 pln, and up to 20 kg — 82 pln.

DPD and DHL: Costs and Features

DPD Classic service offers the following rates for standard parcels:

• Up to 0.5 kg: 24.99 pln
• 0.5 to 1 kg: 25.99 pln
• 1 to 3 kg: 27.99 pln
• 3 to 5 kg: 31.00 pln
• 5 to 10 kg: 34.99 pln
• 10 to 20 kg: 39.99 pln
• 20 to 31.5 kg: 44.99 pln

DHL delivers packages to Ukraine weighing up to 70 kg with maximum dimensions of 120 × 80 × 80 cm. However, DHL does not deliver to Donetsk, Luhansk regions, and Crimea.

Price Comparison for Packages up to 1 kg, 5 kg, and 20 kg

The most cost-effective tariffs for domestic shipments are:

• Up to 1 kg: InPost Parcel Locker (16.99 pln) or Poczta Polska (15.00 pln)
• Up to 5 kg: Poczta Polska (20.00 pln) or InPost Parcel Locker (20.99 pln)
• Up to 20 kg: Poczta Polska (approx. 26.00 pln) or DPD (39.99 pln)

For shipments to Ukraine, EMS via Poczta Polska is optimal, especially after the 75% price reduction.

Delivery Times and Influencing Factors

Delivery time is often a decisive factor when choosing how to send packages from Poland. Let’s consider average delivery times and factors affecting speed.

Average Delivery Times by Destination

On average, packages from Poland to Ukraine are delivered within 7-14 days. However, times can vary significantly depending on the operator. Meest delivers shipments in 8-14 working days, while Nova Poshta claims delivery from 3 days. Shipments to the USA can take from 2 days, to Australia and South America from 3 days.

Why Packages Get Held at Customs

The main reason for delays is errors in transport documentation. Customs officers often hold packages due to discrepancies between the declaration and actual contents. If the item’s value exceeds 150 euros, additional fees apply in Ukraine. For example, a smartphone worth 170 euros is subject to a 2-euro duty and 4.4-euro VAT. Delays also occur during peak seasons, especially before holidays, when waiting times can stretch to 20-30 days.

How to Speed Up Delivery: Priority and EMS Shipments

To speed up delivery, the Polish post offers two types of shipments: “Priority” and “Economy.” Priority shipments are delivered faster than standard ones. EMS shipments are especially advantageous, with a 75% discount for deliveries from Poland to Ukraine. Thanks to cooperation with Ukrzaliznytsia, some packages are sent by postal trains, avoiding border delays.

What Can and Cannot Be Sent: Restrictions and Tips

Proper packaging and knowledge of prohibited items help avoid customs problems with international shipments from Poland.

Prohibited Items: Liquids, Medicines, Money

Postal services prohibit sending any liquids, including alcohol-based perfumes and flammable aerosols. Also forbidden are:

• Medicines, dietary supplements, and medical products
• Cash, banknotes, coins, and securities
• Tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and alcohol
• All types of weapons and ammunition

How to Fill Out the Declaration Correctly

The customs declaration is a key document for export. Correct completion ensures no delays. When filling out the declaration, indicate the real value of goods. Instead of general terms (e.g., “clothing”), specify detailed descriptions (e.g., “men’s winter jacket”).

How to Avoid Customs Problems

The main cause of delays is errors in transport documentation. Avoid problems by double-checking all documents before sending. For packages to EAEU countries, a duty-free limit of 200 euros applies from April 2024. Exceeding this incurs a 15% duty. It is not recommended to send more than 3-5 identical items, as customs may consider this a commercial shipment and confiscate it.

Conclusion

Thus, sending packages from Poland may seem complicated, but choosing the right operator significantly simplifies the process. We reviewed several popular delivery services, among which InPost offers convenient 24/7 parcel lockers, Poczta Polska provides the most affordable rates for domestic shipments, and Nova Poshta specializes in fast delivery to Ukraine.

Certainly, service costs vary greatly depending on package weight and chosen operator. For shipments up to 1 kg, Poczta Polska (from 15 pln) is the most cost-effective option, while for packages up to 5 kg, both Poczta Polska (20 pln) and InPost (20.99 pln) are worth considering.

It is important to note that delivery times depend not only on the operator but also on correct document completion. Any errors in transport documentation can cause significant customs delays. Therefore, careful document verification before sending is a necessary step to speed up the process.

Additionally, remember the list of prohibited items, including liquids, medicines, and money. I recommend always declaring the real value of the package contents, as inaccuracies may raise customs suspicions.

Finally, for international shipments, consider duty-free limits. For packages to EAEU countries, the limit is 200 euros, and for Ukraine, it is 150 euros.

Choosing the right shipping method considering all these factors will help you save money and avoid unnecessary problems. I hope this overview helps you navigate the variety of postal services in Poland and make the optimal choice for your needs.