Did you know that 98% of the population of Denmark uses the internet? Of this subset, a massive 86% have shopped online.
Hence, for a UK-based ecommerce retailer looking to expand its reach, Denmark makes for an active and lucrative market.
When shipping to loved ones or customers in this Scandinavian country it is important to familiarize yourself with the shipping rules to avoid fulfilment delays.
Here is a guide to help you bridge that gap and plan international shipping to Denmark.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Denmark from the UK
Choosing the right courier for your shipping needs is often dependent on parameters such as speed of delivery, cost-effectiveness, customs support, etc.
It is therefore critical to make yourself aware of the many options available before deciding on a courier. Royal Mail, FedEx, UPS, Evri (Hermes), Parcelforce Worldwide, and DPD are some of the key players that ship to Denmark.
Below is a table to give you an indication of the shipping rates from these couriers. The rates shown here have been determined using each courier’s unique calculators for a standard example of a 2 kg package of a declared value of 50 GBP in March 2022. Actual prices are subject to change.
Note: To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Denmark, please request a quote here.
| Service | Price* | Delivery Time | |
| Royal Mail | International Tracked | £13.46 | 3-5 business days |
| Royal Mail | International Tracked and Signed | £14.95 | 3-5 business days |
| UPS | Express Plus | £59.57 | 1 business day |
| UPS | Express | £29.57 | 1 business day |
| UPS | Express Saver | £21.57 | 3-4 business days |
| FedEx | International Priority Express | £129.38 | 1 business day |
| FedEx | International Priority | £123.10 | 1 business day |
| FedEx | International Economy | £124.03 | 5 business days |
| Parcelforce Worldwide | globalexpress | £63.96 | 1+ business day |
| Parcelforce Worldwide | globalpriority | £38.30 | 3+ business day |
| Parcelforce Worldwide | globalvalue | £29.95 | 5+ business days |
| DPD local | Air Classic | £51.02 | 4-7 business days |
| DPD local | Air Express | £57.50 | 1-3 business days |
| Evri | Evri Courier | £14.75 | 3-5 business days |
How to choose a shipping courier
When looking for an international courier it is important to make an informed decision.
The pros and cons list below will come in handy when choosing a trustworthy courier for your shipping needs.
Couriers | Pros | Cons |
| Royal Mail |
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| FedEx |
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| UPS |
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| DPD |
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| Evri |
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| Parcelforce |
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Shipping to Denmark from the UK with Royal Mail
With a legacy of over 500 years, the Royal Mail Group is one of the oldest organisations in the world. Royal Mail delivers to 40 countries across the world including Denmark. It prides itself on being the UK’s most trusted and preferred courier.
Its fastest option for shipping within Europe is International Tracked and Signed.
It aims to deliver within 3-5 business days. International Economy on the other hand is its most cost-efficient option for deliveries within Europe. Deliveries may however take anywhere between 2-5 weeks.
For businesses, there are more cost-effective solutions with speedy delivery options.
When to use Royal Mail to ship from the UK to Denmark
Royal Mail could be your preferred courier if you intend to ship lighter packages of up to 2 kg. They have a group partner Parcelforce Worldwide for packages heavier than 2 kg.
Its shipping costs are rather competitive and significantly lower than other top players. It is ideal for those looking to send light packages or letters and need economical solutions.
Shipping to Denmark from the UK with UPS
With deliveries of 24.7million packages in a day and a network to reach 220+ countries, UPS is indeed a strong global player in logistics. It has been operating in Europe since 1976 and has developed a strong service range.
UPS offers a host of shipping options like next-day delivery solutions, flat rate shipping for businesses, customs support, time-defined deliveries, a dedicated small business platform, etc.
When to use UPS to ship from the UK to Denmark
UPS Express Plus, Express, and Express Saver all aim to deliver from the United Kingdom to Denmark by the next business day. The difference lies in the time of delivery.
While Express Plus typically plans delivery by 9 am, Express aims to reach its recipients between 10:30 am – 12:00 noon and Express Saver delivers by end of the day.
For the more cost-effective shipper, UPS Standard delivers within 3-5 business days and offers date-definite deliveries.
Use UPS when you intend to deliver fast or are in need to ship heavier packages as the weight limit is up to 70 kg.
Shipping to Denmark from the UK with FedEx
FedEx has the world’s largest air express network and a wide European road network. It makes for a credible choice when shipping to Denmark from the UK.
It has been in Europe as a logistics player for over 35 years now and ships to 220 countries internationally.
FedEx offers specialized tools for small businesses such as the FedEx Ship Manager. This helps in sourcing shipping rates, aiding in customs document submission, package tracking, etc.
When to use FedEx to ship from the UK to Denmark
If you require to deliver fast with trackability and door-to-door service, FedEx could be your courier of choice.
While International Priority Express and International Priority both aim to deliver to Denmark from the UK within one business day, the difference lies in the designated time.
International Priority Express aims to deliver by 9 am while the other option provides an end of the day delivery option.
Shipping to Denmark from the UK with DPD
One of Europe’s leading parcel groups, DPD is a reliable shipping company. It offers shipping services to over 200+ countries from the UK and has several international shipping solutions available.
The company has a vast network of drop-off points in the UK. Delivery time windows and parcel progress down to the last 15 minutes are some of the advanced options available.
With efforts to build the largest electric fleet in the UK, green packaging, waste management, etc. DPD aims to become the greenest delivery company.
When to use DPD to ship from the UK to Denmark
If you are someone who appreciates multilingual customer service and shipping information in the local language to recipients, DPD could be your preferred partner.
Also, for an environmentally conscious ecommerce business, DPD’s green practices could be of significant value.
Shipping to Denmark from the UK with Evri (The new Hermes)
Evri delivers to over 190 countries. With 6000 + local parcel shops and lockers, 7-day drop-offs, and competitive pricing it makes for a convenient option when shipping to Denmark. Evri’s pricing is competitive and cost-effective.
Evri Courier and Evri Parcelshop are two options available when shipping to Denmark from the UK. The difference being Evri Courier is for when you want to get the parcel collected while the other is for when you want to drop off your parcel. Both services aim to deliver within 3-7 business days.
When to use Evri (The new Hermes) to ship from the UK to Denmark
If your need is to send packages up to 15 kg in a cost-effective manner and want tracking options but are not stringent on delivery timelines, Evri could be the courier of choice.
Shipping to Denmark from the UK with Parcelforce
Parcelforce Worldwide’s international network processes parcels to 240 countries and territories. It is a part of the Royal Mail group that was created as a special parcel function.
globalexpress is its fastest and most expensive option, aiming to deliver in Denmark within 1+ business days. It is a fully trackable option and offers a standard protection cover of £200.
On the other hand, globalvalue is the most affordable option when shipping to Denmark. The delivery timelines on this option are 5-8 business days. It has a compensation cover of £100 included.
When to use Parcelforce to ship from the UK to Denmark
If you are looking to send packages of up to 30 kg, need assured deliveries, and want to access the vast drop-off network of post offices (11000+) within the UK, Parcelforce Worldwide makes for a dependable choice.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Denmark from the UK
All goods being imported from a foreign country into Denmark need to be declared to the Danish Customs Agency (Toldstyrelsen). It is this customs agency that applies necessary duties for all goods and services.
No customs duty is levied on goods being imported from the UK to Denmark up to the value of DKK 1,150 (roughly £130).
However, if the value exceeds this amount, a “statement of origin” is required from the seller to prove the product’s UK origin to avoid customs duty. Else customs duty becomes applicable on the goods.
A standard import VAT of 25% is charged on all goods imported from the UK. VAT is levied on goods’ value, shipping costs, and customs duty. Regardless of the invoice value or country of origin, permissible excise goods attract custom duties and taxes.
Excise goods require pre-registration and clearance of duties before goods are sent.
Below is a list of some products that attract duty by Danish customs authorities:
| Custom Duty % | Description |
| 9% | Dry food and supplements |
| 12% | Fashion |
| 0% | Computers, mobiles, and tables |
| 6% | Home decor |
| 5% | Luggage |
Note: The above percentages are indicative and the actual duty applicable may vary.
Danish customs information
Once your international shipment reaches Denmark’s customs department, you will be required to make necessary duty payments. Also, you may be asked to submit documents such as invoices and freight declarations.
The customs duty, VAT, and excise duty (if any) are usually cleared by the courier you choose. As the buyer, you need to pay up the courier for the duties applicable. The courier will often charge a fee to facilitate the same which will need to be paid before delivery.
After the necessary duties have been collected, the customs department would typically release the goods to designated recipients.
To know more about the country’s customs department and its processes you can read further on the official website.
Prohibited items when shipping to Denmark
Every country has certain items it prohibits from being imported. It is recommended to review these before shipment to avoid hold-ups and delays.
In addition to the country-specific list of prohibited items, each courier also has an exhaustive list of prohibited and restricted items that they do not ship.
As someone looking to ship internationally, it is best to assess such information before dispatch.
Below is a list of some of the prohibited items when shipping to Denmark:
Items you can’t ship to Denmark from the UK |
| Alcohol |
| Tobacco |
| Drugs and chemicals |
| Explosives and firearms |
| Animals |
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Denmark
The Danish ecommerce market is projected to generate $10,866 million revenue in 2022 and is expected to show an annual growth rate of 13.3% (CAGR 2022 – 2025).
For an ecommerce business in the UK looking to expand, this Scandinavian country with the highest smartphone penetration rate in the world at 77% and an English proficient population makes for a good choice.
Read on to get inputs about furthering your business in this Danish country.
1. Proven products for the win
The nation’s economically and socially conducive environment makes Danish early adopters, especially of high-tech products.
But they also tend to be relatively conservative and prefer to buy products that have proven their mettle in technology and value.
If you’re a business in the UK that has found success in the home market, expanding to Denmark might be a good idea. This is due to similarities in the two markets.
2. Partner with 3PL experts like ShipBob
In order to optimise your time and efforts as a business, it is best to partner with experts where possible. Logistics and warehousing is one such area which demands extensive knowledge and having a certified expert like ShipBob can be of great use.
Shipbob has adequate resources that help you stay up to date and in sync with the latest trends. Its technical know-how and partner network of couriers and custom packaging help in improving your supply chain.
Having an international 3PL expert like ShipBob allows you more time to focus on other important things like product development, customer service, etc. This could translate into more success for your ecommerce business.
3. Potential gateway to European expansion
With state-of-the-art infrastructure and distribution systems, and a highly-skilled labour force, Denmark presents interesting opportunities. It is positioned advantageously as thegateway to Scandinavian and Baltic countries.
With its Copenhagen hub airport and a robust motorway network, Denmark provides easy access to northern Europe markets. It also has strong growing economies such as Germany, Sweden, and Poland close by.
For a business looking to expand to these areas within Europe, its strategic location could make for a suitable entryway to all other adjacent nations.
Outsource shipping and logistics to a 3PL like ShipBob
To offer customers across the world a remarkable brand experience, consider partnering with an international 3PL like ShipBob.
Selling internationally can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly. But with ShipBob, you’re given everything you need to serve customers across the globe while saving time on logistics.
We not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Dubai, we also offer upfront fulfilment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.
By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfilment, logistics operations, and hire labour.
The best part about partnering with ShipBob is you get time back to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as customer service and marketing.
“Currently, we have stock in ShipBob’s fulfilment centres in the UK, Canada, and Australia. We’ve also just begun moving into ShipBob’s fulfilment centre in Poland, as we have customers in Germany as well! With new locations being added all the time, ShipBob will help us service customers in more and more countries around the world over time.”
Aaron Patterson, COO of The Adventure Challenge
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Shipping to Denmark FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about shipping to Dubai from the US.
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Denmark from the UK?
Royal Mail’s International Tracked is one of the cheapest options available. The expected delivery timeline is 3-5 business days. This service imposes a weight limit of 2 kg.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Denmark from the UK?
UPS has options to ship up to 70 kg that are priced economically vis-à-vis FedEx which imposes an upper weight limit of 68 kg.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Denmark from the UK?
UPS’s Express Plus is the fastest option to ship packages to Denmark from the UK. It aims to deliver your package by the next business day before 9 am.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Denmark from the UK?
No customs duty is levied on goods being imported from the UK to Denmark up to the value of DKK 1,150 (roughly £130). However, if the value exceeds this amount, a “statement of origin” is required from the seller to prove the product’s UK origin to avoid customs duty.
A standard import VAT of 25% is however charged on all goods imported from the UK over and above the customs duty (if any). Regardless of the invoice value or country of origin, permissible excise goods attract custom duties and taxes.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Denmark from the UK?
Royal Mail with its widespread network in the United Kingdom makes for a convenient choice. It has over 14000+ drop-off locations including post office branches, customer service points, and 24/7 parcel post-boxes. Begin shipping your products to South Korea by learning the rules, shipping options, and services available with this guide from ShipBob.
There are parcel collection options available too at nominal prices.
