To unlock growth many businesses expand across geographies.
For a British online merchant looking for new avenues, Estonia, located in northern Europe, presents ample scope for growth.
Estonia is a leader in information technology and is also a hub for supply chain, industrial, and global business services.
According to a DeliveryX Europe Top500 Report, more than 92% of shoppers in several European markets shop online for convenience, at least some of the time.
As a cross-border ecommerce business, you can bring added convenience to your customers by understanding international shipping norms and ensuring smooth delivery experiences.
Below is a guide on international shipping from the UK to Estonia. It covers key concerns when shipping internationally such as the pros and cons list of top carriers, information on customs and duties, and answers to common questions.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Estonia from the UK
A crucial part of the international shipping process is choosing a suitable carrier.
Most businesses decide on a delivery logistics partner depending on their shipping needs. This holds true for individual shippers as well.
Someone looking to get their packages delivered fast would appreciate solutions such as next-day deliveries, time-defined slots, etc. However, someone looking for affordable solutions may agree with longer delivery timelines.
For packages being sent from the UK to Estonia, there are many carriers that you can choose from. Six of the leading carriers shipping on this route are, Royal Mail, FedEx, UPS, Evri (The new Hermes), DPD local, and Parcelforce Worldwide.
To give you an indication of the range of services offered by these carriers, we have below a table. This table also has costs for the respective services with estimated delivery timelines.
The rates shown here have been calculated using each company’s unique calculator for a sample package of 2 kg. The value of the package was taken as 50 GBP wherever required. The prices are subject to revisions and changes.
Note: These are general options for consumers’ shipping orders directly from a carrier’s store. Rates have been arrived at by using each carrier’s specific calculator for a sample package of 2 kg in the month of July 2022.
To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Estonia, please request a quote here.
ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfillment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
| Service | Price* | Delivery Time | |
| Royal Mail | International Standard | £12.20 | 3-5 business days |
| Royal Mail | International Tracked | £13.05 | 3-5 business days |
| Royal Mail | International Economy | £14.25 | 3-5 business days |
| UPS | Express | £42.77 | 3 business day |
| UPS | Express Saver | £34.77 | 3 business day |
| UPS | Standard | £19.39 | 4 business day |
| FedEx | International Priority | £152.19 | 2 business day |
| FedEx | International Economy | £140.59 | 5 business days |
| Evri | Evri Courier | £36.27 | 3-7 business day |
| Parcelforce Worldwide | globalpriority | £58.40 | 3+ business day |
| Parcelforce Worldwide | globalexpress | £116.58 | 1+ business days |
| Parcelforce Worldwide | globalvalue | £53.10 | 5+ business days |
| DPD local | Air Express | £68.77 | 2-3 business days |
| DPD local | Air Classic | £45.26 | 7-10 business days |
Only pick-up service prices for Parcelforce Worldwide, DPD local and Evri are of have been listed here. The package size for calculation was taken as 45cm X 35cm X 16cm (L X W X H) wherever mandatorily requested i.e., Evri, Parcelforce Worldwide, and DPD local shipping options.
There is no difference in the costs for UPS and FedEx pick-up and drop-off options.
How to choose a shipping carrier
If you are looking to ship internationally it is a good idea to weigh the merits and demerits of the top delivery companies.
You can find below a list of the pros and cons of leading carriers that ship from the UK to Estonia.
Carriers | 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 Estonia from the UK with Royal Mail
Royal Mail delivers to 230 countries and territories worldwide.
When shipping to Estonia from the UK, International Tracked and Signed, International Tracked, and International Standard all aim to get your package to the recipient in 3-5 business days.
However, the trackability scale and compensation covers vary for these options.
When to use Royal Mail to ship from the UK to Estonia
If you have a busy schedule and prefer dropping off parcels, Royal Mail’s extensive network of over 14,000 drop-off locations including 24/7 parcel post boxes would be a sure pull.
In addition to convenience, Royal Mail also offers among the most affordable solutions when shipping from the UK to Estonia.
It is a practical choice for someone looking for reliability, affordability, and convenience. It is suitable for sending lighter goods of up to 2 kg. You may be able to send books and pamphlets up to 5 kg.
Shipping to Estonia from the UK with UPS
UPS has over 48,000+ employees working just within the Europe region to deliver goods efficiently. With a robust network and 45+ years of presence in the region, it has the capabilities to deliver to over 220 countries and territories across the world.
When shipping goods from the UK to Estonia, UPS offers several competitive services.
When to use UPS to ship from the UK to Estonia
UPS offers a generous package weight limit of up to 70 kg, a money-back guarantee for European deliveries, competitive options, trackability, special small business solutions with flat-rate options, and many more services to its customers.
For someone who is looking for a bouquet of services and wants a dependable name, UPS would work well.
Shipping to Estonia from the UK with FedEx
FedEx is a global leader in logistics and transportation. It can deliver packages across 220 countries and territories worldwide.
For those looking to engage FedEx’s services when shipping from the UK to Estonia, there are two services offered, International Priority and International Economy.
Both services aim to deliver to the destination country within 2 business days. The speed of delivery offered by FedEx on this route is among the fastest across a range of carriers.
When to use FedEx to ship from the UK to Estonia
Timely and fast delivery with trackability are the key benefits of choosing FedEx. For those who appreciate these benefits and are looking for a trusted name, FedEx would be a suitable carrier.
For an ecommerce business, there is a special solution called FedEx International Connect Plus that offers greater convenience, increased cost efficiencies, and more.
FedEx offers a single package weight limit of 68 kg. This is among the higher end. But, the costs charged for the services are also priced higher than most carriers.
Additionally, FedEx account holders may be able to enjoy up to 40% discounts.
Shipping to Estonia from the UK with DPD UK
Trusted by millions of senders worldwide, DPD is a reliable name in the world of logistics. It can ship packages to over 230 countries and territories across the globe.
It has a strong network of over 6,000 drop-off shops within the UK.
When shipping from the UK to Estonia, it offers both drop-off and door-to-door services. Also, all options offered come with full trackability.
When to use DPD UK to ship from the UK to Estonia
For people who like their packages tracked, have flexible delivery timelines, and need a high compensation cover for valuable shipments, DPD would be a credible choice.
As many as 30% of European consumers are willing to pay a premium for environmentally responsible products/services.
DPD aims to become the UK’s most sustainable delivery company. It has adopted practices such as green packaging, electric fleet, etc. which can be valuable to ecommerce businesses with similar goals.
Shipping to Estonia from the UK with Evri (The new Hermes)
Evri is an international delivery company that can get packages delivered to over 190 countries and territories worldwide.
It has a nexus of 6,000 parcelshops and lockers within the UK. The timeline for packages delivered from the UK to anywhere in Europe is set between 3-7 business days.
Both collection and drop-off options are offered by the company for shipments from the UK to Estonia.
When to use Evri (The new Hermes) to ship from the UK to Estonia
For someone on the look-out for a delivery company that offers trackability, has a good drop-off network, and allows securing parcels to a high compensation cover of up to £2,500, Evri would be a good fit.
A business in need of sending multiple parcels might like the option to connect an Evri account with online sellers eBay, Amazon, and Shopify.
Do note that the weight limit for an individual parcel is set at a maximum of 15 kg.
Shipping to Estonia from the UK with Parcelforce
Parcelforce Worldwide has the expertise to deliver items to over 240 countries and territories across the globe. It offers parcel delivery services that can reach over 99% of the world’s population.
Within the UK, its domestic network of drop-off locations that includes depots and 11,000+ post office branches brings increased convenience to users.
Whether you are looking to send to the capital city Tallinn in Estonia or to a small town like Viljandi, Parcelforce offers a variety of speeds for the delivery options.
For those urgent deliveries, the 1+ business day globalexpress can be a good fit. On the other hand, for deliveries that are not rushed, there are 3+ and 5+ business day solutions available called globalpriority and globalvalue respectively.
When to use Parcelforce to ship from the UK to Estonia
If you are sending an individual package of up to 30kg, want options with a mix of speed and affordability, and appreciate the availability of a vast drop-off network, Parcelforce Worldwide could be the answer to your requirements.
While collected articles enjoy a higher individual package weight limit of 30 kg, parcels dropped off at a post office carry a maximum individual package weight limit of 20 kg.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Estonia from the UK
As per the norms laid out by the European Union (EU), the Estonian government levies customs duties and taxes on imports from non-European Union (EU) nations.
Since Brexit, the UK does not fall under the single EU market. This implies that all goods imported from the UK to Estonia are subject to applicable customs duties and taxes.
The customs duties for goods imported in Estonia from non-EU countries are calculated based on the type of the goods, the quantity, and the country of origin.
Estonia also levies a 20% import VAT on all goods imported from the UK. There is a reduced VAT of 0% and 9% that applies to certain goods and services.
The former VAT exemption threshold of €22 no longer applies to goods imported into the EU from non-EU nations. It means that all goods sent from the UK to Estonia, no matter the value are subject to VAT.
Gifts up to the value of €45 (£39) may not be charged any VAT. Some conditions may apply.
If you purchase goods up to the value of €150 (£135) from an online merchant that uses Import One Stop Shop (IOSS), you may be able to pay the applicable VAT at the time of purchase.
But, if the seller is not registered with IOSS, the applicable VAT and duties will be payable at import.
For goods above the value of €150 (£135), VAT is payable at the time of import along with necessary customs duties.
Certain categories of goods such as alcohol, tobacco, tobacco products, etc. may attract additional excise duties.
A brokerage fee may be charged by your carrier if it facilitates the clearance of customs on your behalf.
Once necessary payments have been made by the importer or a representative of the importer and the customs department has cleared the goods, they will be released for free circulation.
In the event the goods do not comply with the set rules and procedures, they may be placed in a free zone or a free warehouse, re-exported, destroyed, or abandoned.
Estonia customs information
Once goods reach the Estonian border from the UK, they are presented to the customs department.
To assess the goods and calculate duties, the customs department requires adequate documentation. These may include declarations ascertaining the movement of goods, their origin, and value.
Customs declarations are submitted electronically through the e-services environment e-MTA of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.
To be able to submit the customs declaration within the EU, and to import, transit, or export goods, companies must have an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number.
Once duly payments have been made, goods are released to the importer or a representative of the importer.
Customs information may change from time to time. It is therefore recommended to review the latest updates and regulations before shipping goods to avoid unwanted delays. You can visit the official Estonian customs website here.
Prohibited items when shipping to Estonia
To ensure the safety of its citizens and protect their rights, each country enforces a list of items that it prohibits from importing.
Additionally, some items may be restricted. These are items that are allowed in pre-defined numbers and with necessary certificates/permissions. Only select importers/organizations may be granted approvals for such articles.
In addition to these national lists, each carrier also follows lists of items it does not carry.
It would be wise to review these lists before sending items to a foreign country to avoid unnecessary hiccups.
Items you can’t ship to Estonia from the UK |
| Hazardous materials |
| Ivory |
| Pornographic materials |
| Money and negotiable items |
| Firearms |
| Articles of exceptional value (such as artwork, antiques, gold) |
| Live animals, animal skins, and furs |
Since these lists may change, it is advised to check the official customs website for the updated prohibited and restricted items’ list before shipping.
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Estonia
Did you know that it takes less than 20 minutes to establish a company online in Estonia? Also, companies registered in Estonia are eligible to pay no income tax on reinvested profits.
Another draw for a cross-border business looking to acquire Estonian customers is that both foreign and domestic investments are treated equally under the law.
A cashless culture prevails in the country with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally.
Both the ecommerce market as well as the user penetration in Estonia are expected to grow.
For a British ecommerce business looking to expand to the Baltic region, Estonia presents promising indicators.
To help you get started, here are some more insights about the Estonian market.
1. Supportive business environment
Acceptance of foreign capital, liberalization of the economy, and innovation are some of the reasons that make Estonia one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.
Since English is widely spoken in the region, it adds to the convenience of doing business for British businesses.
The country is home to four ‘unicorn’ companies, Transferwise, Skype, Playtech, and Taxify. For exporters from the UK who require local skilled labor, Estonia offers a skilled, hardworking, and well-educated workforce.
2. Entryway to European expansion
From a location standpoint, Estonia can serve as a strategic doorway to Scandinavia, the Baltic region, Central Europe, and even Asia.
Owing to Estonia’s strategic location, contemporary infrastructure, and multi-modal capabilities, it offers the most efficient supply chain hub for businesses looking to reach the Nordic, Baltic, and the northwest Russian regions.
3. Use the information technology (IT) expertise to your advantage
Estonia is a world leader in IT and since IT has become the value driver across a variety of industries, it is the preferred scalable location for knowledge and digital businesses.
As the world’s most digitally enabled nation, Estonia presents a unique mix of talent, environment, and innovation.
The IT R&D ecosystem in the country has global proof of concept and is trusted by leading organizations such as NATO and Kuehne+Nagel.
Estonia also has to its credit unicorn start-ups such as Wise and Bolt.
Grow your business globally with ShipBob
Looking to serve customers across the globe?
ShipBob is a global omnichannel fulfillment partner that makes selling internationally accessible and affordable.
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 Estonia with a fulfillment center in the UK and other locations across the world, we also offer upfront fulfillment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.
By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfillment, logistics operations, and hire labor.
“While we’re based in the US, a quarter of our sales are international. It looks like international sales will overtake US sales in a few short years — so we are definitely using ShipBob’s international fulfillment centers!
We’ve found that there is consistent demand for our products abroad, and ShipBob’s ever-expanding global fulfillment network enables us to tap into that demand much more cost-effectively.
Currently, we have stock in ShipBob’s fulfillment centers in the UK, Canada, and Australia. We’ve also just begun moving into ShipBob’s fulfillment center 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 Estonia FAQs
Read on to find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about shipping from the UK to Estonia.
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Estonia from the UK?
Royal Mail’s International Standard is the cheapest option when shipping to Estonia from the UK. Delivery aim for goods sent using this service to Estonia is 3-5 business days.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Estonia from the UK?
For individual shippers, UPS and DPD local both offer competitive prices for shipping heavy packages. The individual package weight limit for UPS shipment is set at a maximum of up to 70 kg. For DPD shipments it is up to 30 kg for a single collected parcel and up to 20 kg for each dropped-off parcel.
For small businesses, UPS has a special platform that offers flat-rate solutions for a single package up to 70 kg. It starts as low as £19.39 per individual parcel of up to 70 kg.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Estonia from the UK?
Parcelforce Worldwide’s globalexpress aims to deliver goods to Estonia from the UK within 1+ business day.
FedEx International Economy and International Priority services can also deliver to Estonia in 2 business days’ time from the UK.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Estonia from the UK?
Owing to Brexit, the UK is no longer a part of the EU single market. This means goods exported from the UK to the EU are subject to customs and taxes.
In addition to the applicable customs duties, an import VAT is levied on all goods entering Estonia from the UK. The rate of VAT is 20% in Estonia. There is a reduced rate of VAT of 0% and 9% on some goods and services.
Gifts up to the value of €45 (£39) may not attract any VAT. This is however subject to some conditions being fulfilled.
Some products such as alcohol, tobacco and tobacco products, etc. may attract additional excise duties.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Estonia from the UK?
Evri (The new Hermes) has a drop-off location network of 6,000+ parcelshops and lockers. When shipping from the UK to Estonia, it offers both drop-off and collection options.
The pick-up option comes at a small fee and all packages sent via Evri come with full trackability at no additional cost. Evri also allows businesses to ship an individual package of up to 15 kg.
