Shipping to United States from the UK

The cost of shipping to the United States depends on the weight and dimensions of your parcel, the service level you choose, and the destination state.

Giant Van provides instant online quotes, so you always know what you will pay before you book.

As a guide, a small parcel weighing 2 kg sent via standard air service to the US typically costs from around £25 to £45 including fuel surcharges.

A 10 kg parcel runs from approximately £55 to £90. Larger shipments over 30 kg are priced on volumetric weight, which takes into account how much space the goods occupy in the aircraft. Volumetric weight is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height in centimetres and dividing by 5,000.

Remote delivery areas, including rural parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories, attract a remote area surcharge of roughly £10 to £25 per shipment on top of the standard rate.

If your consignment contains lithium batteries, dangerous goods, or restricted items, additional handling fees apply.

Duties and taxes are not included in Giant Van's shipping price.

The US imposes import duties on most commercial goods above the de minimis threshold of $800 USD (correct as of 2024). Personal gifts below this value are usually duty-free. You can choose to ship Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), where you cover duties upfront, or Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU), where the recipient pays on arrival. For a precise quote, use our online calculator or call .

The UK's exit from the European Union has had limited direct impact on UK-to-US shipping, because both countries already operated outside each other's customs unions before Brexit.

However, it is worth understanding the current trade landscape.

The UK and the United States do not currently have a free trade agreement (FTA) in force.

This means standard import duties apply to goods entering the US from the UK, based on the HTS classification of the goods. Some products benefit from zero or low duty rates under existing World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments, but others face tariffs of 5 to 25 percent or higher.

Since Brexit, UK exporters must classify their goods under the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) on the export side and the US HTS on the import side.

You will need an EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number if you are exporting goods commercially from the UK. You can register for one free of charge via HMRC if you do not already have one.

For most private individuals sending personal parcels or gifts, these requirements do not apply in the same way.

Personal gifts and non-commercial shipments have simpler paperwork requirements, though CBP may still inspect contents.

US import tariffs are subject to change based on US trade policy decisions.

As of mid-2025, the Biden-era tariff schedules remain broadly in place for most goods, though there have been adjustments to specific categories. We recommend checking the current US CBP tariff schedule or consulting a customs broker if you are shipping commercial goods at significant volume or value.