Top UK Couriers for Summer Deliveries
25 June 2025 | Editor's Pick | Most Popular | Parcel Deliveries | Tips and Guides
Author: Parcel2Go.com
Whether you’re sending beach towels, sunglasses, summer clothes, or suitcases, planning your summer delivery with Parcel2Go can help even the most delicate of items stay cool on its journey.
Why Choosing The Right Courier Matters in Summer
Sending parcels during summer can sometimes be more complicated than during the milder months—especially if you’re sending products that are sensitive to the heat.
Temperatures inside delivery trucks can rise rapidly during hot spells. How you pack your parcels can help protect your items from these changes in temperature, as well as choosing next-day or express shipping to get your packages to their destination faster.
Read on to discover our top tips for summer sending.
Top Courier Services for Summer
We only compare prices from the UK’s most trusted couriers, but the following couriers are the ones most favoured by our customers during summer.
InPost
A fully automated parcel locker service that’s available 24/7, InPost is perfect for small businesses who want the convenience of being able to send their parcels at a time that suits them.
There are 8,000 InPost lockers across the UK. You can choose from small, medium, or large lockers, and send parcels weighing up to 15kg. Royal Mail will then collect your parcel and deliver them to their destination, usually within a 48-hour delivery window.
Prices for InPost delivery starts from just £2.69 exc VAT and is a brilliant choice for sending summer essentials like clothing, beach towels, or reuseable water bottles.
Royal Mail
Portable gadgets and mobile beauty items are popular items to be shipped in the summer.
If you’re sending these items in the post, make sure you package delicate items well in strong boxes with plenty of bubble wrap, and for more expensive items, consider offering recorded delivery.
Royal Mail has been delivering parcels for over 500 years and is one of the UK’s most popular courier services.
A Royal Mail 48 tracked small parcel starts from just £2.87 exc VAT.
Parcelforce
As well as giving you the option to send larger items with their 30kg weight limit, Parcelforce’s timed delivery services are perfect if you’re sending products that are sensitive to the heat—chocolate, we’re looking at you!
Check out our blog for more top tips on how to send food in the post or the best ways to send chocolate by courier.
Yodel Direct
You can drop off parcels weighing up to 10kg at any of Yodel’s 6,000 Yodel Direct drop-off points, making them a convenient option for sending out those last-minute summer holiday essentials.
Yodel Direct are also great for sending orders from your eBay or Etsy shops, and with prices starting from just £2.45 exc VAT, they’re the perfect choice for small items like sunglasses or inflatables.
UPS
If you’re sending garden furniture this summer, UPS is an ideal choice. They specialise in heavy parcel delivery, allowing you to send up to 65kg per parcel.
UPS offers collection services, which is great for bulky items, and you can request super-fast or timed deliveries to help prevent your items sitting around in hot delivery depots.
UPS parcel delivery starts from just £7.74 exc VAT.
See more top tips on how to ship outdoor furniture, including how to save on large item postage by calculating your parcel’s volumetric weight.
Convenient Parcel Drop-Off Options
A flexible way to send a parcel for those who want quick dispatch and minimum hassle, there are a couple of ways you can use our drop-off services.
Parcel lockers
Used for services such as InPost, parcel lockers operate 24/7 - so you can send a parcel at the time that suits you best.
All you need to do is find your most convenient parcel locker by entering your postcode and make a booking.
Never sent a parcel via locker before? Get started with our detailed locker guide!
Local drop-off points
Using a local drop off point is not only a convenient way to send your parcels, but it can help you schedule your dispatch for cooler times of the day.
There are thousands of drop-off shops across the UK and you can find your closest drop-off point by searching with your location or postcode.
With prices starting from just £1.99 exc VAT, it can be cheaper to use drop-off services too!
Tips for Summer Shipping
Let us help you keep your cool this summer with our top tips for summer shipping.
Use weather resistant packaging.
Especially if you’re sending food items such as chocolates, choosing special packaging can give it extra protection during transit.
To keep food items cool, try polystyrene or Styrofoam boxes, a cooler lunch box, or tin foil.
Don’t use cooling packs.
Most couriers prohibit liquids and gels, so we don’t advise using cooling packs or ice in your parcels. Your parcel won’t be covered for loss or damage if you ship any prohibited items.
Prepare for rain.
As we know, the British summer isn’t always hot and sunny. Protect your parcel from the elements by following our 6 steps to waterproof your parcel for safe delivery.
Avoid the hottest time of the day.
If possible, schedule your parcel collections when it’s cooler, or take your parcel to a local drop off point.
Choose a fast-shipping method.
Express shipping can reduce the time your parcel spends in hot vans and depots. At Parcel2Go, we keep our prices low, so you don’t need to worry about next-day delivery costing the earth.
Send early in the week.
Most couriers don’t deliver on weekends. To avoid your parcel waiting in the depot over the weekend, aim to schedule your collection or drop-off for earlier in the week.