Overview
There’s no single “best” UK carrier for WooCommerce—only the best for your mix of parcel weights, sizes, destinations, and service levels. Below you’ll find quick picks by store type, a comparison matrix of popular carriers, and a simple framework to decide (or automate) the right option per order.
Quick picks by store profile
Light parcels (≤1 kg)
- Royal Mail Tracked 24/48 for nationwide coverage & strong delivery rates.
- Evri Standard/Next Day for cost‑effective options at higher volumes.
Mixed weights (1–15 kg)
- DPD for time‑definite services & robust tracking (Predict).
- Evri for budget‑friendly mainstream parcels.
Heavy/Bulky or Multi‑parcel
- Parcelforce for larger parcels & depot network.
- DPD/UPS for dependable domestic & EU/US freight.
International? Consider Royal Mail Intl Tracked for small packets and DHL/UPS for faster express shipments. For sustainability priorities, see Eco‑friendly Shipping.
Carrier comparison matrix (high level)
Feature availability can vary by account type and contract. Confirm specifics with your carrier rep.
| Carrier | Best for | Coverage | Tracking | Label format | Saturday | International | Multi‑parcel | Returns options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Mail | Small/light, letters, nationwide delivery | UK + Intl via RM network | Good (Tracked 24/48) | 100×150 mm / ZPL/PDF | Yes (select services) | Yes (various tiers) | Basic | Label in box / portal |
| Evri | Value for money on standard parcels | UK + EU partners | Good app/web tracking | 100×150 mm / PDF | Limited | Available | Yes | Portal & drop‑off network |
| DPD | Time‑definite domestic, premium experience | UK + strong EU network | Excellent (Predict, 1‑hr window) | 100×150 mm / ZPL/PDF | Yes | Yes | Yes (consignments) | Collection labels/QR |
| Parcelforce | Large/heavy parcels, depot drop‑offs | UK + GlobalPriority | Good | 100×150 mm / PDF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Portal based |
| UPS | Reliable Intl, B2B, customs handling | Global | Strong | 100×150 mm / ZPL/PDF | Yes | Excellent | Yes | Driver pickup/labels |
| DHL (Express / eCommerce) | Fast international, tracked packets | Global | Excellent (Express) | 100×150 mm / ZPL/PDF | Yes | Excellent | Yes | Portal/API |
Choosing hardware? See Best Label Printers for WooCommerce. For plugin landscape, read Compare Shipping Plugins.
How to choose: a simple framework
- Map your parcel profile: percent of orders by weight bands (≤1 kg, 1–2 kg, 2–5 kg, 5–15 kg), oversize frequency, and destinations (UK/EU/Intl).
- Decide service levels: economy vs 24‑hour; add‑ons like signature, age verification, or Saturday delivery.
- Get quotes/contracts: ask carriers for breakpoints and surcharges; test pick‑ups and claim processes.
- Pilot 2 carriers: run a 2–4 week A/B on representative orders; track delivery time, WISMO tickets, damage/returns, and true landed cost.
- Automate routing rules: encode what worked into rules (weight, dimensions, region, SLA, cost). Maintain exceptions for spikes and peak surcharges.
When to mix carriers
- Under 1 kg to UK residential: Royal Mail/Evri often win on cost & coverage.
- 1–15 kg, time‑sensitive: DPD for predictability and customer experience.
- Bulky/oversize: Parcelforce or a specialist network.
- International express: UPS/DHL for speed, customs expertise, and reliability.
Use automation so pickers don’t have to decide at the bench. Labels can appear automatically once an order is scanned.
Automate selection & printing (WooCommerce → labels)
Manually deciding a carrier per order doesn’t scale. With ParcelOffice, you can set rules like:
// Pseudo‑logic examples
if (destination == "UK" && weight_kg <= 1) carrier = RoyalMail.Tracked48;
else if (destination == "UK" && weight_kg <= 15 && sla == "NextDay") carrier = DPD.NextDay;
else if (destination != "UK" && value_gbp > 150) carrier = UPS.ExpressSaver;
else carrier = Evri.Standard;
// ParcelOffice evaluates these per‑order and prints labels automatically.ParcelOffice: UK multi‑carrier labels on autopilot
Connect your WooCommerce store, plug in your carrier accounts, and let rules pick the best option for each order. Labels print as you pick; tracking flows back to WooCommerce automatically.
FAQs
Which carrier is cheapest in the UK?
It depends on weight/size, destination, and your negotiated rates. Many stores use RM/Evri for light parcels and DPD/UPS/DHL for heavier or international shipments.
Do I need more than one carrier?
Often yes. Having at least two options provides price flexibility, service resilience during peak, and a better fit across parcel profiles.
Can I generate labels directly in WooCommerce?
Yes—via carrier plugins or automation platforms. See Compare Shipping Plugins and our hands‑free approach in How it works.
What label size should I use?
Most UK carriers output 100×150 mm (4×6″). Ensure your printer and browser are set to that size at 100% scale.