Comparing DPD vs Royal Mail for UK Shipping

Birthday cards, furniture, new clothes for summer holidays, and second hand items from Apps such as Ebay and Vinted. There is not a lot that we can order in the UK that is not sent via delivery providers such as DPD and Royal Mail.

What about when you are the business sending the delivery rather than the customer or person receiving it? What are the options for UK shipping and how do they compare? Look no further, we have rounded up the costs, features, pros and cons for both DPD and Royal Mail, so you can feel confident in shipping with the best provider for you and your business’ situation.

When it comes to comparing the two service providers it can help to break down the following: 

• Speed 

• Cost 

• Reliability 

• Customer service options 

In this guide we will look at:

• What time do DPD deliver to 

• DPD UK delivery services

• How much does it cost

• Benefits and limitations of DPD delivery

• What time do Royal Mail deliver 

• Royal Mail Services 

• How much does it cost to send

• Benefits of Royal Mail delivery 

• DPD vs Royal Mail 

What time do DPD deliver to? 

DPD delivers during standard working hours and they send the customer a one hour time slot via text or email to let them know when the parcel will arrive. This way, the chances of the customer being home are far greater than if they give a 12 hour window, like some delivery providers resort to. If the customer books a timed delivery service between 10:30am and 12pm, the parcel will arrive before then and they will receive a text or email to confirm. 

To offer flexible weekend options to suit customer needs. DPD Online also delivers on Saturdays and Sundays. This is especially useful for those who work during the week or live alone and cannot easily arrange for someone to be in to receive the parcel. For weekend delivery, customers can choose to have their parcel arrive before 10:30am or 12pm - depending on what works for them best. 

DPD UK Delivery Services

DPD offer a variety of services to suit yours and your customer’s preferences. Choose from: 

How much does it cost? 

If you need to send a parcel urgently, next day delivery starts from £3.99 exc. VAT and customers will have your parcels where they need to be in just 1-2 working days. 

*Prices accurate as of August 2024

With any booking made through DPD online, you can get extra benefits such as free tracking and parcel protection, for peace of mind. 

Shipping costs will vary depending on the weight of the parcel and which service you select, so head to DPD for a more accurate quote.  

How to book next day delivery

• Get a quote - enter yours and your customer’s addresses along with the parcel details

• Select the preferred service

• Add any additional benefits such as parcel protection and check out 

• Secure your parcel with all labels attached 

• Drop it off at a local DPD shop or arrange a collection

Track your parcel from door-to-door 

Benefits of DPD shipping

• Drop off to over 8,000 shops around the UK 

• Signature tracking for proof of delivery

• Express and economy options available 

• Free tracking on all parcels 

• Ideal for tight budgets on parcel shipping within the UK 

Limitations 

• Parcels are protected up to the value of £50, at no additional cost, but for more expensive items, you will need to purchase additional cover (up to the value of £5,000)

• They will not carry out any age verification upon delivery (something to consider if your business deals with medication or alcohol for example)

• DPD cannot deliver to certain addresses such as PO Boxes or BFPO number - so be sure to make this clear for customers who might need deliveries to these addresses 

Royal Mail

Tracing all the way back to 1516, Royal Mail has been a pillar of society in the UK for centuries. From letters to parcels, Royal Mail has been used to ship personal items such as Christmas cards all the way through to smaller purchases bought on online shops such as Etsy. Well-known and loved by those in the UK, customers appreciate the value-for-money it provides and the variety of shipping options. 

What time do they deliver? 

One of the things customers love about Royal Mail is the diverse range of shipping options they have available. 

The benefits of choosing Guaranteed, Tracked, Standard, and the various times (e.g. by 9am, 1pm, Next Day, 24/48 delivery speeds) cover online tracking, weight and size, customer notifications, all the way through to ID verification. 

For example, if you have a parcel weighing up to 20kg, there may not be a customer notification option, but they will require a signature on receipt. 

Depending on the specifications you need for your business and the products you are sending out to customers, take a look at the chart below to see which option might be best. 

Image source: Royal Mail 

For businesses, breaking down the different Royal Mail services can cover the maximum weight, delivery timeline, and what they are best for.

With so many different options to choose from, it can feel overwhelming. So to start, consider your business requirements with how heavy the parcels will be, when the customer needs to receive them, and what your most important component is, such as value or speed. 

How much does it cost?  When sending from and to the UK, depending on whether you are sending letters or parcels, Royal Mail prices start from: 

If you are sending out high-volume orders, you can get discounts and quotes via Royal Mail’s Business Shipping options Royal Mail 24® and 48®. To qualify, be aware that you need to send a minimum of 1,000 items per year, or over 20 parcels a week. So before requesting a quote, consider whether this is a realistic number for where your business is at right now. 

Benefits of Royal Mail Shipping

• GPS confirmed delivery to Track and Trace deliveries from your address to your customer’s 

• Discounts based on quantity and the number of items sent to customer 

• Flexibility on preparing and presenting parcels

• Flexible shipping options depending on weight, size, and time demand

• Specialized business services such as Sunday delivery and same-day delivery 

DPDs vs Royal Mail 

Both DPD and Royal Mail have a lot to offer business owners looking to ship locally within the UK. 

Whilst there is no specific “better” option of the two, evaluating the best option for your business and customer needs is a clear way to help choose out of the two.

DPD offers insurance for big shipments and parcel tracking to keep a close eye on where the delivery is, for both you and the customer. Royal Mail has a strong reputation for being reliable and offering flexible services to suit your financial situation. 

Insurance options

Depending on the service you use, Royal Mail have compensation options available, and additional options to purchase for more valuable items. 

DPD currently include standard cover of up to £50 on their services and you can add additional cover for more valuable parcels up to £5,000 for a small fee. 

*Prices accurate as of August 2024

Weighing up the two delivery providers depends on a number of factors regarding your business. DPD is the more expensive option but is better suited to international and heavier shipments within the UK. Whereas, Royal Mail costs less typically and is great for smaller packages but is limited to UK shipping, which limits the destination list of shipments for businesses.

Evaluating the cost, speed of delivery, and reliability of both providers can be the best first step to choosing the right delivery partner for your growing, successful business.