eBay Postage Options – A Comprehensive Guide

The world of eBay postage options has really opened up over the last few years.

When I originally wrote this post in 2019 (at time of writing it is May 2022), there were 2 main ways of sending your parcels once you’d sold something.

Now there’s a whole variety, making it easier than ever to find a postage solution that suits you.

When I ask the question, “what puts you off selling stuff online?” most people tend to respond with: “It’s a hassle taking things to the Post Office”.

Well my friends, gone are the days of standing in line with a bag of parcels and disgruntled customers tutting behind you in the PO queue.

Here is my comprehensive guide to eBay postage options.

What is the Cheapest Way to Send eBay Parcels in the UK?

Finding the cheapest method of postage will depend on your requirements – what size and weight is the package? Do you require tracking/a signature? Is it valuable?

But let’s say you’re posting a bog standard average sized parcel – a pair of trousers for example.

This would likely fall into the weight/dimension category of small parcel.

These are the cheapest postage options (prices correct as at 4th May 2022):

Inpost – £2.82
Royal Mail (2nd Class) – £2.85* 
Evri (previously myHermes) – £2.97

*for online postage, otherwise it’s £3.35

You might also enjoy…8 Useful Tried and Tested Tips For New Ebay Sellers

How do I get Postage Labels for my eBay Sales?

If you have your own printer (or access to one), the best way is to print your postage label directly from eBay.

Desktop Version:

• Log in to your account
• Go to selling overview
• You will see your sold items under a ‘dispatch now’ heading
• Click ‘print postage label’
• Weigh your parcel and type the weight in the box
• Below this you’ll see that the page automatically loads Royal Mail postage options first – select the chosen method
• If you want to send by any other postal provider, you’ll see a little grey box which says
  

  Send from £2.65 with Evri (the new Hermes), UPS, DPD and DHL drop-off & collection services on eBay powered by Packlink

• Click ‘packlink’ and it’ll take you to the other shipping options
• When you’ve selected your preferred option, click ‘purchase postage label’
• Follow the steps to pay and your label will be generated
• Print it out on normal paper and cut out and tape to your parcel (if you sell a lot of items you could also look to invest in a label printer).

App Version:

• Open the eBay app
• You might have a notification on your homescreen that shows the sold item which says ‘Paid – Post Now’ – click on this…
  …or go to selling and click on ‘buyer paid – send now’
• You’ll see a red notification saying ‘buyer paid – send by (date)’, click this
• Then you can click ‘get postage label’
• And follow the steps above

What are the Postage Options for eBay?

As mentioned above, there are a whole host of postage options available for eBay now.

Here, I’ll guide you through the main ones and some things to bear in mind if you use these services.

Royal Mail

What postage should you purchase?

The average item will fall in the dimensions of small parcel, but if you are selling a single item of clothing you might be able to purchase large letter postage instead which is much cheaper.

I personally use 10 x 14 mailing bags* which I buy in bulk for sending clothes as they meet the large letter size requirements.

I’d also recommend picking up a sizing guide*; if your parcel fits through the top slot, you can purchase large letter postage (if it’s under 750g).

You can use regular kitchen scales for weighing your parcels or buy a cheap digital scale*.

Where to purchase postage

You can purchase Royal Mail postage at the post office, or online through your ebay sold listing (or directly on the Royal Mail website).

A list of up to date prices can be found here.

Note that it is cheaper to buy your postage online.

A small parcel online costs £2.85, versus the in store cost of £3.35 – this is a significant saving so I would recommend buying online.

Where to post your parcels

If you purchase online postage and print your own labels, dropping off your parcels is much easier.

When you purchase directly through ebay, a tracking number is generated. This is helpful to both you and the buyer should a parcel be delayed/go missing.

However, it’s important to note that this tracking number does not constitute proof of posting.

If you require proof of posting, you’ll need to drop your parcel to the post office and ask for a receipt.

I personally don’t feel the need to get proof of posting for items under £20 (this is personal choice, though in my many years of selling experience parcels going completely missing is next to none.)

Also, proof of posting is NOT the same as proof of delivery – proof of delivery can only be obtained by buying Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed or Royal Mail Signed For.

Got all that?

So where can you drop your parcels once you’ve purchased your postage?

• If they’ll fit you can put them in a normal postbox (as long as you don’t need PoP or PoD)
• In a parcel postbox – these are great if you’ve got one near you (check here)
• To a Royal Mail Delivery Office
• To the Post Office

InPost

If I can’t get away with sending a parcel as a large letter and I don’t require a signature, then InPost is my favourite method for sending parcels.

How does InPost work?

InPost do not have shops to drop off to, they are solely parcel lockers.

What’s great about this is that you can drop off anytime and are not constrained to Post Office or Delivery Office opening hours.

The lockers are unmanned, you simply scan your label and the locker door pops open.

Pop in your parcel, close the door and that’s it!

The lockers are emptied daily (except weekends) and there are 3 different sizes to accommodate your parcels.

What postage should you purchase?

Unlike Royal Mail, InPost parcel prices are calculated by weight only.

The dimensions are the same for any weight parcel – they just have to fit in the lockers.

The max dimensions are:  41cm x 38cm x 64cm

So the cost will depend on the weight.

Where to purchase postage

You can select the InPost option via eBay packlink but it is worth checking on InPost’s website directly as they sometimes have special offers.

For example at the time of writing (and for a limited time), you can send parcels with InPost for the following prices:
Small Parcel – £1.99 / (£2.82 via eBay)
Medium Parcel – £2.99 / (£4.24 via eBay)
Large Parcel – £3.99 / (£5.65 via eBay)

You might think, ‘Why bother? I charged the buyer postage anyway’ – but remember eBay also charges a final value fee on whatever you have set the postage rate at, which often means you can be out of pocket – so savings like this are worth grabbing when you can to maximise the profit you make on the item.

Where to post your parcels

It’s important to note that if you purchase an InPost postage label, you can only drop your parcels to InPost lockers.

So check that you have a locker nearby before purchasing – you can find out here.

Evri (previously Hermes)

What postage should you purchase?

Like InPost, Evri postage is calculated on weight, rather than different dimensions for each parcel size.

As long as the max overall size is 245cm or less (i.e the 3 sides don’t add up to more than this) and the length is less than 120cm – you’re good.

Where to purchase postage

Evri postage is purchased via the packlink button.

But you can also purchase it directly through their website (though it’s a bit more effort inputting the buyer’s information) – this can be worth doing to take advantage of cashback.

Topcashback* is currently offering existing Evri customers 1.7% cashback and Quidco* are offering 2%.

Where to post your parcels

There are 3 options for sending Evri parcels. You can:

• Arrange for your parcel to be collected – to do this you click the collection tab when purchasing your postage – it does cost extra but can be worth doing if you’re sending something bulky or will struggle to get to a drop off point
• Drop them to InPost lockers
• Take them to an Evri parcel shop – find your nearest here.

Other Courier Services

Under the packlink option, you can also find services by DPD and UPS under ‘drop off’ and also DHL under ‘collection’.

However, these options are more costly and not services that I am familiar with and unless you’re sending something particularly heavy/bulky – I probably wouldn’t use them.

Tips for Posting your eBay Parcels

Need some help with packing? You’ll find all my packaging recommendations on my Selling Supplies page.

Print your own labels

Printing your own labels can save you so much time.

When I first started selling on eBay I used to handwrite out all the buyer’s addresses and queue for ages at the post office which I really dreaded doing!

Now I print them off myself and drop them off at a time that is convenient to me instead of trying to fit a drop into my lunch hour or rushing to the post office after work before it shuts.

If you send a lot of parcels, it might even be worth investing in a label printer which will save you even more time cutting and sticking paper labels on.

Recycle packaging

Unless you’re a business seller, packaging doesn’t need to be pretty.

Though I do bulk buy mailing sacks, I also keep and reuse any packaging from incoming mail.

If I’ve run out of packaging I’ve sent my sales in all sorts of weird and wonderful packages – carrier bags, empty cereal boxes, the lot!

I’ve never had anyone complain about the packaging, and I think it’s particularly important these days to recycle where we can.

You could also ask family and friends to save their packaging for you.

Don’t overpack

The weight of your parcel can affect the postage cost, and since we know eBay are swindling us on fees, it’s really important that we keep the postage costs down as much as possible.

This means getting rid of any unnecessary weight.

You don’t need to wrap clothing in bubble wrap or tissue paper.

And if you’re selling something that isn’t breakable, it doesn’t need to go in a box – put it in a bag instead which is much lighter.

Know your numbers

This is important when you’re listing the item first and foremost to make sure you charge the correct amount of postage.

I’ve made the mistake in the past of assuming an item is lighter than it is and then having to foot the difference in cost.

But it’s also important that you choose the right postage option when you’ve sold an item – because the last thing you want is your buyer being issued with a charge for underpaid postage.

Package smartly

I’ve mentioned above that the cheapest way to post light clothing is as a large letter via Royal Mail.

A lot of people miss this trick because the way they fold the item, means the package is too thick.

If you buy the correct sized mailing sacks, and fold the clothing the same shape as the bag (and squeeze the air out) – you might find that the parcel now fits through the large letter slot, whereas it wouldn’t have if you folded it like you do to put in your drawers!

eBay Postage FAQs

Can you charge what you want for postage on eBay?

There is a limit on what you can charge for postage on eBay in some categories, but generally speaking you can put your own charge in (though eBay tends to automatically default to a cost when you are listing your item).

Many sellers inflate their postage charge to recoup the FVF fee that eBay charges on postage… but this can be off-putting to a buyer.

Instead of inflating your postage charge, I would recommend charging the actual cost to post the item and adding the extra 50p/£1 to your asking price instead.

What happens if postage is underpaid on eBay?

As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to get the postage charge right.

If you don’t charge the buyer enough postage, you’ll have to pay the extra when you purchase your label.

If you purchase the wrong postage, the buyer might receive a charge for underpaid postage.

Is it cheaper to buy postage from eBay?

In most cases, it is cheaper to buy postage from eBay.

Royal Mail is always cheaper to buy online than in the Post Office.

However, there are a couple of exceptions which I’ve mentioned above.

How can I make my package weigh less?

• Package soft items in bags, not boxes.
• Don’t wrap boxes in brown paper – apply your label directly to the box.
• Don’t go overboard on packing tape.
• Avoid wrapping soft items in bubble wrap or tissue paper – it’s a waste of money and weight.

Postage Options for eBay – A Summary

Wow, that’s a pretty hefty guide huh? Don’t be put off.

Once you get into the swing of things it all becomes second nature.

You’ll find your preferred way of doing things and have that postage system streamlined in no time.

Happy selling!

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