International Shipping Services from Belgium: Best Carriers, Costs & How to Choose

International shipping services move parcels from Belgium to destinations across the EU, the UK, the US, and the rest of the world through carriers like bpost, DPD, DHL, UPS, FedEx, and GLS. Each carrier offers express and economy options, and pricing depends on weight, size, and destination.

The fastest route from Belgium to a major EU capital or the UK typically takes 1 to 3 business days with an express service.

What Are the Best International Shipping Services From Belgium?

Belgium has six main carriers for international parcels: bpost, DPD, DHL Express, UPS, FedEx, and GLS. Each has strengths in coverage, speed, or price, so the "best" one depends on the shipment's urgency, weight, and destination.

1. bpost is Belgium's national postal operator. It ships parcels up to 30 kg to more than 200 countries through its World Business international service, and it's usually the cheapest option for light, non-urgent parcels. bpost also runs bpack services for domestic and nearby EU deliveries, with home delivery, Parcel Locker, and Pickup Point options.
2. DPD operates a road-based network with more than 42,000 Pickup parcelshops across Europe, giving it strong coverage for EU deliveries. DPD offers a standard Classic service for road-network shipping and a faster Express option for both domestic and international parcels.
3. DHL Express runs a time-definite network with named services like DHL Express Worldwide, DHL Express 9:00, DHL Express 10:30, and DHL Express 12:00, each committing to a specific morning delivery window in over 220 countries. It's a strong pick when a shipment needs a guaranteed arrival time rather than just a guaranteed date.
4. UPS offers a tiered lineup: UPS Worldwide Express Plus (delivery by 8:30 or 9:00 a.m.), UPS Worldwide Express (by 10:30 a.m. or noon), UPS Worldwide Saver (end of day, still 1 to 3 business days), UPS Worldwide Expedited (2 to 5 business days), and UPS Standard for day-definite service within Europe (2 to 7 business days). More than 220 countries are covered.
5. FedEx structures its international lineup around speed and budget too: FedEx International Priority Express and FedEx International Priority both deliver in around 1 to 3 business days, FedEx International Economy takes 2 to 5 business days at a lower cost, and FedEx Regional Economy is a selected-customer, budget intra-Europe option.
6. GLS focuses on European parcel, express, and freight shipping with short standard delivery times, using its own European parcel shop and depot network.

The table below summarizes coverage and positioning so you can shortlist a carrier before comparing live rates.

How Much Do International Shipping Costs From Belgium Usually Run?

EU shipping from Belgium starts at approximately €16–€47 for 1 kg, €17–€121 for 5 kg, €17–€138 for 10 kg, and €42–€201 for 30 kg, depending on the courier and applicable surcharges. 

Here’s a table with indicative rates of parcels of different weights being shipped from Belgium to France:

How Do You Choose Between Express and Economy International Shipping?

Choose express (DHL Express Worldwide, UPS Worldwide Express, FedEx International Priority — 1–3 days, priority customs) when the delivery date is fixed. Choose economy (FedEx International Economy, bpost World Business — 2–7 days) when cost matters more than speed.

Process: 

1. confirm if the destination is inside/outside the EU (affects customs) 
2. weigh/measure the parcel 
3. check the required delivery date 
4. compare rates for that weight/destination 
5. pick the slowest option that still meets the deadline.

What Customs Documents Do You Need to Ship Internationally From Belgium?

EU-to-EU shipments need no customs paperwork. Anything leaving the EU needs:

• Commercial invoice (goods, value, sender/recipient details, Incoterms)
• Customs declaration (usually auto-generated by the carrier)
• Shipper's EORI number (~3 days to obtain — apply early)
• Recipient's tax ID/EORI, if required
• Certificate of origin, if needed

UK shipments need a customs declaration despite proximity, since the UK is outside the EU customs union. Easyship can auto-generate this paperwork from existing order data.

What Duties and Taxes Will the Recipient Owe?

When sending an international shipment from outside the EU to Belgium, the recipient may owe import VAT at the standard 21% rate, which applies to commercial imports regardless of value since the old €22 exemption was removed. Customs duty of up to 17% (0% for many product categories) applies only once the goods' value exceeds €150, and excise duties can apply separately on goods like alcohol or tobacco. Couriers typically add a handling fee for advancing these charges at the border, often in the €15-30 range or a percentage of the amount advanced. 

Example: bpost paused US shipments in August 2025 after the US removed the de minimis import exemption, resuming in December 2025 once it could collect US duties/fees upfront. Check carrier terms before shipping to new markets.

DDP reduces delivery delays and complaints since customers face no surprise fees. Easyship calculates landed cost at checkout for 200+ destinations.

Which Items Are Restricted or Need Special Handling for International Shipment?

Items that are restricted or need special handling for international shipment include electronics with lithium batteries (requiring a 30% or lower state of charge), flammable beauty products like perfumes and nail polish, alcoholic beverages, perishable foods, agricultural seeds, antiques, and medical or biological samples

• Hazmat (batteries, aerosols, flammables) — needs special packaging/labeling
• Live animals — specialized carriers only
• High-value items (jewelry, electronics) — need declared value/insurance
• Perishables — need temperature-controlled/expedited handling
• Counterfeit goods — seized at customs
• Currency, precious metals, certain plant/food items — country-specific bans

Example: undeclared lithium batteries are a common cause of shipments getting held at sorting facilities.

How Do You Package a Parcel for International Transit?

International parcels face more handling and longer transit, so use sturdier packaging:

• New/sturdy box (not reused/crushed)
• Cushioning so contents don't shift
• Label on the largest flat surface, taped over
• Invoice copy inside the box, not just outside
• Cover old labels/barcodes on reused boxes

Easyship's smart packaging feature suggests box sizes to avoid underpacking or overpaying for volumetric weight.

How Do You Track an International Shipment Once It Leaves Belgium?

Every major carrier provides tracking through pickup, customs, and delivery. Formats differ: DHL Express (10 digits), UPS ("1Z" + 16 characters), FedEx (12–20 digits), bpost (alphanumeric ending "BE").

Checking multiple carrier sites wastes time for multi-country sellers. Easyship's unified, branded tracking can cut "where is my order" tickets by up to 63%.

Ready to compare and save on international shipments? 

Try Easyship for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to ship internationally from Belgium?

For light, non-urgent parcels, bpost's postal-based international service is typically the cheapest option, since it uses the postal network rather than a dedicated express fleet. Rates still depend on weight and destination, so compare live quotes before committing to one carrier for every shipment.

How long does international shipping take from Belgium to the US?

Express services like DHL Express Worldwide, UPS Worldwide Saver, or FedEx International Priority typically deliver to the US in 1 to 3 business days. Economy options take longer, often 2 to 5 business days or more, and postal services can take longer still depending on customs processing.

Do I need a customs invoice to ship from Belgium to the UK?

Yes. Since the UK sits outside the EU customs union, any commercial parcel sent from Belgium to the UK needs a commercial invoice and a customs declaration, even though the UK is a near neighbor inside Europe.

Can I ship hazardous materials internationally from Belgium?

Some hazardous materials, such as small lithium batteries, can ship internationally but need specific packaging, labeling, and declaration under the carrier's dangerous goods rules. Fully restricted hazardous goods aren't accepted by standard parcel services at all, so check the specific carrier's list first.

Who pays customs duties on an international shipment?

By default, the recipient pays destination country duties and taxes when the parcel arrives, unless the shipment is sent under Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) terms, in which case the sender collects and pays them before the parcel departs Belgium.

What happens if a parcel gets stuck in customs?

A parcel usually gets held at customs due to missing paperwork, an incomplete commercial invoice, or an unpaid duty. Providing accurate customs documents upfront, including the correct EORI numbers and goods description, is the most reliable way to avoid this kind of delay.