Bpost surcharges (Belgium)

Peak surcharge 

A flat surcharge applies when parcels are dropped off to a bpost Post Point or Parcel Machine. It does not apply if dropped off at a MassPost centre.

How to prevent
Include the fee in your checkout shipping costs so the customer covers it, avoiding unexpected charges.

Coordinate the options for picking up your packages with your Sales contact at Sendcloud.

Cost
Zone1: €8.19
Zone2: €20.19
Zone3: €101.21

This surcharge applies to national parcels (excluding bpack XL) when the announcement file is missing at the time of sorting, or if key delivery information such as the address is incomplete.

Applies to national parcels (excluding bpack XL) that can't be sorted automatically due to size or weight.

- Size: longest side > 1.5 m or 1×L + 2×W + 2×H > 3 m

- Weight: over 30 kg

Cost: €51.98/€64.92

From 1 May 2026, bpost applies a temporary fuel surcharge to national shipments when the average monthly diesel price in Belgium exceeds €1.80/L.

The surcharge is based on the average diesel price of the previous month, as published by the European Commission. It may be adjusted upwards or downwards each month, depending on fuel price changes.

This surcharge applies to the following national bpost shipping methods:

• Bpack 24H Pro
• Bpack & bpost Pro / Bpack 24/7 (PUDO)
• Bpack 24H Business
• Bpack Retour
• Bpack Busable

This surcharge is linked to market fuel prices and cannot be prevented. Make sure to take this possible additional cost into account when setting your shipping prices.

For domestic shipments that weigh more than 30 kg a surcharge will be applied

Cost
30-40KG: €51.98
>40KG: €64.92

For shipments that exceed one of the following criteria, a surcharge will be applied:

- The longest side is > 1.5m

- The circumference is > 3m according to the following formula: 1 x length + 2 x width + 2 x height

For international shipments that weigh more than 30 kg a surcharge will be applied.

For shipments that exceed one of the following criteria, a surcharge will be applied:

Applies when a parcel exceeds bpost’s limits:

- Maximum dimensions: 100x70x60cm

- Maximum length smallest side: 60cm

- Maximum weight: 20kg

The fee depends on which limits are exceeded and by how much.

Applies when a parcel has a large size-to-weight ratio (low density). If density falls below 120 kg/m³, you'll be charged per missing kilo.

Formula: ((120 - (actual weight / volume in m³)), 0)

Example:
A parcel measuring 100×100×100 cm (1 m³) and weighing 100 kg:
→ Density = 100 kg / 1 m³ = 100 kg/m³
→ Shortfall = 120 - 100 = 20
→ Surcharge = 20 × €0.0034 = €0.068

Cost: 0.0034 EUR/ kg

How to prevent

• Use appropriately sized boxes
• Avoid oversized packaging for small products
• Choose packaging that fits your item’s shape
• Use multiple box formats to optimize space usage

Charged when a parcel must be manually sorted due to exceeding size limits or other characteristics. This includes:

- Tubes or packaging where the label can't be scanned horizontally

- Bulging or irregularly shaped packaging

- Address or barcode not placed on the largest side

- Packaging that could damage carrier sorting systems

- Multiple parcels joined together with tape or straps

- Contents shifting inside the package

*Bpost reserves the right to process Parcels manually if they deem it necessary.

Applies when the barcode on a shipping label can’t be read by scanners or sorting machines. Common causes include:

- Label placed across box edges or seams

- Label covered by tape or other stickers

- Illegible or incomplete barcodes

- Label wrapping over two sides of the parcel

How to prevent

- Place the label on the longest, flat side of the box away from seams and tape

- Regularly check your printer and ink levels

- Follow our label printing guides to ensure correct printer setup

Applies when the barcode can't be read by scanners. Common causes include:

- Label covers two sides or a sealing seam

- Label is covered by tape or stickers

- Barcode is missing, incomplete, or unreadable

How to prevent

- Place the label flat on the longest side, away from seams and tape

- Check printer ink levels regularly

- Follow our printing setup guides to ensure proper label quality

This surcharge applies if no contact details are provided for the recipient when the label is created.

How to prevent

- Always fill in a valid phone number and/or email address for the recipient

Charged when a domestic parcel cannot be delivered and must be returned to the sender. This includes:

- Incorrect or non-existent addresses

- Uncollected parcels at service points

- Parcels refused by the recipient

How to prevent

- Use Sendcloud to validate addresses during label creation

- Enable address validation via your webshop integration

- Offer flexible delivery options or service point pick-up to reduce failed deliveries

This surcharge applies when no contact information is provided for the recipient during label creation. To avoid it, always enter a valid phone number and/or email address for the destination address.

Charged when a parcel can't be delivered and is returned to the sender. Common reasons include:

- Wrong or non-existent address

- Refused by the recipient

- Not collected from a service point

How to prevent

- Use Sendcloud to catch missing address details when creating labels

- Enable address validation via your webshop

- Offer flexible delivery options and service point pick-up to reduce failed deliveries

When you ship to an island, you will receive an island surcharge. The table shows the amount of this surcharge per recipient country.