Bpost surcharges (Belgium)

Purpose: learn how to avoid unwanted bpost surcharges when your package does not meet the carrier shipping conditions. 

The carrier may change the shipping prices and/or surcharges mentioned below, therefore these prices may be subject to change. Even though we aim to inform you to the best of our abilities, no rights can be derived from the information provided below.

General surcharges

Peak surcharge - 1.00 EUR

During the period 30.11.2023 - 26.12.2023, Bpost BE charges a surcharge of €1.00 per parcel. This surcharge applies to all Bpost BE shipments. 

Surcharge retail (Afgiftetoeslag) - 0.80 EUR

With bpost, parcels can be delivered to one of 680 Post Points across Belgium for pick up by the recipient. A flat fee of 0.80 Euro per delivery applies, and will be invoiced later as a surcharge. This surcharge applies to all parcels handled in a bpost Postal Point or automatic Parcel Machine. If the parcel is handed in at one of the MassPost centres, then this surcharge does not apply.

• Bpost: service point locater  

How can I prevent this surcharge?

Consider accounting for this flat fee in your delivery costs at checkout. 

Bpost domestic surcharges   

Please also check the general surcharges which apply for all Bpost shipments.

Surcharge oversized (weight) - 45.18 EUR or more*

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

Surcharge oversized (length/width) - 61.65 EUR

For domestic 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

Surcharge manual processing (based on size/weight) - 2.70  EUR

If the dimensions of the package exceed the following dimensions then the package must be manually sorted. You will then receive a surcharge for the additional operations required.

Dimensions:

• Maximum dimensions: 100x70x60cm
• Maximum length smallest side: 60cm
• Maximum weight: 20kg

The amount charged for exceeding the max dimensions varies depending on which dimension/s have been exceeded and the extent to which the package is oversized/too heavy.

Surcharge manual processing - 2.70 EUR

If the dimensions of the parcel exceed the following dimensions then the parcel must be sorted manually. However, it's not just the weight and dimension that can cause parcels to be processed manually. Other components can also cause this. You will then receive a surcharge for the additional handling required. See a list of examples below:

Characteristics that could lead to this surcharge:

• All tubes and other forms of packaging where the label cannot be processed horizontally
• Packaging with a bulging shape
• Address and bar code not on largest side
• Do not ship items or packaging which can potentially cause damage to the sorting infrastructure of the carrier 
• Tape or other binding material has been used to join two or more packages into one
• Content not fixed in the packaging (shifting back and forth)
  *Bpost reserves the right to process Parcels manually if they deem it necessary.

Density surcharge - 0.0034 EUR per kg 

If a package has a large size-to-weight ratio, you may need to consider packing your product differently to avoid this surcharge. Package density refers to the relation between the weight of a package and the amount of space it takes up. 

Dimensions:

Threshold: 120 k/m3 (charge for every kg below the threshold)

Formula: ((120 - ((L x B x H) / (1000000))), 0)

Example: package with dimensions of 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm has a volume of 1 m3. If the package has a weight of 100kg, the surcharge is:

1. ((120 - (100 / ((100 * 100 * 100) / 1000000))), 0)
2. ((120 - (100 / ((1000000 / 1000000))), 0)
3. ((120 - (100 / 1)), 0)
4. ((120 - 100), 0)
5. (20, 0) = 20
6. 20 x € 0.0034 = 0.068

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Have several formats of standard packaging boxes to choose from
• Adjust the shape and type of packaging you use to fit the contents
• Avoid using overly large boxes to ship small products 
• Make sure that the size of the box suits the contents

Surcharge missing contact details - 0.60 EUR 

This surcharge is charged when there are no contact details of the receiver filled in, upon creating the label.

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Make sure that a valid telephone number and / or e-mail address is filled in for the destination address.

Surcharge return to sender - 2.70 EUR per parcel

If a domestic parcel cannot be delivered to the end customer, you will be liable to pay this fee to have the parcel returned to the sender address.

Includes:

• Parcels sent to a wrong address
• Parcels sent to addresses which don't exist
• Uncollected parcels left at the post office/service point
• Parcels which are refused by the recipient 

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Use Sendcloud to create your labels - if a postcode or house number is missing, you will be alerted before creating the label
• Use an address validation plugin with your webshop integration 
• Use Sendcloud to offer multiple, flexible shipping options and service point delivery for your customers to avoid the chance that they will miss a parcel.

Surcharge new label - 1.10 EUR

When a shipping label cannot be scanned by a barcode scanner or a sorting machine, you may receive this surcharge.

Includes:

• Labels which cover two sides of the box
• Parcels where the label has been placed over the seam which seals the packaging closed
• Labels which are covered by other stickers or tape 
• Labels with missing data or an illegible barcode 

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Always be sure to position the shipping label on the longest side of the box without the seam or packaging tape
• Frequently check the ink levels in your label or laser jet printer 
• Use our printing guides here and here to check that your printer is correctly configured to print labels

Bpost international surcharges

Please also check the general surcharges which apply for all Bpost shipments.

Surcharge oversized (weight) - 50.05 EUR

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

Surcharge oversized (length/width) - 6.74/54.68 EUR

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

Surcharge missing contact details - 0.64 EUR 

This surcharge is charged when there are no contact details of the receiver filled in, upon creating the label.

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Make sure that a valid telephone number and / or e-mail address is filled in for the destination address.

Surcharge return to sender - 11.10 EUR per parcel

If a domestic parcel cannot be delivered to the end customer, you will be liable to pay this fee to have the parcel returned to the sender address.

Includes:

• Parcels sent to a wrong address
• Parcels sent to addresses which don't exist
• Uncollected parcels left at the post office/service point
• Parcels which are refused by the recipient 

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Use Sendcloud to create your labels - if a postcode or house number is missing, you will be alerted before creating the label
• Use an address validation plugin with your webshop integration 
• Use Sendcloud to offer multiple, flexible shipping options and service point delivery for your customers to avoid the chance that they will miss a parcel.

Island surcharge - Bpack Europe Business

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

Surcharge new label - 1.29 EUR

When a shipping label cannot be scanned by a barcode scanner or a sorting machine, you may receive this surcharge.

Includes:

• Labels which cover two sides of the box
• Parcels where the label has been placed over the seam which seals the packaging closed
• Labels which are covered by other stickers or tape 
• Labels with missing data or an illegible barcode 

How can I prevent this surcharge?

• Always be sure to position the shipping label on the longest side of the box without the seam or packaging tape
• Frequently check the ink levels in your label or laser jet printer 
• Use our printing guides here and here to check that your printer is correctly configured to print labels

To avoid the above mentioned surcharges, please carefully read the shipping conditions, make sure you stay well within the permitted dimensions and, of course, select the right network for your package. 

General Transport Conditions BPost