Purpose: learn how to avoid unwanted DPD surcharges when your package does not meet the carrier shipping conditions.
Rates effective from 2 March 2026. Based on Quotation 02795378.
When do surcharges apply?
DPD may apply additional surcharges when a shipment falls outside its standard shipping conditions or requires additional handling. These charges are determined by the carrier and may be added after your shipment has been processed.
Common reasons why a surcharge may apply include:
- Exceeds DPD's maximum weight or dimension limits.
- Requires an additional service.
- Does not meet DPD's shipping conditions and requires extra handling.
Reviewing these conditions before shipping can help you avoid unexpected charges.
What's included at no extra cost
DPD UK includes several services with your shipments at no additional charge: redelivery attempts, Predict SMS/Email notifications, Proof of Delivery (POD), and stationery.
DPD UK Surcharges | ||
| Surcharge | Description | Cost |
| Fuel | Applies to all parcels shipped | Click here for more information. |
| Redelivery attempts | If the first delivery attempt is unsuccessful, additional delivery attempts are made at no extra charge. | Free of charge |
| Predict SMS/Email Notifications | Real-time delivery notifications sent to the recipient. Included at no extra charge. | Free of charge |
| Homecall | A specialist delivery service for high-value or sensitive parcels that require direct handover to the recipient. | £25.20 |
| Swap it (door-step exchange) | Enables a doorstep exchange by delivering a replacement item while collecting the original item in a single visit. | £8.69 |
| Conflict surcharge |
Due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East, fuel prices have increased significantly, particularly diesel. As a result, DPD UK has introduced a conflict surcharge to cover rising operational costs, despite measures to minimise the impact, such as using fuel reserves and increasing the use of electric vehicles. For more information about service impacts related to this situation, see the carrier disruption article. |
£0.15 per parcel |
Oversize and oversize weight |
This surcharge applies when your parcel exceeds DPD’s maximum size or weight limits. Oversized parcels are manually handled, which triggers the fee. For international shipments, also check volumetric weight. If (L × W × H) / 5000 exceeds 31.5 kg, the surcharge may apply. Limits:
How to avoid it: |
£24.20 |
| Package return to sender |
If a parcel can't be delivered and is refused, it will be returned at next-day rate plus a surcharge.
Note: Returns may take several weeks as they go through our UK partner, OnLogistics.
How to avoid this surcharge: |
Next day rate |
| Non coms handling | UK parcels that are incompatible with the DPD automated sortation equipment. | £7.45 |
| Congestion | London congestion charge postcodes: W1-2, W8, W10-11, EC1-4, WC1-2, SW1, SW3, SW7, SE1, SE11, NW1, EI | £1.15 |
| Northern Ireland Clearance Charge |
Applies to parcels shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to cover additional processing under the Windsor Framework.
Note: The Windsor Framework introduces simplified arrangements for shipping between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Depending on your shipment, additional information may be required to comply with these regulations. For more information, see our Windsor Framework article.
|
£0.50 |
| EU Clearance | For parcels shipped to Ireland | £4.75 |
| Unsuccessful EU Export | Applies to shipments destined for the EU, EFTA countries, or Ireland that cannot be exported, for example due to incomplete or incorrect customs documentation. | £0.75 |
| EU Export return | Return fee per parcel from EU/EFTA to cover processing and handling. | £3.95 |
| Oversize export | Applies to DPD Classic Road parcels that exceed size or weight limits. | £22.00 |
| Offshore Oversized/ overweight | This surcharge applies to offshore shipments (Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, the Scottish Highlands, and the Isles of Scilly) that exceed the maximum allowed weight or dimensions. | £24.20 |
| Nothing to collect | Surcharge applies if no goods are available at the scheduled DPD pick-up. | £13.20 |
| Relabel | This surcharge is applied when DPD has to replace a shipping label due to it being damaged or unreadable. | £0.80 |
| Return to Shop (Ship to Shop return) | This service allows customers to return their parcels via a DPD Pickup shop. | £3.50 |
| 4th/3rd Party | Surcharge applies for collections or deliveries at addresses different from your agreed collection point. | UK - £0.00 Offshore - £15.50 Ireland - £18.00 Classic - £15.00 Air - £15.00 |
Where can I see these surcharges on my invoice?
Surcharges are applied by the carrier after the shipment has been processed and may not be visible when you create the label.
You can find these charges in your Sendcloud account via Account > Billing, where you can download your invoice in PDF or CSV format:
- PDF invoice: Shows a summary of your total costs, including surcharges.
- CSV invoice: Shows a detailed breakdown per shipment, including the tracking number, shipping cost, and any applied surcharges.
💡 Tip: Use the tracking number in the CSV to identify which shipment a surcharge applies to.
For a full explanation of how shipping costs and surcharges are invoiced and how to read them, see Shipment invoicing.
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.