Sending a parcel to Italy
Prices, delivery times, customs rules and the best carriers for shipping a parcel to Italy. Independent comparison updated 2026.
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Summary
At a glance
A parcel to Italy arrives in 3–5 days (standard) or 1–2 days (express). No customs formalities — EU country. Best carriers: dpd, gls, eurosender.
Quick facts
Sending a parcel to Italy
schedule Updated
Summary
A parcel to Italy arrives in 3–5 days (standard) or 1–2 days (express). No customs formalities — EU country. Best carriers: dpd, gls, eurosender.
- Region
- eu
- EU
- Yes
- Currency
- EUR
- Standard delivery
- 3–5 days
- Express delivery
- 1–2 days
- Customs duty from
- No customs (EU)
- VAT
- EU regime
- CN23 required
- No
Carrier comparison
Carriers for Italy
| Carrier | Business days from carrier pickup. Does not include weekends or public holidays. | Indicative price for a 10 kg parcel. Calculated from average market rates — varies by season, volume and fuel surcharges. | Key strengths | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 DPD CZ Carrier — own fleet and branch network. Picks up and delivers directly. | 1–2 days | 22 € | Global coverage via DPDgroup network · Strong B2B contracts and API integration | Detailsarrow_forward |
 GLS Carrier — own fleet and branch network. Picks up and delivers directly. | 2–4 days | 22 € | Dense EU-wide network · ParcelShop collection points across Europe | Detailsarrow_forward |
 Eurosender Broker (comparison) — ships via partner carriers. Does not physically deliver itself. | 2–4 days | 24 € | Transparent prices upfront · Compares multiple carriers in one booking | Bookarrow_outward |
 Packeta / Zásilkovna Carrier — own fleet and branch network. Picks up and delivers directly. | 2–4 days | 19 € | Largest pickup-point network in CZ/SK (5,200+ Z-Points) · Low prices for domestic and EU parcels | Detailsarrow_forward |
 DHL Express Carrier — own fleet and branch network. Picks up and delivers directly. | 1–2 days | 55 € | Fastest for non-EU destinations · Door-to-door in 72h worldwide | Detailsarrow_forward |
Shipping a pallet or parcel over 30 kg? Eurosender Freight →
Price by weight
Price by weight
Price curve for a parcel to Italy
Values are averages of the cheapest standard and fastest express service. Actual price depends on the carrier.
Prices by weight
Indicative prices and delivery time
| Weight | Standard shipping — balanced choice. Parcel typically arrives in 2–5 business days. Includes tracking. | Express shipping — priority handling and delivery in 1–2 business days. Surcharge is typically 50–150 % over standard. |
|---|---|---|
| 2 kg | 10 € | 26 € |
| 5 kg | 15 € | 34 € |
| 10 kg | 22 € | 46 € |
| 20 kg | 34 € | 68 € |
Prices are indicative, the actual amount depends on the carrier, exchange rate and seasonal surcharges. See the carrier comparison table below for exact numbers.
Customs
Italy is an EU member — no customs formalities, no extra VAT. Note: Vatican City and San Marino are technically outside the EU customs union, but standard parcel carriers route around this in practice.
Required documents
- None — EU shipment
Prohibited items
These items cannot be shipped to Italy.
- Weapons and ammunition
- Drugs and controlled substances
- Live animals
- Alcohol over 1 L
- Prescription medicines (without authorisation)
- Collectible weapons without licence
Data accuracy
Indicative information — verify at source
Shipping prices, delivery times and customs limits change over time and may differ by carrier, volume and season. Values on this page are indicative — they help you decide which carrier to pick, not to calculate a binding price. Before shipping, always verify current rates and conditions with the chosen carrier and the customs authority of Italy.
Last revised
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Official sources
Report error: Found an inaccuracy? Let us know — we fix within 24 h. info@parcel-guide.eu
link Sources & methodologyShipping situation
How does parcel delivery work in Italy?
Italy is customs-straightforward as an EU member, but logistically one of Europe's more demanding destinations. The reason is geography: the Italian peninsula stretches over 1,100 km — a parcel to Milan arrives in 3 days; to Palermo in Sicily it takes 7+ days. The logistics infrastructure in southern Italy (Mezzogiorno) and on the islands is significantly slower than the north, where industrial centres and transport hubs are concentrated.
The most reliable carriers to Italy are DPD and GLS — both maintain Italian partner networks and deliver to the north in 3–4 days, to the south in 5–7 days. Packeta delivers to Italian Z-Points, but the pick-up network is concentrated in the north and centre — fewer points exist in the south and on the islands. For express (within 48 hours anywhere), DHL Express is the only reliable choice.
Practical tip: always include the complete address with the CAP (postcode) and building number — the Italian addressing system is complex, and an incomplete address is the most common cause of a rejected delivery or returned parcel.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does a parcel to Italy take?
Northern Italy (Milan, Turin, Venice): 3–4 days. Central Italy (Rome, Florence): 4–5 days. Southern Italy (Naples, Bari) and islands (Sicily, Sardinia): 5–7 days. DHL Express delivers anywhere in Italy within 2 days.
How much does a parcel to Italy cost?
From ~€10 for a parcel up to 2 kg via Packeta or DPD. A 10 kg parcel costs approximately €20–26. DHL Express delivery within 24 hours from ~€40.
Which carrier is best for Italy?
DPD and GLS have their own Italian networks and are most reliable for northern and central Italy. Packeta delivers to Italian Z-Points but the network is smaller. For express delivery within 48 hours anywhere in Italy, DHL Express is the only reliable option — logistics infrastructure in southern Italy and on the islands is slower.
Why does a parcel to Sicily take longer than to Rome?
Sicily and Sardinia are islands separated from continental Italy. A shipment must cross the Strait of Messina or be transported by ferry — adding 1–3 days to the standard delivery timeline. For Sicily (Palermo, Catania) allow 6–8 business days; for Sardinia similar. DHL Express delivers to both islands within 2 days.
How do I write an Italian address correctly?
Italian address format: recipient name, street and number (number after street: "Via Roma 15"), 5-digit postcode and city, then ITALY. Always include the province abbreviation (e.g. "20100 Milano MI" or "00100 Roma RM"). Missing or incomplete addresses are the most common cause of failed delivery in Italy.
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