Postage is the cost sellers most often guess wrong. Here's what the main carriers charge for a small parcel, so you can put a real figure into the calculator.
Prices checked 4 Oct 2026
Quick answer: for a small parcel, InPost locker-to-locker is usually cheapest at £1.99, then Evri from £2.62 booked online. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is £3.65 online, which is less than its untracked 2nd Class price. On Vinted you don't need to choose: the buyer picks and pays for postage.
Small parcel prices, booked online
Carrier and service
Size and weight
Price
InPost, locker or shop to locker or shop
Small: 8 × 38 × 64 cm, up to 15 kg
£1.99
InPost, locker or shop to locker or shop
Medium: 19 × 38 × 64 cm, up to 15 kg
£2.59
InPost, to the buyer's home
Small: 8 × 38 × 64 cm, up to 15 kg
£2.89
Evri, delivered to a ParcelShop
Small parcels up to 2 kg
from £2.62
Royal Mail Tracked 48
Small parcel: up to 45 × 35 × 16 cm, 2 kg
£3.65
Royal Mail 2nd Class
Small parcel: up to 45 × 35 × 16 cm, 2 kg
£3.95 online (£4.25 at the counter)
Royal Mail 1st Class
Small parcel: up to 45 × 35 × 16 cm, 2 kg
£5.15 online (£5.45 at the counter)
Prices from each carrier's own website on 4 Oct 2026. Carriers change prices regularly (Royal Mail usually each April), so check before you buy: InPost, Evri, Royal Mail.
Who sorts the postage on each platform
Vinted: the buyer chooses a carrier and pays for postage at checkout. You just pack the item and print the label, or show a QR code for some carriers.
eBay, Depop and Etsy: you set the postage price in your listing and buy the label yourself. Charge what it really costs you, or build it into a "free postage" price.
Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree: usually local collection, so there's no postage at all.
How to pay less
Buy online. Royal Mail's online prices are 30p less than the Post Office counter for small parcels.
Measure and weigh before you list. Going just over a size or weight limit can move a parcel into a much more expensive band.
Pack flat. Clothes folded flat in a mailing bag usually fit the smallest sizes.
Use tracking for anything valuable. It's your proof of delivery if a buyer says an item didn't arrive, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 currently costs less online than untracked 2nd Class.
Check the cover. Evri includes cover up to £20 on most parcels. For anything worth more, look at a service with higher cover.
Keep proof of postage until the buyer has confirmed they're happy.
Put your postage into the calculator
Once you know your postage cost, enter it as "Postage you pay" in the comparison tool. On eBay, Depop and Etsy, also enter what you'll charge the buyer, so the tool can show what you really keep.
Questions people ask
Who pays postage on Vinted?
The buyer. They choose and pay for postage at checkout, so you don't need to price it. On eBay, Depop and Etsy you set the postage price yourself.
Is it cheaper to buy postage online?
Usually, yes. Royal Mail's online prices are lower than paying at a Post Office counter, for example £3.95 instead of £4.25 for a 2nd Class small parcel.
Should I use tracked postage?
For anything valuable, yes. Tracking proves delivery if a buyer says an item didn't arrive. Royal Mail's online Tracked 48 small parcel price is lower than its untracked 2nd Class price.
What size is a small parcel?
It varies by carrier. Royal Mail's small parcel is up to 45 × 35 × 16 cm and 2 kg. InPost's small size is 8 × 38 × 64 cm. Measure your packed item before you buy a label.