Shipping to the USA from the UK: Customs, HS Codes and Delivery

The United States is the biggest export market for most UK sellers, and the mechanics of getting a parcel there are simpler than people fear. You fill in a customs form, stick a label on, and the Royal Mail hands it to USPS on the other side. The complexity is all in the details: getting the customs declaration right, picking a service with the tracking you need, and setting customer expectations about delivery time.

The USPS handoff

When you send a parcel to the US with Royal Mail, it leaves the UK and is handed to USPS, the United States Postal Service, which delivers it the same way Royal Mail does domestically. There's no courier on the US side unless you pay for one, and the final delivery is to a mailbox or doorstep like any American parcel. That handoff is worth understanding because it shapes delivery times and tracking depth.

The customs form is mandatory

Every parcel to the US needs an electronic customs declaration, a CN22 for lower-value items or a CN23 for higher-value or multi-item parcels. You describe what's inside, give a value, and add the HS code that classifies it. Vague descriptions are the number one cause of US customs delays, so be specific and honest. Our CN22 and CN23 guide walks through filling it in properly.

Duty thresholds and what your buyer pays

The US has a high de minimis threshold, so parcels under $800 in value generally clear without the buyer paying import duty. That's a much friendlier number than the EU's, and it's a big reason US buyers buy confidently from UK sellers. Go over $800 and duty can apply, so for higher-value items it's worth checking the rate rather than surprising the customer with a bill.

HS codes for US-bound parcels

The HS code is the six-digit classification that tells US customs what the item is, and the US and UK share the first six digits of the international harmonised system. You can look codes up online, and getting one broadly right is usually enough for everyday e-commerce. A wrong or missing code is rarely catastrophic on low-value parcels, but it can trigger an inspection that delays things.

Service choices and speed

Royal Mail's International Standard and International Tracked both reach the US, with Standard being the untracked economy option and Tracked giving you delivery confirmation and compensation. Delivery typically runs to a week or two depending on the service, and tracked options are worth the premium for anything a customer is waiting on or anything with real value. The pricing structure is in our International Tracked prices guide.

Tracking across the handoff

One quirk of US-bound parcels is that tracking detail can thin out at the handoff. Royal Mail's tracked services generally keep scanning into USPS's system, but the granularity of US scans varies. Setting expectations with the buyer, delivery usually takes X days, here's your tracking number, avoids most of the where is my parcel enquiries that international sellers get.

What it costs

US postage is priced by weight and service, and it's more than domestic but often less than sellers expect once they see the numbers. The two-zone structure Royal Mail uses, Europe versus Rest of the World, puts the US in the World zone, so you're paying the higher of the two international rates. For light items the cost is modest; for heavier parcels it climbs quickly, which is where a tracked economy option earns its keep.

Packaging for a long journey

A parcel to the US travels further and through more handling than a domestic one, so packaging matters more. The label needs to survive the trip, and a strong adhesive that won't peel off a box that's been through two national postal networks is non-negotiable. This is exactly the kind of route where a cheap label that lifts off is a false economy, which our adhesive guide covers.

Prohibited and restricted items

The US has its own list of what can't be posted, and it doesn't perfectly match the UK's. Food, plant material, certain electronics and anything with lithium batteries are the common trouble spots. Check both the UK's outbound rules and the US's inbound rules before you send, because an item can be legal to post here and refused on arrival there.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a parcel take from the UK to the USA? Typically one to two weeks depending on the service, with tracked options similar in speed but with delivery confirmation. It's an aim, not a guarantee.

Do US buyers pay import duty on UK parcels? Usually not under $800 in value, thanks to the US de minimis threshold. Above that, duty can apply and is worth checking first.

What customs form do I need for the USA? A CN22 for lower-value items or a CN23 for higher-value or multi-item parcels, generated automatically when you buy postage in Click & Drop.