Details about using Parcelforce via ShipStation: How to set up billing, features, postal rates, notes, and troubleshooting tips.
Parcelforce offers domestic service to England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, the Scottish Highlands, Islands, and Scilly Isles.
Our partnership with Parcelforce provides you up to 78% off retail Parcelforce rates.
ShipStation Carrier Services is automatically added to your ShipStation account upon creation, but you'll need to provide billing information before you can create any labels.
You'll be prompted to add your billing information the first time you attempt to create a label, or you can follow the steps below to add the billing information in advance:
-
Click the Setup up Carriers button for ShipStation Carrier Services.
Follow the on screen instructions to enter your billing information and agree to terms and conditions.
This billing information will be shared among any carrier options listed under ShipStation Carrier Services. Charges from ShipStation Carrier Services will appear on your credit card reports with the description “ShipStation Carrier Services".
Post-Billed Charges
Certain courier-imposed fees may be assessed after you create a label and dispatch the parcel.
These fees include, but are not limited to:
Excess weight surcharges
Out of area surcharges
Courier pickup-up surcharges
These fees are assessed by the courier and reported back to ShipStation. Once ShipStation has received notification of these charges, they will be billed to the credit card you set up for carrier fees.
Parcelforce Worldwide through ShipStation Carrier Services supports the following standard features:
Parcelforce Worldwide through ShipStation Carrier Services allows for the following additional features:
Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
Discounted Rates |
Parcelforce Worldwide through ShipStation Carrier Services includes access to pre-negotiated discounted rates! |
Prepaid postage |
All shipments created using Parcelforce Worldwide through ShipStation Carrier Services are prepaid and use a shared pool of funds managed by ShipStation. You can also set up auto-funding so you always have funds available to create shipping labels. |
Return Labels |
Parcelforce Worldwide through ShipStation Carrier Services supports the creation of domestic return labels using either the Express 24 or Express 48 services. Your customers will then need to drop these packages off at a local post office to be returned. |
Qualifying shipments have a standard coverage up to £100 or £200 for loss, damage or theft of items, depending on the service used.
ShipStation Refund Request
To file a claim for a lost or damaged shipment, click the following link: ShipStation Refund Request Form. Claims will only be accepted 30 days from the scheduled delivery date.
To file for a lost or damaged shipment, you will be asked to provide the following to ShipStation support:
A sales receipt or invoice indicating the cost to acquire or manufacture items lost or damaged in shipment.
A photo of the damaged items OR indication from ParcelForce that the parcel has been lost in shipment.
The tracking number of the label for the shipment.
The cost of the label.
The tables below show the rates available for Parcelforce drop-off services through ShipStation Carrier Services. Check the Parcelforce branch finder to find a drop off location near you. Rates do not include VAT.
Zones, weight, dimensions
Zone definitions as defined by Parcelforce
Zone 1: England, Wales & Scotland (excluding Highlands & Islands)
Zone 2: Highlands & Islands of Scotland
Zone 3: Isle of Man & Isle of Scilly
Northern Ireland
Parcel Weight limit for all services: ≤30KG
Parcel Dimensions:
All services except Express 48 Large: Length ≤ 1.5m, length + girth ≤ 3m
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Express 48 Large: Length ≤ 2.5m, length + girth ≤ 5m
Note
Express 48 Large does not appear as it's own service in ShipStation but will be used if Express 48 is selected as the service and the parcel weight or dimensions are above the standard service maximums.
Express 48 Large shipments can only be dropped off and picked up from Parcelforce Worldwide Depots.
Ship From Zone |
Ship To Zone |
Available Services |
Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
Zone 1 |
Zone 1 & Northern Ireland |
Express 48 - Post Office Drop |
£7.65 |
Express 24 - Post Office Drop |
£8.85 |
||
Express AM - Post Office Drop |
£10.29 |
||
Express 10 - Post Office Drop |
£14.70 |
||
Express 9 - Post Office Drop |
£18.29 |
||
Express 48 Large - Depot Drop Off |
£27.28 |
||
Zone 2 & 3 |
Express 48 - Post Office Drop |
£7.65 |
|
Express 24 - Post Office Drop |
£8.85 |
||
Zone 2 |
Zone 1, 2, 3 & Northern Ireland |
Express 48 - Post Office Drop |
£7.65 |
Express 24 - Post Office Drop |
£8.85 |
||
Zone 3 |
Zone 1, 2, 3 & Northern Ireland |
Express 48 - Post Office Drop |
£7.65 |
Express 24 - Post Office Drop |
£8.85 |
||
Northern Ireland |
Zone 1 & Northern Ireland |
Express 48 - Post Office Drop |
£7.65 |
Express 24 - Post Office Drop |
£8.85 |
||
Express AM - Post Office Drop |
£10.29 |
||
Express 10 - Post Office Drop |
£14.70 |
||
Express 9 - Post Office Drop UK |
£18.29 |
||
Express 48 Large - Depot Drop Off |
£27.28 |
||
Zone 2 & 3 |
Express 48 - Post Office Drop |
£7.65 |
|
Express 24 - Post Office Drop |
£8.85 |
Manual Handling Surcharge
All items with a length between 1.1m and 1.5m or with a second-largest dimension greater than 0.7m attract the manual handling surcharge of £2.95 which will come through post-label billing.
See ParcelForce's Pricing and Surcharge page for more information.
Weight and dimensions are required for all shipments.
All shipments through Parcelforce Worldwide must include a Ship To and Ship From Phone Number.
Parcelforce Worldwide requires both a first name and last name in the Ship To and Ship From addresses.
Custom label messages and branding are not available for Parcelforce Worldwide shipping labels. Order Number will be printed on the label in the Sender Reference field.
Parcelforce shipments created through ShipStation Carrier Services are eligible for the standard £100 or £200 insurance coverage for loss, damage or theft of items, depending on the service used. See Parcelforce's page on Inclusive compensation for the details on the standard coverage level for each Parcelforce service. Additional carrier insurance is not available.
All Parcelforce Worldwide shipments will require a signature upon delivery.
Parcelforce Worldwide labels cannot be voided in ShipStation.
Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
Issue |
How to troubleshoot or resolve |
|---|---|
What should I enter for State when shipping orders within the UK? |
When a State field is required, we recommend you use the ISO 3166-2 abbreviation for the parcel destination. |