How to ship books with Interparcel

With more than 212 million books sold in the UK in 2021, it should come as no surprise that books are one of the most popular items sent via courier.

World Book Day takes place on 3rd March 2022 and is the 25th annual celebration of reading, authors, illustrators and books recognised in over 100 countries worldwide. The charity aims to offer every child and young person the opportunity to read and share their thoughts with others.

Many people celebrate World Book Day differently, whether by collecting book vouchers or dressing up as their favourite book character. It's also an excellent opportunity to send a book to a loved one in the UK or abroad, no matter their age!

If you want to send a book for World Book Day or any other day of the year, we've got you covered.

Prepare books for shipping

Books of all shapes and sizes are relatively easy to ship but they must be properly wrapped to avoid damage to the cover or spine. We recommend you spend some time packing your item correctly for shipment.

How to package books for shipping?

Firstly, you'll need suitable packaging for your book. If you're sending a single paperback, a padded envelope might be ideal with additional padding inside. For multiple books or a hardback, you'll want to use a sturdy, double-walled cardboard box with cushioning materials.

Wrap the book in a protective cushioning material like bubble wrap or hex wrap to protect it from water damage or knocks during transit. Ensure you pay close attention to the corners of the books as they are most susceptible to being scrunched- this is particularly important if you are sending a book as a gift!

You'll then want to fill any space inside the box with other packing materials such as newspaper, packing peanuts or shredded cardboard so your book is safely secured and won't move around as it makes its journey to the recipient.

Finally, seal the box or packet with strong parcel tape along the lid and sides for maximum protection. However, do not excessively tape the parcel as Customs authorities can open all shipments for inspection when required.

How much is it to ship a book?

The cost of sending a book via courier will depend on the final weight and size of your parcel after you've packaged it for shipping.

Sending a book in the UK can cost as little as £1.75*(ex. VAT) with Evri ParcelShop Postable. The service is suitable for thin paperback novels under 35cm x 23cm x 2.5cm and 1kg in weight, so if it fits through the letterbox, it could be an efficient courier service for you. Your receiver doesn't even have to be home to accept the parcel as the driver will post it through the letterbox, so it's a great service to use for sending a surprise gift!

You can drop parcels at one of many local convenience stores in your area or the nearest InPost locker.

If you're sending multiple hardback books abroad through the Post Office, this can work out expensive due to the weight of the parcel. However, we make sending books affordable with our discounted international services. If you were shipping 3 standard hardback novels to France, for example, 22.9cm x 15.2cm x 5.4cm (3kg), you could send with Parcelforce Euro Economy from £15.10*

Please note: Some international destinations, like China, have import restrictions on books. Before you book, always check our Prohibited & Restricted list for the country you're shipping to, along with our courier partners.

How to send books with Interparcel?

We help individual senders, or online sellers find the cheapest quotes and ship their books with trusted couriers. Whether you need to send a book domestically or internationally, your parcel will be in the safest hands.

The quickest way to send books is by using our Quote Tool to compare prices and services from our range of couriers. All you'll need to do is pop in the parcel's weight, height, length and width to receive the most suitable collection or drop off quotes for you.

We also offer complete tracking on all our services that you can view by entering your unique 12-digit tracking code on our portal or via your account.

If you regularly sell books through eCommerce marketplaces like eBay or Not On The High Street, you can save time and money on shipping by using Interparcel's integration tools. Our Advanced Shipping Manager integrates with multiple shopping platforms so that you will have access to the most affordable parcel delivery solutions and you can book via your laptop or mobile device whenever suits you.

With us, online sellers can access:

• Free account set up
• Parcel Presets to shortcut package detail input
• Access to a range of courier companies, including weekend and timed services
• Full use of our 'Send Again' and 'Return Parcel' actions to streamline sending
• Branded Tracking for a seamless company experience
• Unlimited no-cost label printing options

Book your delivery with us

Whether you want to send a book as a gift for World Book Day or sell books online, Interparcel has you covered. We can help you turn a new leaf when booking your parcel deliveries, so you get the best price and service for you.

If you have any questions about the booking process, speak to our friendly parcel experts by phone, live chat, or email 8 am - 8 pm Monday to Friday, or 9 am – 1 pm at the weekend to get all the information you need about packing and sending books.

*Quote prices correct as of 17/02/2022