For many online shoppers in the UK, being able to choose their preferred parcel delivery company can be the deciding factor between completing a purchase and abandoning their basket. Some customers rely on couriers they trust from previous experience, while others prioritise fast delivery. At the same time, the growth of sustainable e-commerce has made environmentally friendly shipping options more important than ever.
That is why e-commerce businesses should take a careful, well-informed approach when selecting a parcel delivery provider in the UK in 2026. The right choice can have a direct impact on conversion rates and the overall delivery experience.
In practice, the UK parcel market evolves quickly. Ofcom reports that Royal Mail remains the leading provider of single-piece parcel services in the consumer-to-business and consumer segments (C2X). At the same time, other carriers such as Evri, DHL, Yodel and DPD compete strongly for B2C e-commerce deliveries.
Choosing the right parcel delivery company for e-commerce in the UK
When selecting a parcel shipping provider, many online retailers focus primarily on fast delivery and competitive pricing. However, customer expectations should never be overlooked. So what matters most? There is no universal answer. Every online retailer needs to identify the solution that best fits their specific business model.
Key factors to consider include:
- Who your target audience is
- What delivery features do your customers expect
- How many parcels do you ship each month
- What types of products do you send
- Whether you ship within the UK or across Europe
- Your business priorities: speed, security, cost, sustainability, brand reputation
Top 8 parcel delivery companies in the UK
Let us take a closer look at the couriers mentioned above and explore what each of them offers. For each provider, we outline a general overview, whether express and environmentally friendly options are available, and the scale of their out-of-home networks.
Pick-up points, often referred to as parcel shops or lockers, provide a convenient alternative to home delivery for customers who are not at home. With extended opening hours, they allow shoppers to collect parcels at a time that suits them, such as after work. We also examine the extent to which each provider focuses on international shipping.
Royal Mail
Founded in 1516, Royal Mail was owned by the UK government for 499 years before being listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2013. The company reports around 130,000 employees. International Distribution Services (Royal Mail and GLS) reported group revenue of £13.1 billion for the year ending 30 March 2025, published in September 2025. In terms of market position, Royal Mail remains the main provider of single-piece parcel services in the UK’s C2X segment.
Express Delivery
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am and 1pm offers next working day delivery within the UK.
CO2 Neutral Option
No dedicated option available for retailers.
Pick-up Points
Royal Mail has continued to expand its out-of-home network. UK reporting in 2025 referenced around 24,000 out-of-home locations. In addition, the Post Office network includes more than 11,500 branches, with 11,683 reported as of March 2025.
International Focus
Primarily focused on the UK, but also a reliable option for exports.
Evri (formerly Hermes in the UK)
Established in 1972, Hermes previously operated as part of Hermes Europe GmbH, a Germany-based parcel group headquartered in Hamburg.
In the UK, the company rebranded to Evri in March 2022. In FY 2024/25, Evri delivered more than 805 million parcels and generated £1.85 billion in revenue. The business is supported by around 8,800 employees and approximately 28,000 self-employed couriers. Evri remains one of the UK’s most widely used parcel carriers. Its market position was further strengthened following a merger with DHL eCommerce UK, with DHL Group taking a minority stake in the combined entity.
Express Delivery
Next day and nominated day delivery options are available.
CO2 Neutral Option
N.A. Availability depends on your contract or service level. Please check directly with Evri.
Pick-up Points
Evri reports more than 10,000 ParcelShops and lockers and has announced a £50 million investment to expand its network to 25,000 locations by 2030.
International Focus
Primarily focused on UK domestic deliveries. International services are typically provided via partners or specific products, depending on the contract.
DPD
Founded in 1999, DPD is part of Geopost, a subsidiary of France’s La Poste Group. The group reported €15.838 billion in revenue in 2024 and delivered 2.138 billion parcels, supported by approximately 55,000 employees. While DPD operates globally, its core strength lies in European parcel delivery.
Express Delivery
DPD offers a range of delivery services, including next day delivery.
CO2 Neutral Option
Geopost positions decarbonisation as a central pillar of its strategy and has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
Pick-up Points
Geopost reports more than 128,000 out-of-home points across Europe, including 31,000 lockers. In the UK, DPD’s pick-up network has been reported as expanding to around 12,000 shops and lockers.
International Focus
Strong emphasis on parcel delivery across Europe.
Parcelforce Worldwide
Parcelforce Worldwide operates as part of Royal Mail Group Ltd. Founded in 1992, the British company employs around 4,500 people. For European deliveries, it partners with GLS, which is also part of the Royal Mail Group. Parcelforce is considered the fourth most popular parcel delivery provider in the UK and is offered by 6 of the country’s top 100 online retailers.
Express Delivery
Offers express services for both domestic and international shipments.
CO2 Neutral Option
GLS provides climate-neutral shipping services in selected countries, including Germany.
Pick-up Points
N.A.
International Focus
Strong focus on European deliveries.
DHL
Founded in 1969, DHL is part of DHL Group, formerly Deutsche Post DHL Group, the world’s largest logistics company. The group reported revenue of €84.2 billion in 2024.
Express Delivery
DHL Express has a strong focus on next-day delivery.
CO2 Neutral Option
DHL offers a range of environmentally friendly solutions, including emissions transparency, offsetting options and circular economy initiatives. The company aims to achieve zero emissions by 2050.
Pick-up Points
DHL Parcel UK promotes around 3,500 ServicePoints across the UK.
International Focus
One of DHL’s key strengths is international parcel delivery. The company ships to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.
Yodel
In April 2025, InPost acquired a 95.5 percent stake in Yodel’s parent company, Judge Logistics Ltd, while PayPoint retained 4.5 percent. According to The Guardian, the acquisition covered Yodel’s 10,000 employees and positioned it as the third-largest independent delivery business serving Britain.
Express Delivery
Yodel Xpress provides next day delivery services.
CO2 Neutral Option
No dedicated options available.
Pick-up Points
Through InPost’s out-of-home network. InPost’s FY2025 trading update stated it began 2026 with more than 19,200 out-of-home points, including 13,721 lockers.
International Focus
Offers European delivery within 3 to 5 days and worldwide delivery within 6 to 10 days.
UPS
Founded in 1907 and headquartered in Atlanta, UPS reported full-year 2024 revenue of $91.1 billion and approximately 500,000 employees.
Express Delivery
Services such as UPS Worldwide Express Plus and UPS Worldwide Express Shipping enable next day delivery.
CO2 Neutral Option
UPS provides a UPS carbon neutral shipping option that supports carbon offset projects linked to transport emissions.
Pick-up Points
UPS operates Access Point locations across the UK for convenient parcel collection and drop-off. Specific numbers are not publicly stated.
International Focus
UPS operates globally, serving more than 200 countries and territories. It is widely used for both intra-European and international shipping.
FedEx
FedEx is another major carrier frequently used by UK merchants, particularly for time-definite international deliveries such as UK to EU or UK to North America routes. In fiscal year 2025, ending 31 May 2025, FedEx reported consolidated revenue of $87.926 billion. As of 31 May 2025, Federal Express, its largest operating company, employed approximately 237,000 full-time and 203,000 part-time staff.
Express Delivery
FedEx Express offers time-definite services, depending on the route and collection cut-off times.
CO2 Neutral Option
N.A. Availability depends on service and contract. Please check directly with FedEx.
Pick-up Points
FedEx provides drop-off and collection through its own locations and partner points across the UK via its location finder.
International Focus
Strong international orientation, with express and economy cross-border services forming a core part of its offering.
Conclusion about courier services in the UK
Selecting the right parcel delivery company is a key decision for e-commerce businesses in the UK. It is not only about cost efficiency and fast shipping, but also about improving customer satisfaction and increasing conversion rates. Taking the time to research and compare options thoroughly can pay off in the long term.
Equally important is choosing the right Third-Party Logistics provider. Working with a flexible fulfilment partner in the UK that collaborates with multiple delivery companies can give you a real competitive advantage. It enables you to switch carriers during peak periods and tailor delivery options based on parcel size, destination and urgency, just as byrd does.
Thank you for reading, and we wish you every success with your e-commerce growth.