Couriers
Royal Mail vs Evri vs InPost: which is cheapest?
Most people in the UK send parcels with one of three services: Royal Mail, Evri (formerly Hermes) or InPost. Each has strengths, and the cheapest depends on the size and weight of what you're sending.
Small parcel up to 1kg
| Service | Price | Tracked |
|---|---|---|
| Evri ParcelShop to ParcelShop | £2.62 | Yes |
| InPost locker to locker (small) | about £2.99 | Yes |
| Evri small parcel to door | £3.04 | Yes |
| Royal Mail Tracked 48 (online) | £3.75 | Yes |
| Royal Mail 2nd Class (counter) | £4.60 | No |
Royal Mail
Best for: letters, large letters, posting from anywhere, and recipients who want delivery to their door.
Royal Mail delivers to every UK address six days a week, and you can hand parcels in at around 11,500 Post Offices or drop pre-paid parcels into many postboxes. Its online tracked prices are competitive for small parcels. It becomes expensive for bulky items because it charges by size: anything over 45 × 35 × 16cm or over 2kg becomes a Medium Parcel.
Evri
Best for: the cheapest price on clothes and small to mid-sized parcels.
Evri has thousands of ParcelShops in convenience stores and supermarkets, with long opening hours. Its ParcelShop-to-ParcelShop service (£2.62 for up to 5kg) is among the cheapest anywhere, though the recipient must collect. Evri's reliability has improved in recent years, but it's worth using a service with good tracking for anything important.
InPost
Best for: convenience – drop off 24/7 without printing a label.
InPost operates thousands of lockers across the UK, many at supermarkets and petrol stations. You book online, get a code, and drop your parcel in a locker whenever suits you. Locker-to-locker is cheap and secure; the recipient gets a code to collect. Parcels must fit the locker sizes (the largest is 64 × 41 × 38cm).
Is InPost cheaper than Royal Mail?
For most parcels, yes. InPost locker-to-locker starts at around £2.99, while Royal Mail's cheapest tracked parcel bought online is £3.75. The gap gets much bigger for parcels just over 2kg or bigger than 45 × 35 × 16cm, where Royal Mail charges Medium Parcel prices from £7.50 and InPost still charges by locker size. Royal Mail wins for letters and large letters, and when the recipient wants delivery to their door rather than collecting from a locker.
Is InPost cheaper than Evri?
They're very close. Evri ParcelShop-to-ParcelShop (£2.62 up to 5kg) is often a few pence cheaper than InPost's small locker (around £2.99). InPost can be better value for heavy parcels, since its lockers take up to 25kg, and it's more convenient if you want to drop off at any time of day without a label. For bulky but light items, compare both in our calculator.
The verdict
- Letters and flat items: Royal Mail, every time.
- Clothes and small parcels: Evri or InPost are usually cheapest; Royal Mail Tracked 48 is close behind and delivers to the door.
- Bulky but light items: Evri or InPost – avoid Royal Mail's Medium Parcel pricing.
- Heavy items (over 10kg): compare couriers on a comparison site.
Frequently asked questions
Is InPost cheaper than Royal Mail?
For parcels, usually yes - InPost lockers start at around £2.99 compared with £3.75 for Royal Mail Tracked 48 online. For letters and large letters, Royal Mail is cheaper.
Is InPost cheaper than Evri?
They are very close. Evri ParcelShop-to-ParcelShop is £2.62; InPost locker-to-locker starts at around £2.99. InPost takes heavier parcels, up to 25kg.
Which is the most reliable?
All three deliver millions of parcels successfully every week. For anything valuable, choose a tracked service with enough compensation, whichever carrier you use.
Prices change often, so check our postage calculator for your exact parcel before you book.