Shipping to Thailand: Services, Costs, and Customs

Shipping a letter or package to Thailand? Moving to Thailand and need to send all your belongings here?

You’re probably worried about whether your items will make it to Thailand at all, never mind on time.

But you can set your fears aside. Sending important documents, furniture–even pets–to Thailand doesn’t have to be hard.

You just have to know which service is right for you. And that’s what this guide will help you determine.

So if you’re sitting there asking yourself, “How in the world am I going to get my stuff to Thailand?” then this guide is for you.

This guide shows you which shipping services are available to you, how much they’ll cost, how long they’ll take, plus how to deal with Thai Customs.

If you want to save time and skip the lengthy read, fill out the form on our contact page and get five free quotes from international shippers within 24 hours.

If you are going to live your new life in Thailand, become our premium subscription member and get access to hundreds of exclusive contents with practical advice to help you live here hassle-free while saving thousands of dollars.

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Preparing Packages

When preparing a package for international shipping, take extensive care while packaging items. FedEx recommends this packing process 

Scissors, packing tape, and bubble wrap.

Shipping services worldwide subject packages to a wide array of abuse, and this is especially true for international shipping to Thailand.

Marking your package fragile does little if anything in preventing rough handling.

One consideration is water damage, an issue that is not often accounted for until it’s too late. Wrap your items inside a plastic bag before sealing the package. This helps your item stay dry.

Finally, shipping containers get hot. Be aware of this when shipping items sensitive to high temperatures. Expect your items to reach temperatures of at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

There may be other times, though, when you won’t be the one preparing your package for shipping. If this is the case, it’s important to find out who will prepare your package and by what methods.

Most private shippers can take photos of your package after they’ve prepared it for shipping.

Complete Packaging Tips

You can follow our packaging tips that can help protect your items from any damage that may occur during shipping.

You will also learn how to organize your goods during packaging, knowing which items to pack first and which ones to pack later, making it easy to unpack after your move.

Packing properly also makes it easy for you to declare your items with customs.

It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.

To get access, please become a subscriber.

Filling Out Shipping Paperwork

When you ship your items into Thailand, you have to fill out a Customs Declaration form. Post offices may fill it out for you. Without these forms, you can’t send your package to Thailand.

On the form, you have to list:

  • your sending and receiving addresses.
  • what items are in the package.
  • how much the items are worth.

The forms may differ depending on which shipper you use.

Writing Thai Addresses

Thai addresses can make little sense to foreigners. However, they do in fact make sense, but it may take a bit to familiarize yourself with them.

One major hang-up is the lack of standardization of street names in Thailand. This is especially true when dealing with addresses in rural Thailand.

It’s common for roads in villages to not have names. Instead, locals identify these roads by their location in reference to other landmarks.

A local Thai may identify a street as the one with the three banks on it, the street between Road A and Road B, or the intersection with the big 7-ELEVEN.

Not only do you face challenges with non-standardized street names, but you also find shops, stores, apartments, and dwellings tucked in every little corner down every winding soi, or small road, in Thailand.

These locations can be hard to identify with an address, such as an apartment that sits behind a storefront down an alley that branches off a soi that branches off a larger road with no house numbers or street names.

Despite these points of confusion, the Thai Postal Service is remarkable at figuring out where a package is heading, even if the addresses are obscure.

For instance, a family member in the USA sent a package to me in Northeast Thailand. They wrote the wrong address on the package.

The postal worker not only figured out what the right address was, but he also knew where I worked and brought the package to me while in my office.

I wouldn’t count on you being this lucky when sending a package, but even if you don’t get the address right, there’s still a good chance the package will arrive at its destination.

One saving grace is that Thailand follows the Universal Postal Union’s Postal Addressing System, so the general structure of Thai addresses follows a similar logic of addresses found in Western countries.

With Thailand addresses, begin with the smallest, specific unit of identification and progress to the largest:

Building name (if any)
Plot, House number, Village (if any), Road, Soi (if any)
Subdistrict, District
Province, Postal Code
Thailand

Here’s an example:

US Embassy
120–122 Wireless Rd
Lumphini, Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand

What to Bring When Shipping to Thailand

When moving to Thailand, you need to decide what to take and what to leave.

There are some items that you definitely do not want to ship over, as shipping prices can be very expensive and you might need to pay hefty taxes.

There are also some items that you don’t need to bring since you can find them easily in Thailand.

To help you decide, you can read our article on what to bring when shipping to Thailand.

It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.

To get access, please become a subscriber.

Shipping Large Items to Thailand

If you need to ship a car, bike, furniture, or other large items to Thailand, use container shipping or a freight forwarder.

A man pushing a pallet of cargo.

If you’re looking for a company to ship your belongings to Thailand, fill out your info on our international shipping page and get free quotes from international shipping companies.

When using their services, be sure to ask about restrictions, what items are taxable, pickup fees, and shipping rates and times.

Container Shipping

Container shipping involves shipping goods in a container on a shipping vessel.

Container shipping is good if you’re looking to ship a significant quantity of goods or large items.

When choosing container shipping, you have two choices:

  • LCL = less than container load
  • FCL = full container load

Let’s look at how each one differs.

LCL

LCL involves buying partial space in a container usually by the cubic meter. As such, it’s cheaper as you’re only paying for a partial area of a much larger container.

This is great if you have items that are too large to ship through the postal service but are not a large enough quantity to warrant an entire container.

The major drawback of LCL shipping is that you must wait until the entire container is full and ready to ship before your items leave port.

So you may wait months just until the container is full and ready to ship, and then have to wait more time for the actual transportation of the goods.

FCL

FCL, on the other hand, involves filling an entire shipping container. Although the price is significantly higher, you have more control over when and where the container is filled and shipped.

Freight Forwarders

If you’re considering container shipping, begin by choosing a freight forwarder. A freight forwarder is a firm that acts as an intermediary between you and a shipping company.

A freight forwarder offers a full range of services:

  • finding freight shippers
  • negotiating shipping prices
  • preparing documents
  • tracking shipments
  • storing shipments
  • helping with inland transportation

A freight forwarder doesn’t actually ship your items. They are an industry broker who helps you navigate the complex facets of international shipping.

They have industry relations with many shipping services and extensive knowledge of shipping logistics.

Use Freighnet’s freight forwarding directory to locate a suitable freight forwarder. On the site, you’re given a list of freight forwarders in Thailand to choose from.

Most of the forwarders don’t list shipping costs or times on their websites because of the many variables. But they calculate packages in one of two ways:

  • gross, or real, weight of the package
  • dimensional weight

If you’re shipping a palette of feathers, for example, the shipper would charge you by dimensional weight. Otherwise, they’d lose money because the real weight is so light.

If you wonder what the cut-off is between real weight and dimensional weight, contact the freight forwarder.

Case Study

Container shipping is the best choice when moving all your belongings to Thailand. This is what our editor, John, and his family did.

Since they had a daughter and already bought her necessities in America, they found out it would be cheaper to ship what they had to Thailand instead of buying it again, often at more expensive prices.

They found an international shipper in NYC that shipped to and from Thailand. For a palette-and-a-half of goods, 48 in. high and 42 in. long and wide, the cost came out to $1,400.

John and his wife had to pack everything in boxes, but the shipper’s employees came in a van and picked everything up for them. The shipping company also handled all the shipping paperwork.

The only thing John and his wife had to do was create a general list of items being shipped.

Since they were shipping their personal belongings, like furniture, kid’s clothes, toys, bikes, and so on, they didn’t have to pay import taxes.

It took six weeks to ship their belongings by sea. When everything arrived at port, a shipper in Thailand called them and delivered it to their house in Samut Prakan.

In total, they shipped 62 boxes from America, and 62 boxes arrived at their house. Not one thing was missing or broken.

But if you’re concerned about lost or damaged belongings, most private shippers offer insurance. If John and his wife wanted insurance on their shipment, the international shipping company would’ve charged them an extra $200.

Container Shipping Costs

The total price for shipping a container of goods depends on how much of the container you fill.

Most shipping companies offer half containers at 20 feet long, or LCL, and full containers at 40 feet long, or FCL.

Prices vary by shipper. But most shippers in the U.S. tack on a US$45 export fee.

All taxes are calculated by the value of items you ship. Sometimes you won’t have to pay taxes. This is especially true if what you’re shipping in the container is for personal use.

Since the cost of containers varies greatly between each person. The best way to check the price for yourself is to fill out the form on our contact page and get five free quotes from international shippers within 24 hours.

Choosing the Right Shipping Company

A key part of shipping to Thailand is to choose the right shipping company.

We have insider tips on this matter, including a list of shipping companies that you might want to consider.

It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.

To get access, please become a subscriber.

Shipping Small Items to Thailand from Around the World

When sending a letter or small package to Thailand, you have two main choices: 

  • international shipping companies
  • government-run organizations 

International shipping companies are usually more expensive yet faster and more flexible when it comes to what you’re allowed to send. This is because they take care of the international shipping and delivery process themselves. Their tracking systems are usually better, too. And they may be able to help you with customs clearance. 

On the other hand, each country has its own government-run organizations and tends to be the cheapest option when sending items to Thailand. 

However, these government-run organizations don’t have their own fleet. They usually ship your items via airlines in their networks, and then forward them to local shipping companies, including Thailand Post. 

Since there are many parties involved, it tends to take longer, is harder to track, and is less flexible. 

For example, you might be able to send toothpaste and medications with private shippers but you can’t do that with government-run organizations. 

International Shipping Companies

No matter where you are in the world, you should be able to send your packages to Thailand with these three shippers: 

  • DHL
  • FedEx
  • UPS 

Let’s take a look at each company closely. 

DHL

With DHL, you can ship parcels from anywhere in the world to Thailand. They have five services available.

DHL Express Worldwide: an express shipping service that offers fast, reliable delivery to Thailand, typically within one to three business days. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.

DHL Express 12:00: an express shipping service that guarantees delivery to Thailand by noon on the next possible business day. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.

DHL Express Easy: a simplified express shipping service that offers fast delivery to Thailand at a lower cost. This service is designed for small packages and documents, including door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.

DHL eCommerce: an economy shipping service that offers affordable delivery to Thailand for small parcels and lightweight shipments. This service typically takes seven to 14 business days and includes tracking.

DHL GlobalMail: a budget-friendly shipping service that offers delivery to Thailand for lightweight parcels and small shipments. This service typically takes seven to 14 business days, depending on the origin location, and includes tracking.

FedEx

FedEx sets international shipping limits by weight: 150 pounds to be exact. FedEx’s International Priority can get your package from mostly anywhere in the world to Thailand within three working days.

If you’re looking for overnight delivery, check out their International Next Flight service.

When using FedEx, you get guaranteed customs-cleared shipping.

There are four main shipping options from FedEx. 

FedEx International Priority: an express shipping service that offers fast, reliable delivery to Thailand, typically within one to three business days. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.

FedEx International Economy: an economy shipping service that offers affordable delivery to Thailand for less urgent shipments. This service typically takes between three and five business days, and includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.

FedEx International First: an express shipping service that guarantees delivery to Thailand by 9:00 AM on the next possible business day. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.

FedEx Ground: a ground shipping service that offers delivery within Thailand. This service is typically used for domestic shipments within Thailand and includes door-to-door delivery, tracking, and customs clearance services for international shipments.

UPS

UPS offers a variety of international shipping services to Thailand, including express, standard, and economy options.

UPS Worldwide Express: an express shipping service for urgent shipments to Thailand, typically within one to three business days depending on the origin location. This service includes a money-back guarantee and tracking.

UPS Worldwide Expedited: fast, reliable shipping to Thailand with a typical transit time of four to five business days. This service is designed for less urgent shipments and includes door-to-door service, customs clearance, and tracking.

UPS Worldwide Saver: an express shipping service that provides reliable delivery to Thailand in one to three business days. This service is designed for time-sensitive shipments and includes customs clearance and tracking.

UPS Standard: a more economical shipping option that provides reliable delivery to Thailand in four to six business days. This service is designed for non-urgent shipments and includes customs clearance and tracking visibility.

Unlike FedEx, UPS charges for add-on services that are usually included with FedEx’s shipping services.

From the USA

When shipping from the USA to Thailand, you can use the United States Postal Service.

USPS truck parked alongside the street.

Most of the USPS’s shipping choices come with:

  • free packing supplies for shipments over $44;
  • package pick up from your home or office;
  • package tracking; and
  • between $100 and $200 of insurance, depending on what you’re shipping.

Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from the USA to Thailand.

Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents

If you have to send a letter or important documents from the USA to Thailand, use the USPS’s Global Express Guaranteed.

Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages

When sending packages no larger than 70 lbs. and 42 in. long and 36 in. Wide, use USPS’ Priority Mail Express International.

USPS Customs Forms

When you send a package to Thailand, you have to include customs forms. You can print US customs forms right from your computer.

Check out all of the USPS’s international shipping choices.

From the UK

When shipping from the UK to Thailand, you can use the UK Post.

A blue and red UK Post box.

The UK Post offers:

  • international shipping prices starting at £9.78;
  • up to a £100 insurance for loss or damaged parcels; and
  • the option to buy up to £500 worth of insurance for more expensive parcels.

Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from the UK to Thailand.

Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents

If you need a letter or document rushed to Thailand from the UK, use the UK Post’s International Confirmed shipping service.

You’ll get your letter or documents in five to seven business days.

Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages

Use the UK Post’s International Standard shipping. The UK post offers shipping to Thailand for parcels weighing up to 30 kgs.

You’ll get your parcel in six to seven working days.

UK Post Customs Forms

Make sure to fill out and attach the right customs forms with your international letter or parcel. Download the UK custom forms here.

Check out all of the UK Post’s international shipping choices.

From Australia

If you need to ship something from Australia to Thailand, use Australia Post.

A Australian Post box.

Depending on which method you pick, air or sea, your package will reach Thailand anywhere from two to 30 days.

The Australian Post offers:

  • package tracking;
  • shipping prices starting at $11.55
  • the option to add extra insurance.

Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from Australia to Thailand.

Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents

If you need a letter or document urgently, use Australia Post’s International Courier service. Your letter will get to Thailand in one to two days in most cases.

Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages

If you have to send a parcel from Australia to Thailand and you’re not in a rush, use Australia Post’s International Standard service.

Australia Post Custom Forms

You can download Australia Post’s customs forms and read more about their customs regulations on their website.

Check out all of Australia Post’s international shipping choices.

From Singapore

Singapore Post lets you send up to 30 kgs. to Thailand. Singapore Post provides:

  • tracking
  • notification of receipt
  • insurance of up to $150
  • door-step delivery; and
  • on-call collection.

Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from Singapore to Thailand.

Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents

If you need a letter or document right away, use Singapore Post’s Speedpost service. Your letter will get to Thailand in one to three business days.

Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages

If you have to send a package from Singapore to Thailand and it’s not urgent, use Singapore Post’s Speedpost Economy or Standard service.

Check out all of Singapore Post’s international shipping choices.

Calculating Shipping Costs to Thailand

To calculate shipping costs, consider the item’s weight, size, and value, and how quickly you need it to arrive. The answers to these questions will tell you what service is best for you.

The tables below compare different shipping services using the example of shipping a 16-ounce computer part valued at US$150.

When shipping small packages, there’s not much difference between government and private shippers. But if you need a shipper who can work with you on a large or custom shipment, your best bet is to use a private shipper.

You will find shipping costs for containers at the end of this section.

To get a precise shipping cost, you can use online shipping calculators provided by various shipping companies such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS. These calculators will require you to input the weight and dimensions of your package and the origin and destination to provide an estimated shipping cost.

Shipping from the USA

ServiceETAPrice USD
Priority Mail Express3–5 days$61.85
Priority Mail6–10 days$45.75
Medium Flat Rate6–10 days$67.95
First Class10–14 days$22.25
FedEx International Economy8 days$122.73
DHL Express Worldwide3 days$105.50
UPS Worldwide Expedited7 days$107.85

Shipping from Australia:

ServiceETAPrice AUD
Courier2 days$81.60
Express4 days$41.06
Standard8 days$22.26
Economy Air10 days$14.39
FedEx International Economy6 days$133.94
DHL Express Worldwide1 day$93.64
UPS Worldwide Expedited5 days$86.36

Shipping from the UK

ServiceETAPrice GBP
Global Express2 days guaranteed£64.85
Global Priority4 days£53.30
Global Value6–8 days£40.50
FedEx International Economy6 days£91.12
DHL Express Worldwide2 days£62.58
UPS Worldwide Expedited7 days£56.89

Shipping from Singapore

ServiceETAPrice SGD
Standard (surface)3–4 weeks$5.00
Standard (air)4–6 days$11.70
Speedpost Priority2–3 days$59.00
Speedpost Express1–2$82.00
FedEx International Economy2 days$87.72
DHL Express Worldwide1 day$100.92
UPS Worldwide Expedited5 days$36.68

Insuring Your Package

All services mentioned above offer shipping insurance for an additional charge.

Here are some general insurances costs:

USPS

Most things you send through USPS come with $50 to $100 worth of insurance. You do have the choice to buy additional insurance for more expensive items up to $5,000.

Prices start at $2.10 and go up from there, depending on the declared value.

UK Post

When you use the UK Post to send items to Thailand, you can get between £20 and £2,500 worth of insurance. The amount of insurance you can get depends on which service you pick. But all insurance covers losses, damages, and delays.

Australia Post

Australia Post offers insurance for international shipping starting at $5 for items valued at $100. You can buy more insurance for $3.50 for each additional $100 of value, up to $5,000.

So if your item is valued at $1,000, you pay $5 for the first $100 and $3.50 for each additional $100. This means it would cost you $36.50 to insure your $1,000 item.

Singapore Post

Singapore Post offers international shipping insurance starting at $1.50 for items worth up to $1,000. For items worth over $1,000, you pay 2% of the item’s declared value.

DHL

If you want to insure your shipment through DHL, you pay 1.5% of the total value of the item you ship.

FedEx

You’re covered for any shipment under $100 declared value. For items valued between $100 and $300, insurance is $2.10. Any item valued over $300 costs $0.70 per $100 to insure.

UPS

You are covered for any shipment under $100 declared value. For shipments greater than $100 declared value, insurance costs are calculated into the shipping charges.

Shipping Amazon Packages to Thailand

Can you ship Amazon packages to Thailand? This has been a hot question lately, especially for expats looking to buy things from back home and have them sent to Thailand.

Amazon does ship certain items to Thailand. If you’re not sure if they’ll ship what you’re looking to buy, check the text under the Buy Now button.

It should say something like this:

Amazon does estimate and charges you import tax, but if they overestimate the tax Amazon will refund you the money.

Having Amazon calculate the import tax means you don’t have to deal with Thai customs when your package arrives—Amazon does it for you

If Amazon doesn’t ship what you want to Thailand, an alternative option is to have your package sent to a family member or friend and have them ship it to Thailand.

Shipping Vehicles to Thailand

Can you ship a personal vehicle to Thailand? The short answer is yes, but it’s extremely challenging because of regulations. 

In fact, Thailand customs almost does not allow any vehicle import to Thailand unless there’s a very specific reason behind it, such as diplomacy. The process is so complex that even many car shipping companies don’t provide this service. 

In addition, import taxes are high, around 200 percent to 300 percent of the car’s value. 

If you want to try your luck, here are some general steps to follow.

First, check the eligibility. Before importing a vehicle into Thailand, make sure that the vehicle is eligible for importation. Certain types of vehicles are prohibited from being imported, such as cars that are more than five years old.

Second, you need to obtain an import permit from the Thai government. This permit can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Trade. When applying for the permit, you must provide documentation such as the vehicle’s registration and proof of ownership.

Third, you need to ensure that the vehicle meets Thai safety and emissions standards. If the car doesn’t meet these standards, it will need to be modified or you may not be able to import it.

Fourth, be prepared to pay taxes and duties on the vehicle. The amount depends on the make and model of the car, its age, and value.

Finally, you need to arrange for the car to be shipped to Thailand. You can do this through a shipping company that specializes in international car shipping.

Shipping Pets to Thailand

If you’re moving to Thailand or staying for a long vacation and want to bring your pet(s), you have quite a few choices.

Our writer, Thomas Wanhoff, who covers all topics related to expats and pets, covers the entire process in our guide to importing your pet to Thailand.

Dealing with Thai Customs

When your package makes it to Thailand, it has to go through Thai Customs. Customs may tax or add duty rates to your package.

A Thai flag flying above a building.

Duty rates, taxes, and Thai Customs laws are always changing, so if in doubt, check with the Thai Customs Department.

Duty Rates

Thailand uses the cost, insurance, freight—or CIF—to calculate the value of incoming packages. Duty rates are based on the CIF total value:

Item Value: $100
Shipping: $20
Insurance: $30
Total CIF: $150

CIF values are used to determine duty rates. Duty rates range between 0% to 80%, with an average of 21%.

Some items are exempt from duty charges. Laptops, some electronic devices, and items with a value below $30 might not incur duty charges.

Thai Customs offers this duty rate assessment PDF. You can also use this duty rate calculator to help estimate duty costs.

When using private shippers like DHL, FedEx, or UPS, there’s no way to pay for import taxes ahead of time. These private shippers leave the collection of duties to Thai Customs officers.

Despite what you claim the item’s value to be, Thai customs often appraise the item at a higher rate.

You may claim a pair of shoes you’re shipping to Thailand only costs $50, but Thai customs may value the shoes at $100 or even $150.

This is standard practice with Thai customs, and you have little recourse in preventing it from happening. Some people have claimed success by bringing in receipts and documents that show the item’s true value.

The other issue with duty rates is the inconsistency between the percentages. Like so many other things in Thailand, there is little standardization when it comes to policies and procedures.

What duty rate you end up paying often comes down to the given postal or customs agent on any given day. It’s common to pay differing duty rates when shipping the exact same item.

Without much effort, you’ll find horror stories when dealing with Thai customs. People report items going missing or getting seized or delayed in customs for months.

You’ll also find stories of customs holding packages for ransom as a means to collect more duty. I experienced this when receiving some banking info through the mail.

People report bribes to pay half of the duty rate under the table without invoices or paperwork.

These events vary and depend on your location in Thailand. It’s wise to save all shipping documents and receipts for later verification.

There are few rules you can follow to decrease or even completely avoid custom taxes. We show you how in an exclusive guide for our supporters.

VAT

Value Added Tax, or VAT, is a sales tax added to items coming into Thailand.

The current VAT rate is 7%, calculated over the CIF value plus any duty added to the item.

Therefore, the value that the VAT is applied for is higher than the item’s initial value, as it includes the item’s value, shipping, insurance, and duty.

You might have to pay another 10% VAT on alcohol and food.

Restricted Items

Each international shipping service restricts certain items you can import into Thailand. But in the end, Thai Customs has the ultimate say on what can and can’t be brought here.

Check with your shipper, but cross-reference their restrictions with those listed on the Suvarnabhumi Airport and Thai Customs websites.

General restrictions:

  • tobacco
  • beef products
  • any type of seeds
  • dry tea leaves
  • non-prescription drugs
  • e-cigarettes
  • baraka, shisha, hookah (water pipes)
  • obscene objects, literature, pictures
  • pornographic materials
  • goods with Thai national flags
  • narcotics
  • fake currency, bonds, or coins
  • fake royal and/or official seals
  • intellectual property rights infringing goods
  • counterfeit trademark goods
  • sex toys
  • graven image and/or religious idols

Although some animals are restricted from entering Thailand, most household pets aren’t. Jump to our section on importing your pet into Thailand for more info.

You can also visit the Thai Customs website to find out about Thailand’s Importing and Exporting Procedures.

Avoid Customs Tax

It’s hard to calculate the amount of tax you need to pay since it depends on the customs officers’ opinion.

However, with certain conditions and items, you don’t need to pay it at all.

You can find out more from more on how to avoid customs tax here.

It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.

To get access, please become a subscriber.

Shipping Times

If you’re wondering how long it will take to ship your letter or package to Thailand, that depends on what you’re sending and which service you pick.

A daily planner opened up.

On average, you can expect to get your letter or package to get to Thailand Customs in between two days and two months.

Rush or priority services from most of the post offices and private shippers mentioned in this guide take a few days to reach Thailand.

If you’re sending your items in a container, it could take up to two months, but most times it takes around six weeks.

After your items reach Thai Customs, you may have to wait for Customs to clear your items. Usually, items are cleared reasonably quickly—around one or two days.

But you may have to go to Customs to pay for duties and/or VAT, and that could hold up your letter or package for a few more days.

What’s the Current Shipping Situation in Thailand after COVID-19? 

During COVID-19, many countries all around the world, including Thailand, shut their borders and implemented international travel restrictions, making shipping time unpredictable. 

Now that Thailand, as well as most countries in the world, is open again, you can expect packages to be delivered on time.

However, when shipping internationally, unexpected delays are always a possibility.

If time is a pressing concern, we recommend using a private shipping company to ensure your parcel reaches you in time. 

Avoiding Common Shipping Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes when shipping your items to Thailand to make sure your belongings get here safely and on time:

  • shipping prohibited items
  • packaging items incorrectly
  • failing to account for duty and VAT
  • setting inaccurate shipping weights
  • picking the wrong shipping service
  • misunderstanding custom’s procedures
  • failing to include the required paperwork
  • filling out addresses and forms incorrectly

If you can avoid making any of these mistakes, your letter or package will get to Thailand on time.

Now, on to You

There are no guarantees in life, and this is especially true with international shipping.

But by following this guide, you should be able to mitigate as much risk and unnecessary spending as possible.

Whether you’re a soon-to-be expat looking to ship your belongings to Thailand, or you’re an expat looking to receive a care package from back home, fill out the form on our contact page and get five free quotes from international shippers within 24 hours.

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