Moving abroad? How to send your things as parcels within the EU

Not every move needs a removal van. If you're moving into a rented, furnished place, or you're selling the furniture anyway, it's often just clothes, books, kitchen things and a bit of electronics that need to come with you. Then sending a few boxes as ordinary parcels can be easier than booking a removal company.

This guide is about the parcels: when they make sense, how to pack and measure them, what you can't send, and how to get your boxes from Denmark to your new country in the EU.

1. Parcels or a removal company?

Parcels work well when:

• you have a manageable number of boxes (say 2–10)
• one person can carry each box
• you're not taking furniture or white goods with you.

With OhShip a parcel can weigh up to 70 kg, but think of the people who have to lift it: a box of 15–20 kg is easier to handle and is less likely to get damaged.

If your whole home is coming with you, a removal company is still the right choice. Many people do both: the furniture goes with the removal company and the most important boxes go as parcels, so they arrive before the van does.

2. How to pack moving boxes that can be shipped

On its way, a parcel is lifted, stacked and sent along conveyor belts several times. So:

• Use strong boxes. Used moving boxes that have gone soft at the corners don't hold up well. Double-wall cardboard is best for heavy things.
• Fill the box completely. Empty space makes a box cave in. Use newspaper, towels or bubble wrap.
• Heavy things at the bottom, light things on top. Put books in small boxes – a big box full of books quickly becomes too heavy.
• Tape every seam with wide packing tape, including the bottom.
• Put a note with your name and new address inside the box. If the label is torn off, the parcel can still be identified.

Find more tips in our guide to preparing your parcel.

3. Measure and weigh the boxes – that sets the price

Carriers charge by either the actual weight or the volumetric weight – whichever is higher.

Volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 5000

Example: A moving box of 60 × 40 × 40 cm has a volumetric weight of 96,000 ÷ 5000 = 19.2 kg. If it weighs 12 kg, you pay for 19.2 kg.

This means that large boxes of light things (duvets, pillows, clothes) can get expensive. Pack them in smaller boxes, or squeeze them into vacuum bags.

Measure each box once it's packed and closed, and round up to whole centimetres. If the parcel is heavier or larger than you entered, the carrier can recalculate the price, and you'll have to pay the difference afterwards.

4. What you can't send

Hazardous materials and flammable liquids can't be sent, and some other goods are restricted. The carrier's terms apply; see the list of prohibited items.

Pay particular attention to batteries:

• Loose batteries can't be sent: power banks, spare batteries, battery packs, and batteries for e-bikes and scooters.
• Electronics with the battery inside (phone, laptop, tablet, camera) can be sent if they're switched off, protected against switching on and well packed. Since 2026 the battery must also be charged to no more than 30%.

5. The address: where should the parcels go?

The parcels need to go to a person or an address that will accept them. Think about:

• Have you already moved in? Then send them to your new address, with your name as it appears on the door or letterbox.
• Not there yet? Send them to someone you know in the country, or to your new workplace if they agree to it.
• Always add a phone number for the recipient, so the driver can call.
• Use the country's address format. In Spain the floor and door must be included (e.g. "Calle Mayor 12, 3º B"), and the postcode has five digits. You'll find the format for each country in our country guides, for example send a parcel to Spain (in Danish) and send a parcel to Germany (in Danish).

Customs within the EU: If you're moving to another EU country, no customs papers are needed. The exception is areas that belong to an EU country but lie outside the EU VAT area – such as the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla. Contact us before you book a parcel there.

6. How to send your boxes, step by step

1. Pack and close all the boxes, then measure and weigh each one.
2. Compare DHL Express and UPS on ohship.dk. You see the price for your route before you pay. You don't need an account, and you pay by card.
3. Several boxes to the same recipient? With UPS you can send up to 10 parcels in one booking: you pay once and get one PDF with a label for each parcel. DHL takes one parcel per order.
4. Print the label on ordinary A4 paper, and attach it with clear tape. Each box needs its own label, and the barcode must be visible.
5. Drop the parcels off at a service point, or book a pickup directly with UPS or DHL using the tracking number on the label.
6. Track the parcels with the tracking number.

The label is valid for 30 days after purchase, so you can buy it before you've finished packing.

7. Frequently asked questions

How many boxes can I send at once? With UPS, up to 10 parcels to the same recipient in one booking. If you have more, make another booking. With DHL Express it's one parcel per order.

How heavy can a moving box be? Up to 70 kg per parcel. But boxes of 15–20 kg are easier to carry and less likely to get damaged.

Do I have to pay customs duty when I move within the EU? No, not between EU countries. The exception is areas outside the EU VAT area, such as the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.

Can I insure the parcel? With DHL Express you can add insurance when you book.

What if nobody is at home? The carrier deals with it under its own rules. A phone number for the recipient makes it easier for the driver to arrange delivery.

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Sources: OhShip's own information (as of 4 November 2026): Frequently asked questions (volumetric weight, batteries, several parcels per booking, label validity, insurance), the country guides (70 kg, customs, address format). Check the figures again before the article is published.