Property Education · Getting started & relocating

Sending a parcel in Thailand: Thailand Post, Kerry, Flash, J&T, customs & what it costs

Once you live here you’ll post things constantly — returns, documents, gifts home, the thing you sold online. This is the plain-English version: how Thailand Post and EMS work, the private couriers everyone actually uses, sending domestic vs international, the customs rules on parcels coming in, how Thai addresses are written so they arrive, realistic costs — and how to avoid lost packages. Unbiased, never paid placement.

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By Kirby Scofield
Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist
Last updated 7 July 2026 · Last reviewed 7 July 2026

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The one-line version

For domestic parcels, the private couriers — Flash, J&T, Kerry, Ninja Van — and Thailand Post all cost about the same for a typical box, so pick whichever has a drop-off on your street (many sit inside 7-Elevens). For international, EMS is the cheapest fast option and DHL/FedEx/UPS are quicker but pricey. Parcels coming into Thailand may attract import duty + 7% VAT above a modest value. Put your phone number and a Thai-script address on every label and share a map pin — that’s what actually gets it delivered.

01

Why this is worth five minutes

Posting a parcel sounds trivial until your first one vanishes, gets stuck in customs, or costs three times what you expected to send abroad. Thailand has an unusually competitive delivery market — a national post office plus four or five aggressive private couriers — which is great news once you know how it works and mildly confusing until you do. This guide covers the practical mechanics: who to use for what, what it costs, how Thai addresses and customs actually behave, and the small habits that keep packages from going missing. None of it is legal advice — carrier prices, customs thresholds and rules change, so confirm the current detail with the carrier or Thai Customs before you ship.

02

The players: post office vs private couriers

You have two broad options, and most residents use both depending on the day:

03

Sending a parcel domestically

For anything moving within Thailand the process is refreshingly easy. Box it, take it to the nearest drop-off (or book a pickup in the courier’s app or on LINE), and pay at the counter. A few things worth knowing:

04

Getting the Thai address right

More parcels fail on a vague address than on anything else. Thai addresses run smallest unit to largest: room/house number, building name or moo, soi and road, sub-district, district, province, postcode.

Getting set up with a Thai number and LINE is part of landing well — see our SIM cards & mobile data guide.

05

Parcels coming in — customs & duty

Anything posted to you from abroad clears Thai Customs, and whether you pay depends mainly on the declared value:

Medication is a common trap — before anyone mails you a prescription, read our bringing medication into Thailand guide. Thresholds and rates change, so confirm current figures with the carrier or Thai Customs.

06

Sending parcels abroad

International shipping is where costs jump, so it pays to match the service to the urgency:

A rough feel: a small 1–2 kg airmail parcel to Europe, North America or Australia typically runs from a few hundred baht to low thousands depending on tier and destination. Always compare EMS against a private courier for anything time-sensitive.

07

Avoiding lost and stuck parcels

Habits that keep packages moving
  • Always use a tracked service and keep the receipt — it’s your evidence for any claim.
  • Put a phone number and Thai-script address on every label, and share a map pin with the rider.
  • Answer fast when the rider calls or LINEs — many attempt delivery only once or twice before returning it to the depot.
  • Photograph valuable contents and the packed box before sending; declare a realistic value.
  • Use pickup points — courier counters and 7-Elevens let you collect in person instead of risking a doorstep drop.
  • Open a trace promptly if something goes missing — claims have time limits.

Confirm your building’s parcel process when you move in — most condos log deliveries at reception, but some need you present and a few won’t accept COD on your behalf. Our condo living guide covers how Thai buildings run day to day.

08

Keeping it in perspective

Thailand’s delivery network is one of the genuinely easy things about living here. Once you’ve picked a default courier with a drop-off near home, saved your Thai-script address and learned to share a map pin, posting things becomes a non-event — cheap domestically, fast almost everywhere, and trackable. Keep the receipts, declare honestly across borders, and budget for customs on anything valuable coming in. For the wider settling-in picture, see our first 30 days guide, shipping your belongings guide, and cost of living guide.

09

Frequently asked

What's the cheapest way to send a parcel inside Thailand?For everyday domestic parcels, the private couriers — Flash Express, J&T, Kerry Express and Ninja Van — are usually the cheapest and most convenient, often a little under or around the same price as Thailand Post for small packages, with free or cheap home pickup and dense drop-off networks (many are inside or beside 7-Elevens and shopping malls). Thailand Post's standard registered service is reliable and competitive too, especially for documents and very small items. The honest answer is that prices for a typical 1–2 kg parcel sit close together across providers, so most residents pick on convenience — whichever has a drop-off point on their street — rather than chasing a few baht. Weigh and measure the parcel first, because every courier charges on whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric (size-based) weight.
Which courier is the most reliable in Thailand?All the major couriers — Flash, J&T, Kerry, Ninja Van and Thailand Post's EMS — deliver the vast majority of parcels on time, usually next-day or within two to three days nationwide. Reliability tends to vary more by local depot than by brand, so a courier that's flawless in one neighbourhood can be patchy in another; asking neighbours or your condo's mailroom which one works best in your building is genuinely useful. For anything valuable or irreplaceable, use a tracked service, photograph the contents and packed box before sending, declare a realistic value, and keep the receipt — that's your evidence if a claim is needed. Cash-on-delivery (COD) is widely offered and popular for online sellers.
How does customs work on parcels sent into Thailand?Parcels arriving from abroad pass through Thai Customs, and whether you pay duty and VAT depends mainly on the declared value. Low-value gifts and small shipments often clear with little or no charge, but above a modest threshold Customs assesses import duty (the rate depends on the product category) plus 7% VAT on top, and the courier or post office collects it from you on delivery. Practical tips: ask the sender to declare the contents and value honestly (under-declaring risks delays, fines or seizure), keep invoices handy, and expect that couriers may add a small clearance/handling fee. Restricted and prohibited goods — certain medicines, e-cigarettes/vapes, weapons, and other controlled items — can be held or confiscated regardless of value, so check before anyone ships them to you. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm current figures with Thai Customs or the carrier.
How are Thai addresses written for delivery?A Thai address runs from the smallest unit to the largest: house/room number, then moo (village number) or building name, soi (side street) and thanon (main road), then sub-district (tambon / khwaeng), district (amphoe / khet), province, and the five-digit postcode. In Bangkok the words are khwaeng (sub-district) and khet (district); elsewhere they're tambon and amphoe. For condos, always include the building name, room number and the soi — couriers navigate by soi and landmark far more than by formal street number. Adding a Thai-language version of the address and a mobile phone number dramatically improves success, because the delivery rider will usually call or message (often on LINE) when they're close. A pinned location on a maps app shared with the courier is the single best way to avoid a missed delivery.
How much does international shipping from Thailand cost and how long does it take?International parcels are far more expensive than domestic and the price swings widely by weight, size and speed. Thailand Post offers several tiers — economy/surface (cheapest, but can take many weeks by sea), standard airmail, and EMS (fastest postal option, typically delivered in about a week to many countries). Private integrators like DHL, FedEx and UPS are quicker and more trackable but cost considerably more, and are usually worth it only for urgent or valuable items. As a rough idea, a small 1–2 kg airmail parcel to Europe, North America or Australia commonly runs into the hundreds of baht to low thousands depending on tier and destination. Always compare EMS against a private courier for anything time-sensitive, and budget for possible customs charges at the receiving end.
Can I receive parcels at my condo, and how do I avoid lost packages?Most condos and apartment buildings accept parcels at reception or a mailroom and log them for you to collect — confirm your building's process when you move in, as some require you to be present and a few don't accept COD on your behalf. To avoid problems: always use a tracked service, put your phone number (and ideally a Thai-script address) on the label, share a map pin with the rider, and respond quickly to the LINE or call when they're nearby, because riders often attempt only once or twice before returning a parcel to the depot. If a package goes missing, open a trace with the courier using the tracking number promptly — claims have time limits — and lean on the photos and receipt you kept. For sensitive deliveries, the dense network of courier and 7-Eleven pickup points lets you collect in person instead of risking a doorstep drop.
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Property EducationSending Money to ThailandSIM Cards & Mobile DataShipping Your BelongingsBringing Medication InCost of Living

Settle in once, then it’s easy

Getting post, money and a phone sorted is most of what makes the first month smooth. Then explore long-stay homes built for foreigners.

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General information only — not legal, tax or customs advice. Carrier prices, delivery times, customs duty rates, VAT, de-minimis thresholds, restricted-item rules and condo parcel policies change over time and vary by provider, route and situation; confirm current details with the carrier and Thai Customs before acting. BAANLYY never takes paid placement.