We offer a convenient and affordable delivery service to over 200 countries worldwide. Not only do we provide a low rate for both domestic and international shipping, but we also offer you fast transit times so you can rest assured that your parcel will reach your loved ones.
NI Parcels Christmas Send By Dates
With the busy holiday season now approaching, it is important to take note of our send-by dates if you want to ensure your parcels arrive on time.
We recommend sending on or before the dates listed below. The send-by date is the date your parcel is collected, not the date you place your booking.
You can still book a collection after these dates, however, we cannot guarantee that your parcel will arrive in time for Christmas.
All NI Parcels services are estimated and can be subject to delays due to any unforeseen circumstance.
Services within Northern Ireland
Service | Send by |
NI Parcels Express (DHL) | 21st December |
NI Parcels Express Pre 12 (DHL) | 21st December |
FX Express (FedEx) | 18th December |
UPS Standard | 17th December |
UPS Express Saver | 18th December |
DPD | 18th December |
Parcelforce 48 | 18th December |
Parcelforce 24 | 21st December |
City Air Express | 21st December |
Services to Ireland
If sending from Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) please remember that your shipment will undergo customs clearance upon entering Ireland, we would recommend allowing additional time for this.
Service | Send by |
NI Parcels Economy (DHL) | 16th December |
NI Parcels Express (DHL) | 21st December |
FX Economy (FedEx) | 16th December |
FX Express (FedEx) | 18th December |
UPS Standard | 17th December |
UPS Express Saver | 18th December |
DPD | 18th December |
City Air Express | 17th December |
Services to Great Britain
Please note that more remote areas such as the Scottish Highlands may take longer to deliver than the estimated delivery times.
Service | Send by |
NI Parcels Express (DHL) | 21st December |
NI Parcels Express Pre 12 (DHL) | 21st December |
FX Express (FedEx) | 17th December |
UPS Standard | 16th December |
UPS Express Saver | 18th December |
UPS Express | 21st December |
DPD | 16th December |
Parcelforce 48 | 17th December |
Parcelforce 24 | 18th December |
City Air Express | 16th December |
Services to Europe
Please note that every destination in Europe may have different transit times and we recommend taking this into account.
EU Deliveries will not undergo customs clearance if sending from Northern Ireland however we still recommend allowing for delays due to the volume of shipments being sent at this time of year.
If sending from England, Scotland or Wales to the EU, your shipment will undergo customs clearance and we recommend being cautious due to potential delays in shipments being cleared.
Service | Send by |
NI Parcels Economy (DHL) | 15th December |
NI Parcels Express (DHL) | 18th December |
FX Economy (FedEx) | 16th December |
FX Express (FedEx) | 18th December |
UPS Standard | 14th December |
UPS Express Saver | 17th December |
UPS Express | 18th December |
DPD International | 14th December |
Services to the USA
Please read any important booking notes, sending prohibited items such as foodstuffs is the primary reason behind delayed or returned parcels to the USA as these require FDA Clearance.
Your shipment will undergo customs clearance and we recommend being cautious due to potential delays in shipments being cleared.
Service | Send by |
FX Economy (FedEx) | 14th December |
FX Express (FedEx) | 17th December |
UPS Expedited | 11th December |
UPS Express Saver | 15th December |
UPS Express | 17th December |
Services to Australia
Please read any important booking notes, sending prohibited items such as foodstuffs is the primary reason behind delayed or returned parcels to Australia due to biosecurity checks.
Your shipment will undergo customs clearance and we recommend being cautious due to potential delays in shipments being cleared.
Service | Send by |
NI Parcels Express (DHL) | 16th December |
FX Economy (FedEx) | 10th December |
FX Express (FedEx) | 15th December |
UPS Expedited | 7th December |
UPS Express Saver | 14th December |
All Other International Services
Services will vary depending on where you are sending to or from and the estimated transit time on your route and service.
You will be shown an estimated delivery date when you choose your collection date, we recommend adding 2 - 3 additional working days to account for potential delays in customs or due to the volume of parcels at this time of year.
Service | Send by |
Expedited services | 10th December |
Economy services | 14th December |
Express services | 17th December |
Helpful Tips for deliveries in December
Christmas is the busiest time of year for all couriers, so it’s best to send your parcels as early as possible to beat the rush and avoid delays.
Every shipment includes full tracking so you can follow its journey and see when it’s out for delivery. You can track your order in your My Account section to stay informed about any updates or delays.
Make sure your label is firmly attached and clearly visible. If a label comes off, it can cause delays while the parcel is identified and relabelled. Always include the backup label inside your parcel just in case.
Some items, such as cash, batteries, food, liquids, nail polish, and perfume, cannot be sent and may lead to your parcel being returned.
For international shipments, customs forms must include specific and accurate descriptions (for example, “children’s books” rather than “gifts”). This helps prevent delays and ensures your parcel clears customs smoothly.
Feel free to wrap presents inside your parcel, but avoid wrapping the outer box. Customs or security checks may require packages to be opened, so the wrapping may need to be opened to perform these checks. It may be best to make the delivery side aware of this in case items might need to be re-wrapped if being gifted to other family or friends.
Snow, ice, and storms can sometimes disrupt transport routes. Even if the weather looks fine where you are, conditions elsewhere can still affect your parcel’s journey, so plan ahead.
Ensure all address details and contact numbers are accurate. A missing flat number or postcode can easily delay delivery.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, delays can still happen during the festive season. Tracking your shipment and sending early are the best ways to keep things stress-free.
Parcels travelling between Great Britain and the EU now go through customs checks due to Brexit, which can add time to delivery.
NI Parcels Holiday Opening Times
Below we have outlined our office opening hours during the Christmas period and we have also covered when most collections and deliveries will occur on each of the dates listed.
These times are subject to change.
Day | Date | Status | Collections? | Deliveries? |
Thursday | 24th December | Open (9AM - 5PM) | No | Yes |
Friday | 25th December | Closed | No | No |
Saturday | 26th December | Email Support (9AM - 6PM) | No | No |
Sunday | 27th December | Email Support (9AM - 6PM) | No | No |
Monday | 28th December | Open | No | No |
Tuesday | 29th December | Open | Yes | Yes |
Wednesday | 30th December | Open | Yes | Yes |
Thursday | 31st December | Open (until 3PM) | No | Yes |
Friday | 1st January 2027 | Email Support (until 3PM) | No | No |
Saturday | 2nd January 2027 | Email Support (until 3PM) | No | No |
Sunday | 3rd January 2027 | Email Support (until 3PM) | No | No |
Monday | 4th January 2027 | Open | Yes* | Yes* |
Tuesday | 5th January 2027 | Open | Yes | Yes |
*Monday 4th January is a substitute holiday for Scotland only, collections and deliveries will take place across the rest of the UK as normal.
Monday 28th December is a bank holiday in the UK. Our support team is open as normal, but there will be no collections or deliveries. Deliveries may take place in some other countries.
You can get a quote and book online 24/7 every day of the year.