Does AliExpress ship to the UK?
Yes. Choose the United Kingdom as your ship-to country and pounds as your currency. AliExpress then shows the delivery options, prices and estimated dates that apply to your address. Set both before you shop, because AliExpress ties coupons to the ship-to country you had when they were issued.
Payment options vary by country. AliExpress lists cards, digital wallets such as PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and buy-now-pay-later options, and says what you see depends on your country and currency. Northern Ireland follows different import VAT rules, so if you live there, check HMRC’s guidance.
The £135 rule: VAT, duty and fees
The UK treats a consignment differently depending on its value. This table covers goods bought from AliExpress and sent to England, Scotland or Wales.
| Consignment value | VAT | Customs duty | Fees at delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| £135 or less | The online marketplace must charge UK VAT at the point of sale, so it is in your checkout price. | Most goods are currently relieved of duty, so none is due. | Normally none. |
| More than £135 | Import VAT is charged at the border. | May apply, depending on the goods and where they were made. | Royal Mail charges an £8 handling fee (£12 for Parcelforce). Goods over £900 need a full declaration and a £25 fee. |
- The limit is per consignment, not per item. HMRC says the £135 limit applies to the total value of the consignment imported, not the value of each item in it.
- Shipping and taxes don’t count. The value is the price the goods were sold for, excluding transport and insurance shown separately, and other identifiable taxes.
- VAT applies from the first pound. The £15 import VAT exemption for low-value goods has been removed in Great Britain.
- Gifts follow separate rules. The marketplace VAT rules don’t apply to non-commercial goods such as gifts.
What “VAT at checkout” means for you
For a consignment worth £135 or less, the marketplace is the one liable for UK VAT, and it must charge it when you buy. That means the price you pay at checkout should already include the tax, and you should not be asked for VAT again when the parcel arrives. Check the price breakdown before you pay.
If you receive a Royal Mail Fee to pay card for a parcel you believe was worth £135 or less, compare it with your order details and contact AliExpress before you pay. The charge on that card is calculated by Border Force for HMRC, not by Royal Mail.
A change is coming: the £135 duty relief is ending
The UK government has decided to remove the customs duty relief on goods worth £135 or less. It announced this at Autumn Budget 2025, with the change due by March 2029 at the latest. Reuters later reported that the government brought the start forward to October 2028. Under the plan, sellers and marketplaces will have to pay customs duty on these goods to HMRC under new duty payment and data rules.
In practice, goods that currently carry no customs duty will attract it once the relief ends, depending on what they are and where they were made. What that means for prices will depend on the goods and how sellers respond. Until the new rules start, the £135 relief still applies. Check GOV.UK for the latest timetable.
Delivery in the UK: what decides the wait
- The shipping method you pick. Standard shipping is slower and cheaper. Faster or tracked options cost more. Compare the estimated delivery date on the item page.
- Choice and local-warehouse items. Items shipped from a warehouse closer to you can arrive faster, and a parcel that doesn’t cross the border on your order usually avoids import charges. Check the item page for what your address qualifies for.
- AliExpress’s safety net. For items without a “Fast delivery” label, AliExpress says you can apply for a refund and keep the item if it isn’t delivered within 60, 75, 90 or 120 days of shipment, depending on delivery conditions.
Orders are often split into several parcels, so track each one separately. Each consignment is assessed on its own total value.
Returns and Buyer Protection
AliExpress’s Buyer Protection covers items that don’t arrive, arrive damaged or aren’t as described. AliExpress says you can claim within 15 days of receiving an item that doesn’t match its description, and a Free Return service applies within 15 days of delivery. Start by contacting the seller, then file a return or refund request from your order. AliExpress also says the guarantee does not limit your statutory rights as a consumer under the laws that apply where you live.
Before you order from the UK: a checklist
- Set the United Kingdom as your ship-to country and GBP as your currency.
- Check the price breakdown for UK VAT before you pay.
- Keep each consignment’s total value in mind against the £135 line.
- Compare a Choice or local-warehouse option against standard shipping.
- Read the estimated delivery date, then decide if the wait is acceptable.
- Apply your coupons and check the final total before you pay.
- Keep the order number, invoice and tracking for each parcel.
Never ask a seller to change an item’s declared value or mark a parcel as a gift to avoid tax. HMRC requires the correct value, and a change that pushes a consignment over £135 can trigger import VAT and duty.
Put it to work
- How AliExpress coupons work and stack
- AliExpress Choice: what it is and if it's worth it
- The best time to buy on AliExpress
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay VAT on AliExpress orders in the UK?
Yes. For consignments worth £135 or less, UK VAT is charged at the point of sale, so it is in your checkout price. For consignments over £135, import VAT is charged at the border.
Is there customs duty on AliExpress parcels under £135?
Not for most goods at present, because customs duty relief applies to goods worth £135 or less. The government plans to remove that relief, with reports of an October 2028 start.
Is the £135 limit per item or per parcel?
Per consignment. HMRC says it applies to the total value of the consignment imported, not to the individual items in it.
Why did Royal Mail ask me to pay for my AliExpress parcel?
Royal Mail pays any import VAT and duty to HMRC on your behalf, then charges you that amount plus a handling fee of £8 for Royal Mail products or £12 for Parcelforce. The charges themselves are set by Border Force for HMRC.
How do I pay a Royal Mail fee?
Use the details on your Fee to pay card or your notification to pay on Royal Mail’s own pay-a-fee page, by UK card or PayPal. Use only the official Royal Mail page.
Is AliExpress safe to use in the UK?
It is a large marketplace with a Buyer Protection programme and a refund safety net for undelivered items. Check seller ratings and reviews, keep your records, and use the protection if something goes wrong.
The bottom line
Ordering from AliExpress in the UK is simple once you know the £135 line: VAT at checkout below it, import charges above it, and a duty change on the way. Set your ship-to country first, check the price breakdown, compare delivery options and stack your coupons before you pay.
Learn how to stack coupons on your order →
Sources
- GOV.UK: VAT and overseas goods sold to customers in the UK using online marketplaces
- GOV.UK: Reforming the customs treatment of low value imports into the UK
- Royal Mail: Pay a fee
- Reuters: Britain accelerates plan to end low-value parcel tariff loophole
- AliExpress: Free shipping, free returns and shipping guarantee
- AliExpress: Buyer Protection
Tax rules, thresholds and fees change. Confirm current details with GOV.UK and Royal Mail before you order.
