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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. Which payment method is safest. 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, 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 was removed in Great Britain from 1 January 2021.
- 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 liable for UK VAT and must charge it when you buy. That means the price you pay at checkout should already include the tax, and you shouldn’t be asked for VAT again when the parcel arrives. Check the price breakdown before you pay. Why the checkout price can still change.
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. Royal Mail says the customs charges aren’t applied by Royal Mail. They are calculated by Border Force for HMRC and depend on the contents, where the item came from and who sent it.
Paying a Royal Mail fee, and spotting fake ones
- How it works. For items sent through the post, Royal Mail pays HMRC any import VAT and customs duty on your behalf, then sends you a Fee to pay card or letter. Royal Mail adds a customs handling fee of £8 for Royal Mail products or £12 for Parcelforce products.
- How to pay. Use Royal Mail’s own pay-a-fee page with the details from your card, letter or notification, and a UK credit or debit card or PayPal.
- Fake messages exist. Royal Mail publishes examples of scam texts, such as a message asking you to pay a small shipping fee through a link to a fake website. It says not to click links or enter details in such messages, and asks you to report spam texts by forwarding them to 7726.
If you weren’t expecting a parcel, or a message asks for a small fee through a link, go to Royal Mail’s website by typing the address yourself and check the details there.
A change is coming: the £135 duty relief is ending
The government announced on 23 June 2026 that it is scrapping customs duty relief on goods worth £135 or less, with the change accelerated to October 2028. It had earlier announced the removal at Autumn Budget 2025, due by March 2029 at the latest. The same announcement said the government is also reviewing how VAT is collected from businesses trading through online marketplaces.
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. The announcement doesn’t say who will pay the duty, and it isn’t clear how prices will react. The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that ending the relief could push up prices. 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. How Choice works.
- 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, Buyer Protection and your UK rights
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. Full guide to Buyer Protection.
AliExpress also says the guarantee doesn’t limit your statutory rights as a consumer. Wise’s UK guide says purchases are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 if the seller is targeting UK customers, but that rights can be weaker and harder to enforce with sellers outside the UK and EU. It also points to the UK International Consumer Centre for free help with international sellers. Citizens Advice says that if you bought from a seller based outside the UK, you can apply for a refund of the fees on GOV.UK, which is relevant if you return goods.
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. How coupons work.
- Check the seller and the listing. Seller checks and product red flags.
- 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.
Ready to shop?
Before you order, add the item to your cart on AliExpress and read the VAT and import charges shown for your address. If you want a small first order, browse low-price items on AliExpress, then check the current price and delivery estimate before you pay.
Where to go next
- Best time to buy on AliExpress: wait for a sale or buy now?
- Why is AliExpress so cheap?
- Is AliExpress legit? Which purchases need extra checks
- How AliExpress coupons work and stack
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 has confirmed the relief will be removed by October 2028.
Is the £135 limit per item or per parcel?
Per consignment. HMRC says it applies to the total value of the consignment, 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 calculated by Border Force for HMRC.
Could a Royal Mail fee message be a scam?
Yes, scam texts and cards imitating Royal Mail exist. Royal Mail says not to click links or enter details in such messages. Use its pay-a-fee page by typing the address yourself, and forward spam texts to 7726.
How do I pay a Royal Mail fee?
Use the details on your Fee to pay card or notification on Royal Mail’s own pay-a-fee page, with a UK credit or debit card or PayPal.
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. How to check a seller.
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 confirmed duty change by October 2028. Set your ship-to country first, check the price breakdown, compare delivery options and stack your coupons before you pay.
Check current prices on AliExpress →
Sources
- GOV.UK: VAT and overseas goods sold to customers in the UK using online marketplaces
- GOV.UK (HMRC): Government backs high street with acceleration of cheap import reforms (23 June 2026)
- GOV.UK: Reforming the customs treatment of low value imports into the UK
- Royal Mail: Pay a fee
- Royal Mail: Typical online scams to look out for
- The Guardian: Ending UK customs relief on low-value imports could push up prices, BCC says
- Wise: Consumer rights when buying online from abroad (UK guide)
- Citizens Advice: Changing your mind about something you’ve bought
- AliExpress: Commitment (free shipping, free returns, shipping guarantee, payment methods)
- AliExpress: Buyer Protection
Tax rules, thresholds and fees change. Confirm current details with GOV.UK and Royal Mail before you order.
