Vinted postage explained: who pays, UK postage options, parcel sizes and printing labels
Founder of ResellTrack · 400+ users
Postage is the line on the checkout page that a buyer looks at just before paying. It does not come out of your pocket, but it does affect whether the sale happens. Knowing how Vinted calculates it, and what you can control as a seller, saves you lost sales and parcels refused at the counter.
Information checked on Vinted's official UK help pages (vinted.co.uk) in October 2026. Vinted does not publish a postage price list: the amount that counts is the one shown to the buyer at checkout.
The short answer
On Vinted, postage is always paid by the buyer at checkout. The price depends on the parcel size and on where the buyer and seller are. The seller pays nothing for postage: you receive a prepaid label, choose which carriers you offer, and must send the parcel within 5 business days.
Vinted's How shipping works page puts it plainly: "The shipping is always paid by the buyer".
Who pays what on Vinted
At checkout, the buyer sees three amounts:
- The item price, set by you.
- The Vinted fee (previously called the Buyer Protection fee): a mandatory platform fee paid by the buyer. Vinted's UK price list (updated 08.10.2026) says it is "usually 3% to 8% + £0.3 to £0.8", depending on the item, the order value and whether it is a single item or a bundle. The rename does not change how it is calculated (About the Vinted fee).
- Postage, which depends on the carrier the buyer picks, the parcel size and both locations.
Selling stays free: there are no selling fees on Vinted. To see what a buyer will pay at a given price, try our Vinted fee calculator.
Vinted postage options in the UK
Vinted's shipping options page lists seven integrated providers for UK orders:
| Provider | How you send it | Printer needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Evri | Evri ParcelShop or locker | No with the digital label (QR code scanned at drop-off); yes if you choose the printable label |
| InPost | InPost locker or shop (mainland England, Scotland and Wales) | No: scan the QR code at the locker, or staff print the label |
| Royal Mail | Collect+ parcel shop, Post Office, locker or customer service point (not a postbox) | No: scan the QR code or show it to staff, who print the label |
| DPD | DPD drop-off point | No: staff print the label from your QR code |
| Relay | Relay parcel shop or locker, in selected regions | No: staff print the label from your QR code |
| AnyVan | Courier collection, for large items (up to 300 × 200 × 90 cm and 80 kg per piece) | No: you show the courier a code |
| DHL Express | Courier pick-up or parcel shop (up to 120 × 60 × 60 cm) | Yes for courier pick-up; at a parcel shop you can print or scan the downloaded label |
Vinted adds that some carriers cannot deliver larger parcels or to certain postcodes, particularly in remote areas. Custom shipping, where the seller picked a carrier and set the price, is "a legacy option that is no longer available for new listings" (Vinted help).
How to change postage options on Vinted
You do not set the postage price, but you do choose which options buyers can pick. According to Vinted's help page, go to Settings > Postage in your account settings and switch each provider on or off.
The rules that apply:
- You cannot disable every provider, and you cannot disable international shipping. Some carriers are set as defaults and cannot be turned off.
- A disabled option may still appear at checkout if it is the buyer's only one. If you cannot use it, you can cancel the order without negative feedback.
- Once the buyer has paid, the carrier cannot be changed: the order has to be cancelled and placed again.
Vinted also notes that the more options you offer, the better your chances of making a sale. Switching off a carrier you dislike may remove the cheapest option for your buyer.
Parcel sizes and weight limits
Because postage depends on the parcel size, size is the main lever on what the buyer pays. Vinted selects a size automatically from the listing details (category, item size, brand and more) and shows each carrier's limits. Its Parcel size limits page gives these maximums:
| Category | Provider | Max. dimensions (cm) | Max. weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 24/7 InPost Locker | Shop Pick-up | 64 × 38 × 41 | 2 |
| Standard | InPost Home Delivery | 64 × 38 × 41 | 2 |
| Standard | Evri | L + 2W + 2H ≤ 245 | 2 |
| Standard | Royal Mail 2nd Class Medium Parcel | 61 × 46 × 46 | 2 |
| Heavy | Evri | L + 2W + 2H ≤ 245 | 15 |
| Heavy | Royal Mail 2nd Class Medium Parcel | 61 × 46 × 46 | 20 |
"Standard" covers clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery, books and toys. "Heavy" covers items such as games consoles, rugs or scooters. Three more rules from Choosing the right parcel size:
- Measure the item, pack it in something close to its size, then measure the packed parcel.
- An oversized parcel may be refused or charged extra. After checkout, the parcel size and carrier cannot be changed.
- If the packed item exceeds the limits of every available option, you cannot list it.
If the size turns out wrong at drop-off, the same page says you can change it there: choose another compartment on the locker screen, or hand the parcel to parcel shop or Post Office staff, who update it on the carrier's side. For Royal Mail, if Vinted selected the size automatically and you were charged extra, Vinted may compensate you; if you picked the wrong size yourself, it usually cannot.
Postage bags for Vinted: what Vinted asks for
You do not need branded packaging. Vinted's Packing an item page asks for sturdy outer packaging that fits the item snugly: a cardboard box, or a padded waterproof envelope or bag. It says not to use bags without padding inside.
- Clothing and shoes: a padded bag or a cardboard box.
- Fragile items: always a sturdy box, never a plastic bag, with a "Fragile" label.
- The label: flat on the largest side, barcode fully visible, old labels removed.
Take photos of the item and the packed parcel, inside and out, before sending it. Poor packing can cost you compensation if the parcel is damaged.
Free postage on Vinted: what is actually possible
This is a common question, and the answer surprises many sellers. In October 2026, Vinted's UK help pages describe one model only: the buyer pays for postage. We found no setting in the help centre that lets a seller cover postage instead.
To make the total feel cheaper for the buyer, you have three real levers:
- Build postage into your price. Lowering the item price by roughly the cost of postage has the same effect for the buyer. Writing "free postage" in your description changes nothing: postage is still added at checkout.
- Offer bundle discounts, so several items travel in one parcel (see below).
- Keep the cheaper carriers switched on, such as locker and shop options.
If you see a Vinted-run postage promotion, check its conditions on the official page: that is a Vinted campaign, not a seller setting.
Bundles: one parcel, one postage
Bundles are the simplest way to cut postage per item. According to Buying a bundle:
- A buyer can combine up to 100 items from one seller. The Vinted fee and postage are added on top of the bundle price.
- Heavy or bulky items, and items bought with Item Verification or Electronics Verification, must be bought one at a time.
- Pro sellers cannot offer bundle discounts, but buyers still save on postage by bundling their listings.
To set an automatic discount: go to your profile (or Settings on the website), choose Bundle discounts, switch it on and set a discount for each number of items. Choose "—" to skip a quantity (Vinted help).
After the sale: label and deadline
- Label: Vinted sends a prepaid label to your email and Vinted inbox after each sale.
- Deadline: 5 business days to send the item, or the order is cancelled automatically. You can ask the buyer for 3 or 5 extra business days; they can accept or decline.
- Carrier: use the one the buyer chose. Vinted cannot track parcels sent with another provider.
- Tracking: it can take up to 48 hours to appear in the conversation.
Lost or damaged parcels
If you ship with a prepaid Vinted label and the carrier confirms the parcel was lost or damaged, Vinted compensates you. The maximum compensation limit is £500, and the amount depends on the provider's terms and conditions (Compensation for sellers). Three conditions matter:
- You used the Vinted-generated label. Otherwise you must contact the carrier yourself.
- The parcel was properly packed.
- You keep proof of postage (label, drop-off receipt or confirmation email) until the order is complete.
Investigations can take several weeks. On the buyer's side, an order that never arrives is covered by Vinted's refund policy.
What postage means for a reseller
Postage does not cut your margin directly, but buyers compare the total. On a low-priced item, postage plus the Vinted fee can make up a large share of what the buyer pays, which is why bundles matter so much at the cheap end.
To price well, look at what comparable items actually sell for. ResellTrack shows the median sold price of a niche through an instant scan, and Lens estimates an item's resale price from a photo. Plans run from €24 (Starter) to €39 (Pro) and €79 a month (Business), with no commitment (pricing). For the rest of the seller journey, read our guide on how to sell on Vinted, then how to sell fast on Vinted. If you buy to resell, the complete reselling guide covers the whole chain.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for postage on Vinted?
The buyer, always. Postage is added to the item price and the Vinted fee at checkout. The seller receives a prepaid label and pays nothing to send the parcel.
Do you need a printer to sell on Vinted?
Usually not in the UK. InPost, Royal Mail, DPD and Relay all work with a QR code, and Evri offers a digital label. Staff print the label at the drop-off point, or the locker scans the code. DHL Express courier pick-ups are the main case where you print at home.
How do I change postage options on Vinted?
Go to Settings > Postage and switch providers on or off. You cannot turn off every provider or international shipping, and changes do not affect orders already paid.
Can I offer free postage on Vinted?
Not through a dedicated setting, according to Vinted's UK help centre in October 2026: the buyer pays postage. To get a similar effect, lower your price by about the postage cost or offer bundle discounts.
What if I chose the wrong parcel size?
At a locker, pick a different compartment on screen; at a parcel shop or Post Office, staff can update the size. With Royal Mail, Vinted may compensate extra charges if it selected the size automatically, but usually not if you chose it yourself.
What happens if my Vinted parcel is lost?
Keep your proof of postage. If you used the Vinted label, packed properly and the carrier confirms the loss, Vinted compensates you up to the provider's limit, with a maximum of £500. The buyer is refunded.
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