Compare UK Couriers for Resellers
Side-by-side comparison of InPost, Evri and Royal Mail, and what replaced Yodel. See which courier is cheapest, easiest and best for your items. Verified 6 October 2026.
InPost, Evri and Royal Mail at a glance
InPost
⚠️ Common Issues
- Parcel too deep for the compartment: measure the packed depth (8 / 19 / 41 cm) before you leave, and use a mailing bag rather than a box
- Locker full or no Large compartments free: check live availability in the InPost app; supermarket-site lockers usually have the most space
Evri
⚠️ Common Issues
- Tracking shows nothing for up to 24 hours after ParcelShop drop-off, because parcels are scanned at the evening collection
- ParcelShop closed or full: opening hours vary and some shops refuse very large parcels; Evri lockers are the 24/7 alternative
Royal Mail
⚠️ Common Issues
- Prices rose on 5 October 2026: Tracked 48 Small Parcel went from £3.65 to £3.75 and 2nd Class Small Parcel from £3.95 to £4.40 (online prices), so re-check any postage you set on Depop or Etsy
- 1st and 2nd Class are not tracked; only Tracked 24/48 and Special Delivery give you tracking, and cover is £20 unless you upgrade
| Feature | InPost | Evri | Royal Mail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Price Range | £1.99 – £5.99 | £2.62 – £10.28 | £1.55 – £16.05 |
| Compensation | Up to £500, but second-hand and handmade items only up to £50; glass, ceramics, collectables and battery-free electronics are not covered | £20 included; can be increased to £999 when booking directly (Postable has no cover) | £20 on 1st/2nd Class and Signed For; £75 on Tracked 24/48; £750 on Special Delivery (upgrade to £1,000 or £2,500) |
| Label Friction | Low ✓ | Low ✓ | Medium |
| Lockers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Small and medium clothingAccessoriesItems that fold flat | Larger parcelsItems up to 15 kgAnything too big for an InPost locker | Single light items as a Large LetterBuyer trust on eBay and EtsyWhatnot (mandatory) |
| Top Issue | Parcel too deep for the compartment: measure the packed depth (8 / 19 / 41 cm) before you leave, and use a mailing bag rather than a box | Tracking shows nothing for up to 24 hours after ParcelShop drop-off, because parcels are scanned at the evening collection | Prices rose on 5 October 2026: Tracked 48 Small Parcel went from £3.65 to £3.75 and 2nd Class Small Parcel from £3.95 to £4.40 (online prices), so re-check any postage you set on Depop or Etsy |
| Full guide | Full guide | Full guide |
Bottom Line
For most UK resellers, InPost is the best courier for Vinted and small eBay parcels (cheapest network, QR code, 24/7 lockers, 15 kg limit; but no batteries, liquids or aerosols and only £50 cover on second-hand items). Evri is best for larger items up to 15 kg and 120 cm that won't fit an InPost compartment, and it is the only courier inside Depop Shipping. Royal Mail is best when buyer trust or cover matters (Tracked includes £75 and Special Delivery £750) and it is the only one of the three that goes to 20 kg. Yodel no longer exists: its network became InPost on 17 July 2026, so heavy parcels over 15 kg now mean Royal Mail or DHL via eBay.
How to Choose the Right Courier
Choosing the right courier depends on three things: what you're selling, which marketplace you're on, and how much you want to spend.
For small clothing items on Vinted and eBay, InPost is almost always the best choice: the cheapest network (from £1.99 when sent direct), QR codes with nothing to print, and more than 16,000 lockers, most of them open around the clock. Just remember the 15 kg limit, the 41 cm compartment depth and the ban on batteries and liquids.
For larger or heavier items, Evri is the go-to: up to 15 kg and 120 cm on the longest side at more than 9,000 ParcelShops and a growing set of Evri lockers, and the only courier inside Depop Shipping.
For buyer trust, cover and speed, Royal Mail is unbeatable: Tracked 24 for next-day, £75 of cover on Tracked and £750 on Special Delivery, the widest drop-off network and the only 20 kg option.
Looking for Yodel? The brand was retired on 17 July 2026 and its network is now part of InPost. eBay no longer offers it, and the old 30 kg limit is gone.
Quick Decision Guide
Selling a t-shirt on Vinted
→ InPost: the buyer's cheapest option, QR code, 24/7 lockers
Selling shoes (with box) on Depop
→ Depop Shipping (Evri): the buyer pays the tier and you get a QR code; a boxed pair may exceed an InPost Medium anyway
Selling a book on eBay
→ Whatever Simple Delivery assigns: the buyer pays the same price, and a Large Letter label is cheapest if it is under 2.5 cm thick
Selling handmade pottery on Etsy
→ Royal Mail Tracked 48 or Special Delivery bought through Etsy: £75 or £750 of cover and no locker drop
Sending a phone you sold
→ Royal Mail Special Delivery: InPost refuses anything with a battery, and Special Delivery covers up to £750
Heavy 12 kg parcel
→ Evri (£10.28 to the door): Royal Mail's Medium Parcel is £13.70 and InPost takes 15 kg only if it fits a Large compartment
18 kg parcel
→ Royal Mail Medium Parcel: the only one of the three that goes to 20 kg; eBay also offers DHL collection up to 30 kg