Shipping to Italy: the complete guide

Do you run an online store and want to ship your items to Italy too? Before you start, a few questions probably come to mind: how much does shipping to Italy cost, how long does it take, and what special rules should you keep in mind? This guide answers those questions and more.

E-commerce in Italy: your opportunity as an online retailer

Italian consumers' demand for online shopping keeps rising, especially in the north of the country, and local providers can't fully meet it. That opens up interesting opportunities for cross-border retailers. The most popular online categories in Italy include travel, electronics, clothing, and food. So make the most of the Italian market and offer your store's products to Italian shoppers too. Shipping to Italy is easy.

The main carriers for shipping to Italy

Sendcloud gives you reliable shipping to Italy with leading European carriers like DHL, UPS, DPD, and GLS. Each hands parcels over to a strong local partner for final delivery, and delivery times vary by carrier.

On average, a parcel takes around 3 business days to reach Italy, while a small packet takes 5 to 8 business days. Note that special shipping conditions apply to Livigno and Campione d'Italia (see the customs section below).

How does tracking work when shipping to Italy?

To follow your shipments to Italy at any time, use Sendcloud's track & trace. It benefits you and your customers: shoppers get their own tracking page in your store's style and no longer have to visit the carrier's site.

Tracking keeps customers informed about where their parcel is, which builds transparency and trust and noticeably raises satisfaction. Sendcloud also makes it easy to send personalized track & trace emails about each shipment's status, in Italian too. You can customize these emails to match your store's design and text, and even place your own campaigns or Instagram feed on the tracking page to encourage repeat purchases.

How much does shipping to Italy cost?

Costs vary from carrier to carrier and depend on the parcel's size, weight, and the delivery time you want. Choose between standard and express, and decide whether you want insured shipping. Our tip: before you send a parcel, run a quick price comparison across carriers like DHL, GLS, DPD, and UPS. Note that standard postage rates don't apply to the duty-free area of Livigno or the exclave of Campione.

How to address a parcel to Italy

An Italian address is structured much like addresses in many European countries. Academic and professional titles are rarely used, while the salutations for Mr. and Ms. are common. One thing to note about Italian street names: the street type, such as Piazza, Via, or Corso, comes before the actual name.

An example of an Italian address:

Signora
Adriana Romano
Via Leopardi 24
00185 Roma
ITALY

What about customs when shipping to Italy?

Italy is an EU member, so no customs documents are required for parcels to Italy, which naturally makes shipping simpler. The only exception is areas that are part of an EU state's territory but not of the EU customs area: Livigno (23030) and Campione d'Italia (22060). For these two areas, customs documents are required, namely the CN22 or CN23 customs declaration. Use a CN22 for lower-value items, and a CN23 for higher-value items or parcels. Keep in mind that VAT applies to shipments, and that some items may not be shipped for safety reasons.

Items you can't ship to Italy

Before you send a parcel to Italy, review this overview of items that are prohibited or restricted.

Dangerous goods

• Adhesives

• Aerosol cans

• Ammunition

• Batteries

• Airbags

• Camping stoves

• Party poppers

• Cleaning agents and solvents

• Gas and compressed-air cylinders

• Fuel

• Dry ice

• Fire extinguishers

• Fireworks

• Curling irons

• Helium

• Infectious substances

• Insecticides

• Life jackets

• Liquid bleach and chlorine

• Magnets

• Nail polish

• Paint and turpentine

• Pepper spray

• Perfume and aftershave

• Radioactive substances

• Matches

• Seatbelts

• Thermometers

Inadmissible items

• Animals and animal products

• Body parts

• Precious metals and gold bars

• Dishwashers

• Refrigerators and freezers

• Tumble dryers

• Washing machines

• Televisions

• Ovens

• Firearms

• Illegal narcotics

• Knives and weapons

• Laboratory and medical samples

• Mattresses

• Money

• Unpackaged furniture

• Personal data

• Perishable foods

• Pornographic material

• Printer cartridges

• Postage stamps

• Tobacco

Restricted items

• Debit and credit cards

• Jewelry and watches

• Mobile phones

• Passports

Items that aren't compensated

• Data storage media

• Glass

• LCD screens and monitors

• Liquids

• Furniture not packed flat

• Jewelry and watches

• Pottery, ceramics, and tiles

• Vouchers and tickets

• Works of art

As a retailer, it's your responsibility to make sure your parcel's contents are permitted and comply with all of Italy's rules and safety regulations.

Top 10 packaging tips for shipping to Italy

1. Choose the smallest possible packaging for your item, while leaving room to cushion the goods.

2. When packing several items, keep the heaviest at the bottom and delicate products well cushioned in the middle.

3. Avoid voids when packing, as they often cause the packaging to be crushed.

4. Use bubble wrap so your goods don't touch the outer packaging.

5. Separate identical products (such as glasses) with cardboard to prevent damage.

6. Cushion light goods with bubble wrap; for heavy goods, use crumpled kraft paper for good shock absorption.

7. Items meant to travel upright, like bottles, should be placed upright in the box to reduce pressure and impact.

8. Protect items containing liquids that could leak with a waterproof bag.

9. Since a parcel's corners take the most strain in transit, it's wise to pad them with crumpled kraft paper too.

10. Always seal your parcels securely on the bottom and top with sturdy tape. For parcels over 12 kg, a double-T seal is recommended.

Watch out for public holidays

Deliveries can slow down around Italian public holidays, so plan ahead. Italian national public holidays include New Year's Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Easter Monday, Liberation Day (April 25), Labour Day (May 1), Republic Day (June 2), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8), Christmas Day (December 25), and St. Stephen's Day (December 26). The movable holidays around Easter shift each year, so check the calendar before peak periods.

How Sendcloud helps you ship to Italy

Sendcloud supports you with flexible shipping options that speed up your internal processes. Personalized track & trace and your own online returns portal also help you scale your store internationally. International returns? Not a problem: keep these tips for handling international returns in mind. Ready to start shipping to Italy? Get in touch with our shipping experts.