Shipping to Austria: the complete guide

Looking to ship parcels to Austria simply and affordably? Good news: because Austria is a member of the European Union, shipping there is free of any import duties. Only VAT applies. On top of that, e-commerce in Austria is booming, which gives you a great chance to enter another market and generate extra revenue. Here's everything you should know about shipping to Austria, plus plenty of useful tips and tricks.

Why it's worth shipping to Austria

Shipping a parcel to Austria is straightforward. As an EU member, Austria requires neither import duties nor cumbersome customs declarations from you.

E-commerce in Austria keeps growing

Both online retail's share of total retail sales in Austria and annual online revenue keep climbing. Changing consumer habits are the main driver: more and more people have less and less time to shop in person, so they turn to the internet, and shopping by smartphone is booming too. Online retailers are in high demand and can look forward to good times ahead.

Foreign online stores lead the market

Did you know that e-commerce in Austria is strongly international? According to research, around 64% of total online-shop revenue in Austria goes to stores based abroad. That means cross-border sellers have a real chance to open up the Austrian market and grow their revenue over the long term.

The advantages of shipping within the EU

Thanks to European integration and the removal of trade barriers, shipping to Austria (and within the EU generally) is easier than ever. You can handle it without complicated export documents or bureaucracy, saving valuable time. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind when shipping within the EU:

1. No customs declarations or other export documents are needed for shipping within the EU, since it isn't treated as an export.

2. Shipping within the EU is subject to fewer restrictions and requires fewer documents than, say, parcels to China.

3. For European countries outside the EU (such as Switzerland), some restrictions do apply to the shipping documents you need to attach.

4. Always include the recipient's phone number, so a second delivery attempt can be arranged easily if the first fails.

Shipping to Austria: what to keep in mind

Addressing a parcel correctly

Addressing for Austria follows the same conventions used in Germany, Italy, or Switzerland. Academic and professional titles are rarely used, while the salutations for Mr. and Ms. are common, just as in Germany.

An example of an address for Austria:

Frau/Herr
Michaela Sommer
Grünwaldweg 16/3/25
1200 Wien
AUSTRIA

Similar, but not identical: in Austria it's common to state, alongside the house number, the "Stiege" (staircase) and the door number. For parcels going to Vienna in particular, it's worth noting the floor as well.

Customs declaration, shipping insurance, and more

As an EU member, Austria generally doesn't require you to attach a customs declaration to your parcels. That changes once a parcel exceeds a certain value or contains special types of goods, in which case a customs declaration may be needed. To avoid problems, read and follow each carrier's shipping guidelines carefully, otherwise you may face unnecessary fees, or the carrier may even refuse your parcel.

Playing it safe: if you're sending a particularly valuable or delicate item to Austria, it's worth adding shipping insurance, which you can book during the order process with any carrier. It kicks in if your goods are damaged or lost on the way to the customer.

What to keep in mind for size, weight, and packaging

• Your parcel usually may not exceed maximum external dimensions of 120 x 60 x 60 cm

• The maximum girth is typically 360 cm

• Standard cardboard boxes, available in many sizes, work well

• Your packaging should be sturdy enough to protect the contents

• For security, packaging shouldn't hint at the contents, and shouldn't be able to damage other shipments

• Avoid using already-used or damaged boxes

• Seal with plastic or fiber-reinforced tape at least 5 cm wide

• To keep total weight down, use light cushioning such as bubble wrap or packing paper

Three tips for the perfect inner packaging:

1. Match the cushioning to how delicate the contents are

2. Pressure- and break-sensitive items like glass or electronics should never sit unprotected against the outer box or other contents

3. Leave at least 5 cm between the item and the outer box, so the cushioning is thick enough

Import prohibitions and restrictions when shipping to Austria

As a rule, your goods must not be subject to any import prohibitions or restrictions. Goods with import prohibitions include, for example, alcohol, tobacco products, perfume, and medicines. Medicines are subject to a general import ban into Austria. If you ship excise-taxable goods into Austria, each delivery must be declared to the relevant customs office before shipping, and as the retailer you're generally the party liable for the tax.

The main carriers for shipping to Austria

With Sendcloud you can combine the leading carriers for shipping to Austria and switch between them per shipment. Austrian Post (Österreichische Post) is the national carrier, and delivery to parcel shops, where recipients collect parcels themselves, is increasingly popular and supported across carriers.

DHL and Austrian Post

DHL is among the carriers Austrian shoppers receive parcels from. Austrian Post handles DHL standard parcels within Austria, usually delivering within about two business days, while DHL continues to run its express business.

DHL Express

DHL Express works for fast delivery to Austria, letting you guarantee customers an even quicker delivery. Services include DHL Express Worldwide, DHL Express 9:00/10:30/12:00, and DHL Express Easy International, among others.

UPS

UPS delivers to Austria within about one to two business days and offers an express option too. Services you can select include UPS Standard, UPS Standard to Access Point, UPS Express, UPS Express Saver, and UPS Express Saturday Delivery.

GLS

GLS has its own transport network in Austria and usually delivers within one to two business days. You can easily connect your own GLS contract and integrate it into your shipping process.

DPD

DPD also runs its own transport network in Austria, with delivery times of one to four business days for standard shipping and one to three for express. With Sendcloud you can use DPD for Austria and benefit from especially competitive rates.

How much does shipping to Austria cost?

There's no flat answer: shipping costs to Austria depend on the parcel's size and weight and the delivery time you want. You can choose between standard and express, opt for insured shipping, and add tracking. Extra services like registered delivery, cash on delivery, carbon-neutral shipping, and surcharges for bulky goods, as well as special business rates, all affect the final price.

How long does delivery to Austria take?

Delivery time depends on the carrier and any add-ons such as express, so there's no single answer. Depending on the carrier, standard shipping usually takes two to five business days. Keep possible delays around public holidays in mind.

Watch out for public holidays

Austria has 13 public holidays, during which deliveries can slow down. They are:

• New Year's Day (January 1),

• Epiphany (January 6),

• Easter Monday,

• Labour Day (May 1),

• Ascension Day,

• Whit Monday,

• Corpus Christi,

• Assumption Day (August 15),

• National Day (October 26),

• 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 and Pentecost shift each year, so check the calendar before peak periods.

How Sendcloud helps you ship to Austria

Austrian e-commerce offers plenty of advantages. Sendcloud helps you make the most of them, combining the most popular carriers on one platform, automating your workflow with smart shipping rules, keeping customers informed with a personalized tracking experience, and handling returns without the hassle. Have questions about shipping to Austria? Get in touch with us.