10 Practical Tips to Save Money and Time When Shipping in Belgium
Whether you're an occasional sender or someone who ships regularly, small habits can make a big difference to your shipping costs and experience. Here are ten actionable tips for getting the most out of Belgian postal services.
1. Use Parcel Points Instead of Home Delivery When Possible
Sending a parcel to a bpost parcel point (a nearby supermarket or convenience store) is typically cheaper than door-to-door home delivery. Recipients can collect at their convenience, and the reduced delivery attempts mean fewer surcharges. Over time, this adds up — especially for e-commerce businesses.
2. Weigh Before You Stick
Always weigh your parcel after packing and sealing. The weight of tape, bubble wrap, and the box itself can push you into a higher pricing tier. A cheap kitchen scale at home can help you avoid overpaying or, worse, underpaying and having mail returned.
3. Choose Non-Prior for Non-Urgent Letters
If your letter doesn't need to arrive the next day, opt for a Non-Prior (green) stamp. It's more affordable than a Prior stamp and still delivers reliably within 2–3 business days. For everyday correspondence, there's rarely a need to pay for priority.
4. Reuse Packaging Smartly
Reusing boxes from online deliveries is perfectly fine and eco-friendly — just make sure you remove or completely cover all existing barcodes and labels. Old barcodes can confuse sorting machines and misdirect your parcel.
5. Print Your Own Labels at Home
Using bpost's online platform to generate and print shipping labels at home saves you time at the post office. You simply drop your pre-labelled parcel at a parcel point or post office — no waiting in line for service. This is especially useful during busy periods like the Christmas season.
6. Use bpack 24/7 Lockers for Round-the-Clock Flexibility
bpost's bpack 24/7 smart lockers are available at train stations, shopping centres, and other locations. They're accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — perfect for people with irregular schedules. You can send or collect parcels outside of regular post office opening hours.
7. Consolidate Multiple Shipments
If you're sending several items to the same recipient, combining them into one parcel is almost always cheaper than sending multiple smaller ones. One shipment at a higher weight tier is typically less expensive than two or three separate shipments.
8. Subscribe to Delivery Notifications
When receiving parcels, activate bpost's delivery notifications (via SMS or email). This lets you know exactly when your parcel will arrive so you can be home — avoiding missed deliveries, re-delivery fees, or trips to the post office to collect.
9. Plan Around Peak Periods
Shipping during peak periods — particularly November and December — can mean slower processing times and increased risk of delays. If you're sending time-sensitive items for birthdays, holidays, or events, ship at least a week earlier than you think necessary during these months.
10. Invest in a Business Account If You Ship Regularly
If you're sending more than 10–15 parcels per month, a bpost business account is worth exploring. The volume discounts, automated label generation, and centralised billing will save both money and administration time over the long run — even for freelancers and micro-businesses.
Bonus: Double-Check the Postcode
One of the most common causes of delivery failure is an incorrect postcode. Belgium has over 1,000 postal codes, and a single digit error can send a parcel to the wrong sorting centre entirely. Always verify postcodes at bpost.be/postcode before sending.
Summary Checklist
- ✅ Weigh parcel after packing
- ✅ Use Non-Prior stamps for non-urgent mail
- ✅ Print labels at home to skip post office queues
- ✅ Direct to parcel points for cheaper delivery
- ✅ Consolidate multiple items into one parcel
- ✅ Enable delivery notifications
- ✅ Ship early during peak seasons
- ✅ Verify recipient postcodes before sending