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Free UK shipping on orders over £35, that's the headline. Below that, £3.95 flat rate standard delivery. Express next day available. Orders typically arrive 1-3 working days after dispatch from our Tunbridge Wells facility. This page covers the full shipping policy, who pays what, and what to expect when ordering tea online from teas.co.uk.
The shipping policy at a glance
| Order value | Cost | Service | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| £35+ | FREE | Tracked standard | 1-3 working days |
| Under £35 | £3.95 | Tracked standard | 1-3 working days |
| Any value | £6.95 | Tracked next day | 1 working day (order before 1pm) |
| Any value | £3.95+£3 surcharge | Highlands & Islands | 3-5 working days |
Why £35 free shipping threshold?
£35 is the threshold at which our shipping cost becomes absorbable into the order margin. Below £35, shipping costs us £3-4 to courier reliably; we pass that through. Above £35, we cover it.
Most regular customers naturally hit £35 by combining a few products, a box of Yorkshire Tea, a packet of Pukka herbals, a Border biscuit, and you're there. We don't artificially push the threshold higher to capture more shipping revenue.
How to qualify for free shipping
- Single order of £35+. Most direct route.
- Combine smaller items. A typical mix of teas + biscuits + a small accessory hits £35 easily.
- Buy a year's supply. Box buying staples (Yorkshire Tea 250g x4, Pukka 4-pack) qualifies on its own.
- Add a treat. If you're at £32 and tempted to add a £4 specialty product to qualify for free shipping, the £3.95 saved usually justifies the addition.
What's covered by free shipping
UK mainland, England, Scottish Lowlands, Wales, gets free standard shipping on orders £35+. This covers the vast majority of UK postcodes.
What's NOT covered by standard free shipping
Scottish Highlands and Islands
Couriers charge supplements for these postcodes (typically AB30+, IV, KW, PA, PH, ZE, HS). We pass through the courier surcharge, typically £3 additional even on free shipping eligible orders. Some islands (Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland) may take 5-7 working days and have larger surcharges. Calculated at checkout.
Northern Ireland
Free shipping threshold applies, but transit takes 2-4 working days (vs 1-3 mainland). No additional charge.
Channel Islands and Isle of Man
Customs declarations apply. Surcharge based on courier. 3-7 working days.
International orders
Limited international shipping to selected European countries (Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Italy). Pricing calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. Customs and duty may apply at the recipient end, we cannot prepay these charges.
Express next day shipping (£6.95)
For when standard isn't fast enough. Orders placed before 1pm Monday Friday dispatch same day; arrive next working day in mainland UK. £6.95 flat fee regardless of order value. Useful for:
- Last minute gifts
- Running out of your daily driver tea
- Birthday / occasion deadlines
What couriers we use
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 / Tracked 48. Default for most orders. Door to door tracking. Reliable.
- DPD. For larger or higher value orders. Hour window delivery slots. Real time tracking.
- Evri (formerly Hermes). Backup option for some routes.
What happens after I order
- Order confirmation email. Sent immediately. Includes order summary, total, shipping address.
- Same day dispatch (orders before 1pm Mon Fri). Order picked, packed, labelled, handed to courier.
- Dispatch confirmation email. Sent when order leaves us. Includes tracking number and link.
- Courier updates. Royal Mail and DPD both provide good visibility, you'll get day of delivery estimates.
- Delivery. Most UK addresses receive within 1-3 working days of dispatch.
If something goes wrong
Order doesn't arrive in expected window
Wait until 5+ working days past expected delivery. Then contact us via the website. We'll investigate with the courier; if the package is lost, we'll send a replacement or refund.
Order arrives damaged
Photograph the damage (outer box, inner damage, individual products). Contact us within 7 days. We'll send replacements or refund affected items.
Wrong items received
Mistakes happen. Contact us within 14 days. We'll send the correct items free of charge.
Express order arrives late
Eligible for refund of the £6.95 express surcharge. Contact us with the order details.
Returns
Unopened products can be returned within 30 days for refund (excluding original shipping cost). Opened tea cannot be returned for hygiene reasons. Faulty products are refunded in full including shipping.
Packaging
Outer packaging: cardboard boxes, recycled paper void fill (no plastic packing peanuts). Most packaging is recyclable. We don't repackage products into our own format, brand supplied packaging means less waste from re handling. More on tea packaging and composting.
Subscription / repeat orders
We don't currently run an automatic subscription service, but our checkout makes repeat ordering quick. Saved address, saved payment, saved order history, three clicks to reorder your weekly Yorkshire Tea.
FAQ
Is shipping really free over £35? Yes, for UK mainland orders. Highlands and Islands have small courier surcharges.
How long does delivery take? 1-3 working days for mainland UK after same day dispatch (orders before 1pm Mon Fri).
Can I track my order? Yes, dispatch confirmation email includes tracking link. Royal Mail and DPD both provide door to door visibility.
Do you ship abroad? Limited European destinations. Most international orders by special request only.
What if my order is delayed? Most arrive within 1-3 days. If yours is late beyond 5 working days, contact us, we'll investigate.
Curator's note: shipping tea reliably across the UK is invisible when it works and infuriating when it doesn't. We picked our couriers based on what actually arrives on time, not on the cheapest list price. The £35 threshold is real, we don't move it to extract more revenue. Lee, Teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.
teas.co.uk shipping at a glance
| Aspect | The note |
|---|---|
| Free shipping threshold | £35; the threshold for UK orders |
| Standard UK delivery | 2-3 working days from despatch; tracked Royal Mail |
| Express UK delivery | Next-day option £6.95; cut-off mid-afternoon |
| Sub-£35 standard postage | £3.95 UK standard |
| Couriers used | Royal Mail Tracked 48, DPD for larger orders |
| International | Not currently offered; UK only at present |
| Subscription/repeat orders | Free shipping at every order over threshold |
| Packaging | Recyclable cardboard; minimal plastic use |
More reading
Reference noted
Teas that travel well with this article: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, green tea, loose leaf tea, Darjeeling, oolong, and herbal tea. The whole tea range is here, free UK postage kicks in at £35.
More from the tea wiki
- Green tea
- Black tea
- Oolong tea
- White tea
- Herbal tea
- Caffeine in tea
- How to make tea properly
- Loose leaf vs teabag
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