Coming the other way, the price is set in Germany and the charges are set here. No company in this record publishes a figure for a parcel starting in Germany, because every one of them prices a leg that starts in the UK. What is worth knowing precisely is the arrival position, which changed completely with Brexit and still catches out people buying from German retailers or receiving items from family.
Where the inbound quote comes from
Parcel2Go's Germany page and Parcelforce's Germany directory entry are both outbound: they price and describe services that collect in the UK. A parcel starting in Germany is sold by a German carrier or broker, priced in euros against a German collection, so the outbound figure of 7.79 pounds tells you nothing useful about it. The sender in Germany books it. The most common cheap options there are the German parcel networks and their parcelshop drop off products, and their pricing shape resembles the UK one: drop off is cheaper than collection.
What falls due when it reaches the UK
UK import VAT is charged on the value of the goods plus the shipping cost, and customs duty applies above the relevant threshold at a rate set by the commodity code. The recipient in the UK pays both. The carrier clears the shipment, pays the charge and bills it back with a handling fee attached, which on a low value parcel is often a significant proportion of the total. Gifts between private individuals have a modest allowance per consignment, above which the normal charges apply, and the sender is usually unaware of any of this.
Buying from a German retailer
A retailer registered for UK VAT should charge it at checkout so that nothing is collected on delivery, and that is the arrangement worth looking for when comparing sellers. Where the retailer does not, the price on the website is not the price you pay: import VAT, possible duty and a handling fee arrive afterwards. Read the checkout wording carefully, because delivered duty paid and delivered at place look similar and mean opposite things for who settles the bill at the door.
Returns, which are where the cost doubles
Sending something back to Germany means a fresh export declaration and, without care, a fresh set of charges at the German end. Where goods are genuinely being returned unaltered, relief exists in both directions, but it has to be claimed at the point of import with evidence rather than reclaimed comfortably later. For anything of real value, check the retailer's returns process before buying: some provide a prepaid label that handles the customs paperwork, and some leave the entire cost and the paperwork with you.
Questions people ask about germany to uk shipping
How much does shipping from Germany to the UK cost?
No company in this record publishes a price for that direction; every published figure here is for a leg starting in the UK. The German sender books and pays for the outbound carriage there.
Who pays import VAT on a parcel from Germany?
The UK recipient. It is charged on the goods plus shipping, with duty above the threshold, and the carrier adds a handling fee for clearing it.
Are gifts from Germany free of charges?
Only up to a modest per-consignment allowance between private individuals. Above that, import VAT and any duty apply normally.
Will a German retailer charge UK VAT at checkout?
Some do, if they are registered for UK VAT, and then nothing is collected on delivery. If they do not, expect import VAT, possible duty and a handling fee after the parcel arrives.