International Standard is Royal Mail's untracked international service, the cheapest way to send letters and small parcels abroad. It splits the world into two pricing zones, Europe and the Rest of the World, and prices by format and weight. For UK sellers it's fine for low-value, low-risk items, but its lack of tracking matters more internationally than it does at home.
How the Europe and World zones work
Royal Mail prices international postage in two zones: Europe, and the Rest of the World. Europe generally costs less than the World zone for the same item, and the gap widens as parcels get heavier. Zone assignment follows Royal Mail's own country list rather than strictly the EU, so some nearby countries sit in the World zone for pricing purposes.
Format and weight bands for International Standard
Like domestic post, International Standard is priced by format, Letters, Large Letters, Small Parcels and Parcels, each with its own weight steps. The jump between bands matters more internationally because the price differences are larger in absolute terms. An item 10g over a boundary can cost several pounds more to the World zone.
Customs forms are now part of international sending
Since the UK left the EU, every international parcel needs an electronic customs declaration, whether it's going to Europe or further afield. You provide the description, value and HS code, and Click & Drop produces a CN22 or CN23 form alongside the shipping label. Our CN22 and CN23 guide explains which form applies and how to fill them in correctly.
When International Standard is the right choice
International Standard suits low-value, replaceable items where delivery confirmation isn't essential. It's genuinely cheaper than tracked options, and for items under about £20 of value the saving often outweighs the risk. Many sellers use it for stickers, low-cost accessories and letter-sized documents.
The problem with no tracking or compensation
International Standard carries limited compensation and no end-to-end tracking, which becomes a real issue on higher-value items or destinations with unreliable postal networks. If a parcel goes missing, you're relying on the destination country's postal operator to confirm non-delivery, and the claim process is slower than for International Tracked.
EU import charges your customer may face
Recipients in the EU can be charged import VAT and a handling fee before a parcel is released, which is a frequent source of complaints from UK sellers. Being clear about this at checkout manages expectations and reduces disputes. Our EU customs charge guide covers what the fee actually is and who collects it.
Printing International Standard labels
International Standard postage bought online prints as a standard shipping label plus the CN22/CN23 customs form, all in the same 100 × 150mm format. Because the barcode and address have to survive international sorting, print quality matters more than domestic labels, and a clean direct thermal print makes mis-scans less likely.
Frequently asked questions
Is Royal Mail International Standard tracked? No. International Standard has no end-to-end tracking and only limited compensation. For tracking and delivery confirmation, use International Tracked.
Do I need a customs form for International Standard? Yes. Every international parcel needs an electronic customs declaration, which Click & Drop generates as a CN22 or CN23 form alongside the label.
How long does International Standard take? Royal Mail aims for around 3 to 5 working days within Europe and 6 to 7 working days elsewhere, but these are aims, not guarantees, and customs can add time.
Labels that survive international sorting
International parcels pass through more hands than domestic ones. A crisp 100 × 150mm direct thermal label keeps the barcode scannable at every step.
Shop 4×6 Labels