International Shipping FAQ

Answers to common questions about international shipping, customs and delivery.

---

DDP and DDU Explained

What does DDP mean?

DDP stands for Delivered Duties Paid. When you order to a DDP country, we work out the import duties for your country at checkout and add them to your order as a separate line. The VAT or sales tax for your country is already included in the product prices you see. We then pay these charges to customs for you when your parcel enters your country.

The result is that you pay nothing more when the parcel arrives. The courier will not ask you for payment, and your parcel will not be held while you pay a bill.

What does DDU mean?

DDU stands for Delivered Duty Unpaid. Checkout covers the products and the delivery cost only. Your country's customs authority decides whether import VAT, duties or handling fees apply, and the carrier or customs collects them from you, usually before or at delivery. We cannot predict the amount, so please check your local customs rules before ordering.

Which countries are DDP?

All 27 European Union countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden), plus Norway, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.

Which countries are DDU?

Åland Islands, Andorra, French Guiana, French Southern Territories, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Iceland, Kosovo, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Vatican City.

How can I tell which one applies to my order?

Enter your delivery address at checkout. If your country is DDP, a duties line appears with the amount before you pay. If there is no duties line, your country is DDU and any charges will be collected on delivery.

---

Customs, Duties & Taxes

Will I pay anything when my parcel arrives?

Not in a DDP country. Duties and taxes are paid at checkout. In a DDU country you may be asked to pay import VAT, duties or a handling fee to the carrier or customs.

How are duties worked out?

Each product has a customs tariff code and a country of origin. Your checkout uses these, the value of your order and your country's rates to calculate the duties and tax. Because the calculation is done for each product, orders with several different products can show different duty amounts from orders with one.

Is the amount at checkout final?

For DDP countries, yes. If customs later assesses a different amount, we deal with the difference and you will not be billed.

What is the EU handling fee?

The EU charges a Union handling fee of €2 per item on parcels sent to EU customers from outside the EU. It was introduced by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2152. Our couriers began charging it to us on 26 October 2026, so from that date a charge for it is included in the shipping price of EU orders. It is added for each different product in your order and shown within the shipping total at checkout. It is separate from the duties line.

Are duties and taxes refundable?

For DDP orders, the duties and taxes collected at checkout are refunded together with the rest of your order whenever your refund is approved. See our Returns Policy for how returns work. For DDU orders, charges set by your government are not ours to refund. If you refuse delivery because of customs charges, you are responsible for return shipping costs and any customs fees incurred.

Can you mark items as gifts to avoid customs?

No. We cannot mark commercial orders as gifts or falsify customs declarations. This is illegal and could result in your parcel being seized, fines, or criminal prosecution. All orders are declared accurately with their true commercial value.

---

📦 Shipping Costs & Delivery Times

How much is international shipping?

Shipping is calculated at checkout from your destination and the weight of your parcel. Lighter parcels usually go by Royal Mail Tracked and heavier parcels by FedEx. For most countries you can also choose FedEx International Priority, our faster option.

How long will delivery take?

• Royal Mail Tracked: 3–5 working days within Europe and 5–7 working days elsewhere*
• FedEx International Economy: 2–5 business days*
• FedEx Regional Economy (by road, within Europe): 2–4 business days*
• FedEx International Priority: 1–3 business days*

*These are estimates, not guarantees. Customs can hold or inspect any international parcel, and delays of several working days are possible, especially at busy times. DDP parcels usually clear faster because the duties are already paid, but they are not exempt from delays.

Times count from the day after dispatch and exclude weekends and bank holidays.

Which countries do you ship to?

See the full list on our Delivery Policy. If your country isn't listed at checkout, please contact us for a shipping quote.

---

🌍 Country Notes

European Union

EU orders are DDP. Our prices include your country's VAT and duties appear on a separate line at checkout. Since the UK left the EU, EU customs apply to every parcel, which is why the paperwork is handled for you at checkout.

Norway and Switzerland

Both are DDP. Duties and tax are shown at checkout and nothing is collected on delivery.

USA

DDP. Marcato brand products are not available to USA customers.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand

All three are DDP and ship with FedEx, so GST, HST or other local taxes and duties are paid at checkout.

Japan and South Korea

Both are DDP and ship with FedEx. We currently offer our non-electrical range to these two countries, so electrical items will not be shown when you browse from there.

Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Iceland and other DDU destinations

Please check your local import rules. Charges are set by your customs authority and collected on delivery.

---

UK & Channel Islands Shipping

Do UK customers pay customs duties?

No. Orders shipped within the UK (England, Scotland, Wales) are domestic deliveries with no customs charges. See our Delivery Policy for UK shipping rates and options.

What about Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey?

• Northern Ireland: Special rates apply, and orders over £60 qualify for free standard delivery (Berkel slicers excluded). See our Delivery Policy for the rates. No customs duties apply under the Windsor Framework.
• Isle of Man: Delivered at the same rates as the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with free standard delivery over £60 on parcels under 10kg. See our Delivery Policy for the rates. No customs duties.
• Guernsey and Jersey: Delivered by Royal Mail Tracked 48 only, at the same weight-based rates as the Scottish Highlands and Islands, with free delivery over £60 on parcels under 10kg. Kitchen knives are delivered by Royal Mail Tracked 48 Age Verified (18+ ID required) for £7.50. We cannot deliver Berkel slicers, medium or large dough boards, or Cerutti Pizza Peels, Turners and Brushes (longer than 1m) to the Channel Islands, and FedEx does not deliver there. We do not charge UK VAT or customs duty, and a customs declaration is attached to every parcel. Jersey may apply 5% GST to larger consignments, which Jersey customs would collect from you.

---

💡 Important Information

What do your shipping prices cover?

Shipping prices cover delivery only. For DDP countries, duties and taxes are charged separately at checkout, and everything is paid before dispatch. For DDU countries, shipping prices do not include:

• Import VAT
• Customs duties
• Handling fees charged by carriers or customs
• Any other taxes or fees imposed by your government

How can I track my international order?

All international orders include tracking. You'll receive a tracking number by email once your order ships. Visit our Delivery Policy page for carrier tracking links.

What if I have more questions?

Please contact us and we'll be happy to help with any shipping questions.