How to Send a Parcel via India Post
This covers Speed Post Parcel — the service most people mean when they ask how to post a parcel — from packing it to walking out of the counter with a receipt.
Check it qualifies as a parcel
India Post treats a Speed Post item as a Parcelrather than a Document once it meets any one of these conditions:
- It weighs more than 500 grams.
- It's a roll with length + twice the diameter over 170 mm, or it's non-roll and larger than 140 × 90 mm (±2 mm).
Anything that isn't a Speed Post Document as defined above must be declared as "merchandise" at the counter.
Size and weight ceiling
Length must not exceed 1.5 metres, and length plus girth combined must not exceed 3 metres. Gross weight must not exceed35 kg, or the volumetric weight as defined by India Post — whichever governs your item.
Check it isn't a prohibited item
India Post's regulations bar a specific list of items from all domestic mail. The counter can refuse a parcel on the spot if it falls into one of these categories:
- Explosives, dangerous or noxious substances, unprotected sharp instruments, or living creatures that are noxious or could injure mail or staff.
- Narcotics, psychotropic substances, or other drugs illicit at origin or destination.
- Counterfeit or pirated goods.
- Dangerous goods under IATA/ICAO rules — explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids, toxic or infectious substances, corrosives. Batteries barred from air transport must travel by surface only.
- Live animals, except where separately permitted.
- Coins, banknotes and other valuables — allowed only through a special process, and must always be sent insured.
- Indecent, obscene, seditious or law-and-order-prejudicial material, and lottery material other than government-run lotteries.
The full regulation runs to 18 clauses. If in doubt about a specific item, ask at the counter before you pack it — repacking a sealed parcel at the window costs you time.
Pack and address it
India Post does not publish a detailed packing specification beyond the size and weight limits above, but the counter can reject items that could damage other mail or postal equipment in transit. As general practice:
- Use a box or padded envelope suited to the contents' weight — a Speed Post Parcel travels through sorting hubs and multiple handling points.
- Seal it before you reach the counter; staff may ask you to open it to confirm contents for merchandise declarations.
- Write the recipient's full address including PIN code clearly on the parcel itself, in addition to any label the counter affixes. Use ourpincode search if you don't have the destination PIN.
- Include your own return address, in case delivery fails and the parcel needs to be returned.
At the counter
The clerk weighs the parcel, confirms the destination, and calculates the charge from the published tariff — retail rate for a walk-in booking unless you have a contractual account. You'll be asked for:
- The recipient's full name and address with PIN code.
- Your own name and address as sender.
- A merchandise declaration, if the contents aren't a correspondence document.
You can add optional services at this point:
You'll pay at the counter, get a receipt with the consignment number printed on it, and that number is what you use totrack the parcel afterward.
What it costs
Charges depend on weight and destination zone, and are set out in full — retail and contractual — in India Post's published tariff.
Calculate the exact chargeAs a reference point, a parcel up to 500 grams costs ₹28 within the local delivery area and ₹90 to another state at the retail rate, before GST. Rates effective 1 August 2026.
Ways to pay
Walk-in customers pay at the counter when booking. India Post also offers a walk-in discount based on the day's total revenue from the same sender's address:
| Daily revenue | Discount |
|---|---|
| ₹2,000 to ₹1,00,000 | 5% |
| Above ₹1,00,000 | 10% |
Registered corporate and bulk customers can instead use a"Book Now Pay Later" credit facility, with no upfront payment, and may qualify for free pick-up from their premises rather than a counter visit.
After you book it
- Keep the receipt. The consignment number on it is the only way to track the parcel or raise a complaint about it later.
- If you registered a mobile number, you'll get an SMS when the parcel reaches the delivery post office, and a confirmation SMS once it's delivered.
- India Post's published service standards for Speed Post Parcel range from 1–2 days for local delivery to 4–5 days for the rest of the country — see thedelivery time guide for the full breakdown and why these are averages, not guarantees.
If something goes wrong
Delay
India Post's published remedy is a refund of the Speed Post charges.
Loss, pilferage or damage
Compensation is double the Speed Post charges, or ₹1,000 — whichever is less.
To claim either, contact the booking post office with your consignment number, or call India Post's helpline at1800 266 6868(8:00 AM – 8:00 PM).
Common questions
- Can I book a Speed Post Parcel online?
- Regular walk-in customers book at the counter. Registered corporate and bulk customers can use India Post's online booking and "Book Now Pay Later" credit facility, and may be eligible for free pick-up.
- Do I need ID to send a parcel?
- India Post's published Speed Post Parcel page does not list an ID requirement for a standard booking. Certain value-added services, such as OTP-based secure delivery, involve identity verification at the recipient's end rather than the sender's.
- What's the difference between a Speed Post Document and a Speed Post Parcel?
- A Speed Post Document is up to 500 grams and within 420 × 297 × 24 mm. Anything heavier, larger, or that fails the document dimension test is booked as a Speed Post Parcel and must be declared merchandise.
- Can I send cash or valuables by post?
- Coins, banknotes and other valuable items are restricted to a special process consistent with RBI and foreign exchange regulations, and must always be sent as insured items. Ask at the counter before attempting this.
- How much can I insure a parcel for?
- Speed Post Parcel consignments can be insured up to ₹1,00,000. Insurance is a separate charge from the base tariff.
Last reviewed: . We recheck these pages when India Post changes its published information.