Getting your goods to you swiftly and safely is of utmost importance to us. That’s why we entrust our deliveries to the Post Office. It’s also why we may ask that your order be signed for. If you miss a delivery, a card will be left letting you know how to arrange another delivery or pick up from a local Post Office Depo. Costs depend on your location, how quickly you’d like your package and what you’ve ordered. You can find out everything you need to know about our delivery charges below. If your order’s taking longer than expected or you want to find out when it will arrive, you can check its progress using your tracking information. See below to find out how you can track your order.
Delivery Times & Costs – UK, Scotland & Northern Ireland
The following delivery times apply on all orders placed before 12.00 pm.
| Delivery Service (Royal Mail) | Cost | Estimated Delivery Time |
| 2nd Class Royal Mail Signed | £4.70 | Two to Three Working Days Excluding public holidays |
| 1st Class Royal Mail Signed | £6.90 | Aim to deliver next working day, including Saturdays but excluding public holidays. |
| Special Next Day Guaranteed Delivery | £11.50 | Guaranteed by 1pm next working day. Excluding public holidays. |
To ensure a good chance of delivery prior to Christmas day we recommend that orders are placed prior to the following dates:-
| Delivery Service (Royal Mail) | Date |
| 2nd Class Royal Mail Signed | 18th December |
| 1st Class Royal Mail Signed | 20th December |
| Special Next Day Guaranteed Delivery | 23rd December |
Delivery Times & Costs – International
We deliver to the following countries
- Europe – Royal Mail Europe Delivery Zone Countries List
- World Zone 1 – Royal Mail Zone 1 Delivery Zone Countries List
- World Zone 2 – Royal Mail Zone 2 Delivery Zone Countries List
The Royal Mail aim to deliver to Europe within 4-6 working days, and worldwide within 6-8 working days.
For information in Royal Mail International Signed postal costs please see
Royal Mail Pricing Guide please add £1 to all stated rates for packaging costs.
All goods are sent and packaged individually. Orders sent via this method will require a signature upon receipt and therefore we cannot dispatch to PO Boxes.
VAT
The prices payable for goods are as set out in the website, inclusive of VAT where applicable (books are currently zero rated in the UK and some other countries). Customers ordering for delivery outside of the UK will be responsible for payment of any local taxes payable including VAT, and will be required to pay extra for delivery and clearance where necessary.
Customs Charges
If you are ordering goods for delivery outside of the UK, please note that your consignment may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once the goods reach the country of destination. Any such charges levied in relation to customs clearance must be paid by you. It is accepted by you that Waterstones has no control over additional charges in relation to customs clearance. Waterstones recommend that you check with your local customs officials or post office for more information regarding importation taxes/duties that may be applicable to your online order. You will be the importer of record and responsible for any import VAT and duty that needs to be paid. In addition, any charges for import clearance will be paid by you, the customer.
British Forces Post Office addresses
For BFPO addresses, please select UK as your country.
Prison book delivery
For prison deliveries, when selecting a delivery address please enter the Prisoner Number into the ‘Address line 1’ field and the name of the prison into the ‘Address line 2’ field. Enter the name and other details as normal.
Please note that there are books that are banned from being sent to prisons. This varies from institution to institution, so please contact the relevant prison if you have any questions.
