How long does it take a package to get to italy?

DHL,FedEx,UPS,........ = 24h
Express Mail…............=72–96h (depends on witch day You send)
Regular Mail….............=5–6 days
By ship…....................=~18 days

Hello! I had to weigh in because, boy, is this question ever up my alley! I have sent tons of packages to Italy over the past 11 years. My mom has not let her move to Italy curtail her shopping habits in the least. :)

I disagree somewhat with Dine.. I think those are optimistic estimates. :) The size of package also seems to make a difference; the bigger, the longer it takes. Letters are the fastest (usually within a week or less), bubble wrap mailers and small packages get there the next fastest.

- Regular/standard UPS takes about a week.
– First-class mail takes anywhere from a week to a month.. in the recent past, it’s been particularly slow, taking a month for a bubble mailer of DVDs and 6 months for a small package.
– Parcel post service (by ship) is no longer available at the Post Office, but when it was, it was very slow (1–3 months, usually around 3).
– Priority Mail, I have only used once and it took 11 days.

If you have a larger package, First Class will not be an available option and USPS will make you send it Priority or Express. It may be cheaper to break the package up into smaller ones and have them sent First Class. You can check their website for exact dimensions.

Something I’ve learned is that any package whose worth is listed on the Customs form as over $50 will require the recipient to pay a tax upon delivery. Depending on what you’re sending, you may want to keep this in mind. Also, Italy is weird about some things, so if you are sending cosmetics, be sure you have only one of each kind in the box (one face cream, one face wash, etc.). Italian Customs assumes you are reselling the cosmetics if there are 2+ in the box and the recipient will have to pay a tax.

I agree with Alena…my best friend lives there and it’s been nightmarish at times trying to figure out the best way to send stuff. Plus the Italian Postal Service is awful.

Just remember to send stuff as “used goods” and don’t put the cost as being worth a lot. Also, if there is a work address, send it there….