How to send a Vinted parcel: the complete 2026 guide

You've just sold your first item and one question keeps coming up: what now, how do I send it? Shipping feels daunting when you're starting out, when in reality Vinted has made it all simple. You don't choose the carrier, you don't pay the postage upfront, and often you don't even need a printer. Your only real job: pack it neatly and drop it off on time.

This guide walks you through shipping from start to finish: who pays for what, where to find your shipping label, how to pack without breaking the bank, how long you have to send, and how to get organised once you reach the volume of a pro seller or consignment selling.

Who pays for postage on Vinted?

First bit of good news: it isn't you. On Vinted, postage is paid by the buyer, on top of the item price. At checkout, they choose their delivery method (pickup point or home delivery) and pay the matching postage.

On your side, you pay nothing upfront. As soon as the sale is confirmed, Vinted automatically generates a prepaid shipping label, already addressed to your buyer. All you have to do is stick it on your parcel. That's why you should never inflate your price to "cover postage": you'd show up as more expensive in the results and attract fewer clicks. We cover this in our guide to setting your prices on Vinted.

Where to find your shipping label

Once the sale is done, go to the conversation with your buyer or to the relevant order. Vinted offers you your shipping label there. You then have two options depending on the carrier the buyer chose.

With the QR code (no printer)

This is the handiest method, and the one we recommend as soon as you sell regularly. Most pickup points and self-service kiosks print your label directly from the QR code shown in the app. You show the QR code at the counter or the kiosk, the label prints on the spot, you stick it on your parcel and hand it over straight away. No printer needed at home.

By printing the label yourself

If you prefer to prepare your parcels in advance, you can download the label as a PDF and print it at home. Stick it on flat, without covering the barcode, then drop the parcel at the pickup point, the Post Office or via the delivery method provided. This is handy when you prepare several shipments at once before a single drop-off run.

Pickup point or home delivery: what you receive

You don't get to choose the delivery method: the buyer does it at checkout. Your label is therefore already set up for the option they selected. In practice, you'll drop your parcel at the pickup point or network shown on the label. Don't try to switch carrier or hand the parcel in elsewhere: tracking would stop working and you'd lose your seller protection.

The only habit to build: spot, among the pickup points near you, the ones that accept your QR code and sit on a route you already take (school, work, shopping). That's the basis of an efficient setup, and we'll come back to it below.

Packing your parcel well

Packaging is the only area where you're in control, and it matters for two reasons: your costs and your reviews. Here are the simple rules.

• Protect the inside: slip the garment into a resealable plastic pouch or tissue paper to shield it from moisture in transit.
• Choose a compact format: packaging as close as possible to the garment's size avoids paying for a larger format and gives a tidier parcel.
• Seal it firmly: tape on every opening, no gaping corners.
• Mind the presentation: a thank-you note folded in with the item costs nothing and turns a sale into a good review.

On the budget side, there's no need to buy new packaging for every shipment. By reusing boxes and pouches picked up at work, from shops or in your own deliveries, you bring the packaging cost down to around 20 cents per item. It's also an eco-friendly move, in keeping with the spirit of second-hand. And so the buyer is never disappointed when opening the parcel, make sure the condition described in your listing is accurate: our tips for writing an honest description and taking good photos avoid nasty surprises on arrival.

Dispatch time: how long you have to send

You have 5 working days after the sale to drop off your parcel. Miss that window and the transaction can be cancelled automatically and the buyer refunded: you lose the sale. That's the rule never to forget.

In practice, aim to drop off within 24 to 48 hours. A quick dispatch reassures the buyer, cuts the cancellation risk and feeds directly into your reviews. And reviews are your currency of trust on Vinted: the more numerous and positive they are, the more your next listings inspire confidence and sell fast. Shipping quickly isn't a logistics detail, it's a growth lever.

Tracking, payout and protection

As soon as your parcel is scanned at drop-off, tracking updates for you and for the buyer. You have nothing more to do than keep your proof of drop-off until the end.

The sale money stays held by Vinted until delivery. Once the parcel is received, the buyer has a short window to confirm everything is as expected. If they confirm, or if that window passes with no report, the funds are credited to your Vinted wallet. You can then transfer them to your bank account. This mechanism protects you as much as the buyer: as long as you shipped by the rules and kept your proof of drop-off, a lost parcel or a dispute won't turn against you.

Shipping at volume: how a pro seller gets organised

When you sell a few items a month, shipping happens as you go. But as soon as you step up the pace, or start consignment selling for consignors, shipping becomes a routine to optimise. Here's what sellers who do it for a living do.

Batch drop-offs. Instead of a round trip per parcel, they wait until they have several orders ready and drop everything off in one go, on a route they already take. A two-minute detour to the pickup point on the school run or while shopping, and the shipping day is done.

Systematic reuse. Keeping a stock of salvaged boxes and pouches avoids last-minute purchases and keeps the packaging cost close to zero. It's the habit that makes the difference across dozens of shipments a month.

Pro status and its tools. By becoming a pro seller on Vinted, you unlock simplified shipping with prepaid labels and reliable carriers, plus final sales that secure your transactions. It's the framework that lets you ship seriously, at volume, with no nasty surprises.

Centralised management. Beyond a certain volume, the most time-consuming part is no longer the shipping itself but the tracking: who paid, which parcel is going out, which consignor to pay. That's where a tool like the DressKare solution to manage your sales and bulk-publish your listings comes into its own: you steer your consignments, sales and shipments from a single place, and save your energy for what really matters, sourcing and selling.

FAQ

Who pays for postage on Vinted?

The buyer pays for postage, on top of the item price. As a seller, you pay nothing upfront: Vinted generates a prepaid shipping label once the sale is done. All you have to do is stick the label on the parcel and drop it off. The buyer chose the delivery method (pickup point or home) at checkout.

How long do you have to send a Vinted parcel?

You have 5 working days after the sale to drop off your parcel. Beyond that, the transaction can be cancelled automatically and the buyer refunded. Better to ship within 24 to 48 hours: a quick dispatch reassures the buyer, limits cancellations and helps you earn good reviews, which weigh heavily on your credibility as a seller.

How do you print a Vinted shipping label without a printer?

You don't need a printer. Most pickup points and carrier kiosks print your label directly from the QR code in the Vinted app. You show the QR code at the counter or the kiosk, the label prints, you stick it on your parcel and hand it in on the spot. It's the trick that makes life easiest when you ship regularly.

How do you pack a Vinted parcel well?

Protect the item (plastic pouch or tissue paper inside), choose compact packaging as close as possible to the garment's size so you don't pay for a larger format, and seal it firmly. Reuse salvaged boxes and pouches to cut your costs to around 20 cents per item. A clean, tidy parcel improves the buyer's experience and your reviews.

When do you get your money after shipping on Vinted?

The money is held until delivery. Once the parcel is delivered, the buyer has a short window to confirm everything is in order. If they confirm, or the window passes with no report, the funds are credited to your Vinted wallet, which you can then transfer to your bank account. Always keep your proof of drop-off until payout.