How India Post Calculates Speed Post Charges: A Complete Guide

Sanidhya Negi / June 20, 2024

Contents:

India Post was established in 1856 and has evolved to meet the needs of India’s large population. It operates one of the world’s oldest and largest postal networks, with 1.5 lakh post offices serving towns and villages nationwide. India Post is known for its affordable services. It offers some of the lowest Speed Post charges globally, making shipping accessible for individuals and small businesses.

India Post provides various services like postal savings accounts, cash on delivery, registered post, and Speed Post. EMS Speed Post was launched in 1986 and is the fastest option for sending packages, letters, documents, and cards within India, usually delivering within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the destination. Customers can even track their Speed Post shipments easily with the tracking number assigned to their shipment.

This guide explains how India Post calculates Speed Post charges for domestic and international parcels, helping you understand their competitive pricing.

Factors Affecting Domestic Speed Post Charges of India Post

It is important for senders to understand the Domestic Speed Post charges of India Post. India Post parcel rates per kg depend mainly on two factors:

Distance: The farther the destination from the sender’s location, the higher the India Post charges. Longer distances increase transportation expenses which impacts the final charge.

Weight: The weight of the package significantly affects the shipping cost. Heavier parcels incur higher charges due to increased handling and transportation requirements.

By considering these factors, India Post ensures transparent and fair pricing for its Speed Post service, making it accessible and cost-effective for individuals and businesses alike.

India Post Speed Post Tariff Rates For Domestic

India Post has defined Speed Post tariff rates for domestic shipments. The table below shows the rates for various weight categories respective to distances that have been divided into four parts.

Weight	​​Local Rates	Up to 200 Kms	201 to 1000 Kms	1001 to 2000 Kms	Above 2000 Kms
​Up to 50 grams	Rs 15	Rs 35	Rs 35	Rs 35	Rs 35
51 to 200 grams	Rs 25	Rs 35	Rs 40	Rs 60	Rs 70
​201 to 500 grams	Rs 30	Rs 50	Rs 60	Rs 80	Rs 90
Additional 500 grams or part thereof	Rs 10	Rs 15	Rs 30	Rs 40	Rs 50

Note: The tariff does not include taxes, which are applied as per Central Government notifications.

Features of Domestic Speed Post

Speed Post service of India Post offers several standout features in the Indian courier market. These features are mentioned below.

Express Delivery: Delivers parcels up to 35 kg anywhere in India, with a standard rate of Rs 35. Local deliveries cost Rs 15 for parcels up to 50 grams.

Insurance Coverage: Consignments are insured up to Rs 1 lakh.

Booking Window: Convenient 24-hour booking is available for all services.

Online Tracking: Customers can track their parcels online simply by inputting their consignment number and receive status updates via SMS notifications.

Pick-up Services: Free pick-up services for parcels, with special benefits for commercial clients like call scheduling, regular collection, and a Book Now Pay Later option.

Credit Facility: Available for corporate clients and customer partnerships.

Volume Discounts: Discounts are offered for high-volume shipments.

Cash-on-Delivery: This option is available for online sellers.

Compensation: Compensation provided for delays, loss, or damage to parcels.

India Post Speed Post Tariff Rates For International

India Post has defined Speed Post tariff rates for international shipments. The table below shows the rates for different weight categories, separately for Documents and Merchandise, applicable to various countries.

Countries	Documents		Merchandise
	First 250 grams or part thereof in Rs	For every additional 250 grams or part thereof in Rs	First 250 grams or part thereof in Rs	​For every additional 250 grams or part thereof in Rs
Afghanistan	1390	100	1390	100
Argentina	1345	295	1345	295
Australia	1125	230	1125	230
Austria	1430	95	1430	95
Bahrain	1415	50	1415	50
Bangladesh	765	50	765	50
Barbados	1330	270	1330	270
Belarus	1450	100	1450	100
Belgium	1430	110	1430	110
Bermuda	1050	215	1050	215
Bhutan	910	70	910	70
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1205	150	1205	150
Botswana	1500	130	1500	130
Brazil	1595	230	1595	230
Brunei Darussalam	750	120	750	120
Bulgaria	1200	85	1200	85
Cambodia	730	65	730	65
Canada	1180	180	1180	180
Cape Verde	1345	230	1345	230
Cayman Islands	1360	235	1360	235
China	680	115	680	115
Cuba	1340	225	1340	225
Cyprus	1310	110	1310	110
Democratic Republic of Congo	1490	160	1490	160
Denmark	2190	100	2190	100
Ecuador	1370	290	1370	290
Egypt	1190	75	1190	75
El Salvador	1810	315	1810	315
Eritrea	1440	110	1440	110
Estonia	1280	130	1280	130
Ethiopia	1570	100	1570	100
Fiji	980	240	980	240
Finland	1615	90	1615	90
France  for French Antilles (which includes Guadeloupe, Martinique), Reunion, Corsica, New Caledonia, Mayotte, French Polynesia, Saint Pierre et Miquelon	4140	340	4140	340
Rest of France	1275	105	1275	105
Georgia	1425	120	1425	120
Germany	1860	80	1860	80
Ghana	1760	140	1760	140
Great Britain	1965	90	1965	90
Greece	1450	85	1450	85
Guyana	1810	280	1810	280
Hong Kong	1230	90	1230	90
Hungary	1455	90	1455	90
Iceland	2350	125	2350	125
Indonesia	1200	90	1200	90
Iran (Islamic Republic)	1445	80	1445	80
Iraq	920	80	920	80
Ireland	1610	120	1610	120
Israel	1690	80	1690	80
Italy	1530	105	1530	105
Japan	700	80	945	80
Jordan	1435	70	1435	70
Kazakhstan	1650	110	1650	110
Kenya	1455	90	1455	90
Korea (Republic)	1685	70	1685	70
Kuwait	1040	50	1040	50
Latvia	1075	130	1075	130
Lithuania	1200	150	1200	150
Luxembourg	1150	105	1150	105
Macau	1430	90	1430	90
Malawi	1175	190	1175	190
Malaysia	1610	60	1610	60
Maldives	1165	50	1165	50
Mauritius	1210	110	1210	110
Mexico	1605	235	1605	235
Mongolia	1170	110	1170	110
Morocco	1480	180	1480	180
Namibia	1000	140	1000	140
Nauru	1025	165	1025	165
Nepal	670	40	670	40
Netherlands	1375	105	1375	105
New Zealand	1040	270	1040	270
Niger	1180	195	1180	195
Nigeria	1310	140	1310	140
North Macedonia	1265	150	1265	150
Norway	2250	100	2250	100
Oman	1395	40	1395	40
Pakistan	885	70	885	70
Panama (Republic)	1610	245	1610	245
Papua New Guinea	1585	220	1585	220
Philippines	1180	70	1180	70
Poland	1205	90	1205	90
Portugal	1115	130	1115	130
Qatar	1340	100	1340	100
Romania	1250	80	1250	80
Russian Federation	1040	120	1040	120
Rwanda	1340	100	1340	100
Saudi Arabia	1535	60	1535	60
Senegal	1270	160	1270	160
Singapore	1175	65	1175	65
South Africa	1310	195	1310	195
Spain – Canary Island	2180	120	2180	120
Spain – Rest of Spain	1425	120	1425	120
Sri Lanka	790	55	790	55
Sudan	1450	120	1450	120
Sweden	2220	95	2220	95
Switzerland	1910	105	1910	105
Taiwan	810	80	810	80
Tanzania	1590	100	1590	100
Thailand	1095	60	1095	60
Tunisia	1345	120	1345	120
Turkey	1030	85	1030	85
Uganda	1460	95	1460	95
Ukraine	1695	130	1695	130
UAE	1400	40	1400	40
USA	1820	150	1820	150
Vietnam	800	70	800	70
Yemen	800	110	800	110

 

Note: The listed tariffs do not include taxes. Taxes will be applied additionally as per the Central Government’s notifications from time to time.

Factors Affecting the International Speed Post Charges

Understanding the factors that influence International Speed Post charges can help ensure smooth and cost-effective shipping. Two key factors are mentioned below.

Weight Restrictions: International Speed Post is an efficient way to send packages globally, but it has weight and dimension limits. Parcels over 35 kilograms are not accepted, and dimensions must be within 1.5 meters in breadth and 3 meters in length. These restrictions vary by the destination country and affect the shipping cost.

Prohibited Articles: Certain items cannot be sent via International Speed Post. Prohibited articles include explosives, hazardous materials, and live animals. Ensuring compliance with these regulations is crucial, as attempting to ship banned items can result in additional charges or refusal of service.

Features of International Speed Post 

International Speed Post offers essential services that enhance shipping convenience and security for international packages. Here are its main features.

Convenient Package Acceptance: You can easily drop off your package at any post office, or schedule a pick-up from your location.

Priority Handling: Your package gets special attention from pick-up or drop-off to final delivery. 

Online Tracking: You can easily track your package online from start to finish using the India Post website.

Delivery Confirmation: International Speed Post requires a signature upon delivery for added security. This ensures the package is handed directly to the recipient or an authorized person, reducing the risk of loss.

Doorstep Delivery: International Speed Post delivers your package directly to the recipient’s address, saving time and offering convenience.

Conclusion

While speed post has been a reliable choice in the courier industry, the rise of e-commerce demands adaptable and dependable shipping solutions. For e-commerce sellers, partnering with courier aggregators like Bigship becomes crucial in such circumstances to ensure a seamless customer experience for their customers.

Bigship offers a user-friendly dashboard with multiple functionalities, an advanced shipping rate calculator, early COD remittance options, and additional features to meet the precise shipping requirements of sellers. Moreover, as an AI-driven courier aggregator, Bigship collaborates with more than 19 courier partners to deliver across more than 29,000 pin codes in India and over 190+ countries globally.

FAQs- Speed Post Charges

Ques: Is it possible to redirect the delivery address for my shipment during speed post?

Ans: Yes. You can change the given address during the time of speed post but only before dispatch. You can also rectify it by approaching customer care, or the nearest post office. If you have a registered account, you can simply redirect the delivery address by following the given path, Home > Menu > Mail Services > Manage Mail > Redirect Mail.

Ques:  In the absence of the recipient, will the postman deliver the parcel at the location mentioned or take it away? 

Ans:  The postman will call the recipient and if he is not available then he will paste the notice of arrival of the parcel for collecting it from the post office within 7 days or will leave the parcel as per the recipient’s instruction.

Ques: How to claim compensation for the lost shipment in Speed Post? 

Ans:  India Post compensates for the lost or damaged shipment on certain terms and conditions with the value proof including how much the damage or loss has occurred. If the documents and value content are not fulfilled then it becomes difficult to claim for lost shipment. 

Ques: What is the Speed Post delivery time?

Ans:  Speed Post is the fastest and most reliable delivery service. Depending on which city, or town the parcel has been shipped to decides the time. For example

• Regional speed post: 1 to 2 days 
• National speed post:  2 to 5 days 
• International speed post: 4 to 7 days 

Ques: Does Speed Post operate for delivery on Sundays?

Ans:  No, Speed Post service only facilitates from Monday to Saturday. Speed Post services remain closed on Sundays. 

Ques: Is Speed Post faster than courier and aggregator companies? 

Ans:  One cannot say Speed Post is faster than other aggregates or courier services. These days aggregator and courier services are also offering faster modes of delivery. However, these services provided by them could be more expensive than postal services. 

Ques: What is proof of delivery in a speed post and why it is important?

Ans:  Proof of delivery is a document that confirms that your package has been delivered to you. It is made to be signed by the recipient for full confirmation. This document is important as it allows both parties to be sure that the package has reached the right hands. 

Ques: Does postman will call during the time of delivery or before? 

Ans:  Postman generally doesn’t call during or before the time of delivery. If the recipient is not available then he will paste a notice regarding the collection of package within 7 days from the post office.

Ques: What if the Speed Post is not timely delivered?

Ans:  This does not happen frequently but if someday it gets delayed due to any reason, you can contact the India Post through customer care or by visiting the nearest post office from where the parcel is sent. 

Ques: Are the consignment number and tracking ID the same?

Ans:  Yes, both of these terms are used to describe the same things. It is the 13-digit unique number that is given to the customer to track where your package has reached. 

Ques: Can I track my parcel?

Ans:  Definitely yes. You can track your parcel through the unique tracking ID or the consignment number that you will be given after placing your parcel. 

Through mail or messages, you will be timely notified where the parcel has reached. 

Ques: Is Speed Post safe for sending documents? 

Ans:  Yes, it is safe. Whether you want to send your documents domestically or internationally, it is one of the safest modes. These days it is widely used for sending many important documents related to reports, property pages, and also marksheets.