Delivery Options
Delivery time frames are subject to delivery location and product availability. Delivery time frames quoted do not include the estimated despatch time given on a product page. Please note that items in the same order may be shipped separately depending on their availability at the time you placed the order.
UK Delivery Information
What are your UK delivery estimates and charges?
- Free delivery over £25 - 3-5 working days
- 2nd Class (£2.99) - 3-5 working days
- 1st Class (£3.99) - 2-3 working days
- UK Courier (£7.95) - Currently unavailable
Can I collect my order from a shop?
Delivery to Waterstones shops is currently not available but you can still use our Click & Collect service.
Can items in my order be delivered to multiple addresses?
No, orders can only be delivered to one address. You’ll need to place separate orders for each item that need to be delivered to different addresses.
How do I address British prison deliveries?
For British 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. The addressee name and other details are entered as usual.
Which country do I address British Forces Post Office (BFPO) destinations?
For BFPO addresses, please select the UK as your country.
International Shoppers
We are happy to offer our products to international customers. Below are details that you will find useful when placing orders to be shipped outside of the UK.
Please consult the latest information provided by Royal Mail's International Incident Bulletin.
Please note that:
- Only books are available to be sent outside of the UK
- There is a weight limit on international shipping which means some books will be ineligible for international delivery
- If one or more items are not available when you place your order there may be a delay in dispatch, so that we can send your items in as few parcels as possible.
- Orders will be dispatched using international post and you will be charged a shipping cost.
- This method is fully secure, and we can track and trace the shipment for you.
- Orders sent via this method will require a signature upon receipt.
- Courier delivery cannot be made to PO Boxes.
What are your European & international delivery estimates and charges?
Western Europe Delivery: £9.50 + £1.50 per additional item
Includes: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Asia, Australia and New Zealand Delivery: £18.00 + £4 per additional item
Delivery charges are applied at line level and so may not be charged all at once if you have multiple shipments.
Rest of the World Delivery: £13.00 + £1.50 per additional item
Delivery charges are applied at line level and so may not be charged all at once if you have multiple shipments.
Will I have to pay GST or VAT on orders being sent to my address outside the UK?
We expect tax to start being charged for countries in the EU from the 2 April 2024. As a customer you will start to be charged at the checkout from May 2024 for EU deliveries, based on the country where your order is shipped to.
For all other countries including Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand and some US States these will also start to have taxes levied from May 2024, with the tax charged varying by country, state (USA) or province (Canada).
Please check your local tax rules for importation of goods, as you will be liable for any additional tax charges where these apply to high value orders, for example single deliveries above AUD1,000 in Australia or higher than €150 in the EU.
You will find more details on tax on International deliveries here.
Which countries do you ship to?
Given the unfolding situation across Ukraine, with regret we have suspended orders placed from, or to be delivered to, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Our customers’ understanding toward this decision is appreciated.
We ship to the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USA.
Do you charge VAT?
The prices payable for goods are as set out in the website, inclusive of VAT where applicable (books are currently zero rated). 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.
Are there any 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.
I live outside the UK but I cannot see my country listed in your delivery destinations. Is it still possible to place my order?
If your intended location falls outside our list of destinations, unfortunately this means our delivery partners will be unable to fulfil that order. Although our list of delivery locations is comprehensive, we are actively seeking the increase the number of countries Waterstones ships to in the coming months.
EU Delivery FAQs
I live in the EU and I understand that both current and future orders will be subject to additional customs charges. Can I cancel my order?
Although it is indeed possible current and future orders may be subject to additional customs charges, it is worth understanding that some orders – depending on the item and its destination – may attract no additional charges at all.
If you wish to cancel your order, please refer to our guidance How can I cancel my order? within our Ordering FAQ.
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