How long do InPost shipments take and on which days are they delivered?

When we send or wait for a parcel, one question comes to mind more than any other: “When will it arrive?”. At InPost, delivery times can vary depending on the origin, destination, the type of pickup point chosen, the pickup date and any issues that may arise during transport.

In this guide, we present the estimated delivery times for each situation, what each message in the tracking means, and what you can do if your parcel is taking longer than expected.

Quick summary

At InPost, domestic shipments have an average delivery time of 3 business days from the moment the parcel is dropped off at a Ponto Pack or Locker. For international shipments to European countries, the average delivery time is generally 3 to 6 business days, depending on the destination.

When the parcel arrives at the chosen Ponto Pack or Locker, we notify the recipient by email, SMS or app. From that moment, the parcel remains available for 8 calendar days, in the case of domestic shipments. After this period, it may be returned to the sender.

To check the status of your parcel in real time, the easiest method is to use the tracking number. Through tracking, you can see whether the parcel is already in transit, whether it has already arrived at the pickup point, or whether it is waiting at some other point along the way.

What do you need to check your parcel's delivery time?

1. Tracking number and postal code.
2. Email or SMS associated with the parcel.
3. Access to the InPost tracking tool.
4. The InPost Iberia app, if you prefer to use your mobile device.
5. The approximate date on which the parcel was delivered or sent.

How long does it take for an InPost parcel to arrive?

Delivery time depends on the route. A parcel sent within Portuguese territory will not have the same delivery time as an international one, and the moment it is dropped off at the Ponto Pack or Locker can also affect the timeframe.

As a general rule, at InPost, our domestic deliveries have an average delivery time of 3 business days from the date the parcel is dropped off at a Ponto Pack or Locker. For international shipments to European countries, the average delivery time is generally 3 to 6 business days, depending on the destination.

To check the status of a shipment in real time, you can consult the tracking, by entering the tracking number. That way, you can see whether the parcel has been delivered, is in transit, has arrived at the pickup point, or whether any issue has arisen that you should pay attention to. You can also check the parcel status in the InPost app.

On which days are InPost parcels delivered?

Our logistics operations are organized mainly on business days. This means that weekends, national holidays, local holidays or peak periods can affect the final delivery time.

In addition, it is important to distinguish between parcel transport and the pickup point's opening hours. A Locker may be available every day if it is located in an area with free access, while with a Ponto Pack it depends on the store's opening hours.

Why might your parcel be taking a little longer?

A parcel taking longer than expected does not necessarily mean that a serious problem has occurred. Sometimes, the reason is quite trivial: a holiday, a very busy pickup point, a change of address, transport conditions or a surge in activity.

• The parcel was delivered outside the day's pickup hours.
• There are holidays or weekends in between.
• The destination pickup point is full or temporarily unavailable.
• The parcel needs to be transferred to another nearby pickup point.
• There is a higher volume of parcels, as happens during sales events, Black Friday or Christmas.
• The parcel details need to be reviewed.

What do the most common shipment statuses mean?

1. Being prepared: The parcel has been created, but it may not yet have been handed over to or collected by InPost. This is the starting point.
2. In transit: The parcel is already on its way to its destination. It may pass through several hubs before reaching the chosen Ponto Pack or Locker.
3. Available for pickup: Great news: your parcel is already at the pickup point. Use the PIN, QR code or instructions you received to collect it within the indicated time.
4. Relocated or redirected to another point: This can happen if the chosen point is full, closed or cannot receive the parcel. In this case, InPost generally informs you of the new assigned point.
5. Returned to sender: This status may appear if the parcel is not collected within the deadline or if an obstacle arises that prevents delivery.

How to track your InPost shipment, step by step?

1. Find the tracking number in the email, SMS or shipping receipt and note down the destination postal code.
2. Access the InPost tracking tool or open the App.
3. Enter the tracking number in the appropriate field.
4. Check the most recent status and the date of the last update.
5. Check whether there are any additional instructions about issues that need to be resolved.

What to do if your parcel takes longer than expected

First, check the tracking information. If the parcel was updated recently, it is very likely still on its way.

It is also a good idea to check your email inbox and SMS messages, in case you received a notification about an address change, lack of availability at a pickup point or any other issue.

If there are no updates for several days or if you see a status you do not understand, fill out our customer service form, indicating the tracking number.

Recommendations to avoid complications with delivery times

1. Send it in advance if you need it to arrive by a deadline.
2. Confirm that the recipient's information is complete.
3. Choose a convenient pickup point.
4. Activate notifications to receive updates on delivery status.
5. Consult the tracking tool before contacting support, as it usually contains updated information.

Your shipments under control through tracking, with InPost

To predict how long a shipment with InPost will take, you need to account for several factors, but there is an easy way to keep everything under control: the tracking tool. With it, you can see whether the parcel is already on its way, whether it has reached the chosen location or whether there is any important change.

With InPost, you can send and receive parcels flexibly, choose Ponto Packs or Lockers according to your convenience and track them whenever you need to. Your parcel moves, and you can see it move.